FEAST DAY OF ST THOMAS AQUINAS; 7th MARCH

 FEAST DAY OF ST THOMAS AQUINAS

7th MARCH
[Traditional calendar]
Posted here is another traditional version of St Thomas' hymn, Adoro Te Devote.
The lyrics are worth meditating on - set out below:
"Godhead here in hiding, whom I do adore,
Masked by these bare shadows, shape and nothing more.
See Lord, at Thy service, low lies here a heart,
Lost, all lost in wonder at the God Thou art.
Seeing touching tasting, are in Thee deceived:
How says trusty hearing? That shall be believed;
What God’s Son has told me, take for truth I do;
Truth Himself speaks truly, or there’s nothing true.
On the Cross Thy Godhead made no sign to men,
Here Thy very manhood steals from human ken:
Both are my confession, both are my belief,
And I pray the prayer of the dying thief.
I am not like Thomas, wounds I cannot see,
But can plainly call Thee Lord and God as he;
Let me to a deeper faith, daily nearer move,
Daily make me harder, hope and dearer love.
O Thou our reminder of Christ crucified,
Living Bread, the life of us for whom He died,
Lend this life to me then: feed and feast my mind,
There be Thou the sweetness man was meant to find.
Bring the tender take true of the Pelican;
Bathe me, Jesu Lord, in what Thy bosom ran-
Blood whereof a single drop has, power to win
All the world’s forgiveness of its world of sin.
[Alternative translation:
O loving Pelican! O Jesus Lord!
Unclean I am, but cleanse me in Thy Blood!
Of which a single drop, for sinners spilt,
Can purge the entire world from all its guilt.]
Jesu whom I look at, shrouded here below,
I beseech Thee send me, what I thirst for so,
Some day to gaze on Thee, face to face in light,
And be blest forever with Thy glory’s sight. Amen.
[The image of the Pelican was symbolic of Christ, (Pie Pellicane, Jesu Domine), because Medieval people were familiar with the Cistercian tale, "The Quest of the Holy Grail" (12th century), where Sir Bors sees a bird in a nest, whose offspring are dead. The bird stabs itself in the breast and its blood brings the chicks to life again - Acquinas' use of the word "pelican' imported this story to the Medievals.]

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