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Friday, March 18, 2011

Thomas Aquinas, Body of Christ

Tommaso d'Aquino [Thomas Aquinas]
1225-1274
Trans RMBullard
Latin (Medieval Era)



CORPUS CHRISTI

        Verbum supernum prodiens,
             Nec Patris linquens dexteram,
        Ad opus suum exiens,
             Venit advitae vesperam.
1 [Making use of the heavenly word, and never leaving the right hand of his Father, travelling down to a project of his own, he approaches the eve of his life.]

        In mortem a discipulo
             Suis tradendus aemulis,
        Prius in vitae ferculo
             Se tradidit discipulis.
2 [Destined to be betrayed to his enemies --to death--by one of his disciples, in the time before, he lent himself to life's lash for the sake of his disciples.]

        Quibus sub bina specie
             Carnem dedit et sanguinem:
        Ut duplicis substantiae
             Totum cibaret hominem.
3 [To these men, he gave his flesh and blood in two forms, and the result? So that he could feed all of mankind with two forms of sustenance.]

        Se nascens dedit socium,
             Convescens in edulium,
        Se moriens in pretium,
             Se regnans dat in praemium.
4 [Since his birth, he sacrificed himself, in the role of an ally, eating with his brothers during their meals--he gives himself over to death for a price, he gives himself over to the prize of ruling.]

        O Salutaris Hostia,
             Quae caeli pandis ostium:
        Bella premunt hostilia,
             Da robur, fer auxilium.
5 [Hail, St. Hostia of the Holy Greeting, you who open the door of Heaven: there are men who bringing hostile war, give us your strength, bring us your aid.]

        Uni trinoque Domino
             Sit sempiterna gloria,
        Qui vitam sine termino
             Nobis donet in patria.

        Amen.
6 [Let there always be eternal glory for our Lord, the One and the Trinity, who bestows life without end to us in the land of our forefathers. Amen.]