Adoro Te Devote is St Thomas Aquinas's great hymn of adoration to Jesus truly present in the Eucharist, hidden under the appearance of bread. It is a treasure of Eucharistic devotion.
The Hymn
Hidden God, devoutly I adore thee,
truly present underneath these veils:
all my heart subdues itself before thee,
since it all before thee faints and fails.
Not to sight, or taste, or touch be credit,
hearing only do we trust secure;
I believe, for God the Son has said it,
word of truth that ever shall endure.
On the Cross was veiled thy Godhead's splendor,
here thy manhood lieth hidden too;
unto both alike my faith I render,
and, as sued the contrite thief, I sue.
Jesus, whom now veiled I must adore thee,
oh, may that I thirst for come to pass:
that with face unveiled I may before thee
see thee in thy glory's living blaze. Amen.
When to Pray This Prayer
In Eucharistic adoration, after Holy Communion, and whenever you kneel before the Blessed Sacrament.
About This Prayer
St Thomas Aquinas composed this hymn in the thirteenth century for the feast of Corpus Christi. It is one of the most profound prayers ever written on the mystery of the Eucharist.
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Text: traditional English translation of Adoro Te Devote, St Thomas Aquinas (public domain).