Panis angelicus
Panis angelicus is the penultimate strophe of the hymn Sacris solemniis written by Saint Thomas Aquinas for the Feast of Corpus Christi as part of a complete liturgy of the Feast including prayers for the Mass and the Liturgy of the Hours. The strophe of Sacris solemniis that begins with the words "Panis angelicus" (bread of angels) has often been set to music separately from the rest of the hymn. Most famously, in 1872 César Franck set this strophe for voice (tenor), harp, cello, and organ, and incorporated it into his Messe à trois voix Opus 12. The 1932 performance of Franck's work by John McCormack in Dublin's Phoenix Park became the highlight of his career. Noteworthy renditions have also been performed by tenors Luciano Pavarotti, José Carreras, Plácido Domingo, Francisco Araiza, Richard Crooks, and Roberto Alagna, as well as by the sopranos Magda Olivero, Jessye Norman, and Renata Scotto. This work was performed by Richard Tucker at the funeral mass of United States Senator and Presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy on June 8, 1968 as well as by Placido Domingo and Yo-Yo Ma at the funeral mass for his brother Senator Edward Kennedy on August 29, 2009, televised nationally in the USA.
Text of Panis angelicus, with doxology
Latin text
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An English translation
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Panis angelicus
fit panis hominum;
Dat panis coelicus
figuris terminum:
O res mirabilis!
Manducat Dominum
Pauper, servus et
humilis.
Te trina Deitas
unaque poscimus:
Sic nos tu visita,
sicut te colimus;
Per tuas semitas
duc nos quo tendimus,
Ad lucem quam inhabitas.
Amen.
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The angelic bread
becomes the bread of men;
The heavenly bread
ends all prefigurations:
What wonder!
The Lord is eaten
by a poor and humble
servant.
Triune God,
We beg of you:
visit us,
just as we worship you.
By your ways,
lead us where we are
heading,
to the light in which you
dwell.
Amen.
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- Wikipedia
The “Dry Bones Shall Live” concert incorporates an arrangement of Frank’s “Panis Angelicus” for clarinet and string quartet by Gideon Kim. The TME delivers their message of the dry bones shall only live by Our Lord, Jesus Christ who becomes the bread of men.
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