Humbly I Adore Thee
SAB Choir. Optional handbells (4 or more), opt. organ accompaniment. An easy and quite magical setting of Aquinas' Eucharistic hymn Adoro Te Devote. Handbells are randomly rung from anywhere in the sanctuary. Two solo or unison stanzas, two SAB stanzas. Great for a communion anthem anytime of year.
Humbly I adore thee, Verity unseen,
who thy glory hidest, 'neath these shadows mean;
lo, to thee surrendered, my whole heart is bowed,
tranced as it beholds thee, shrined within the cloud.
Taste and touch and vision to discern thee fail;
faith, that comes by hearing, pierces through the veil.
I believe whate’er the Son of God hath told;
what the Truth hath spoken, that for truth I hold.
O memorial wondrous of the Lord’s own death;
living Bread that givest all they creatures breath,
grant my spirit ever by thy life may live,
to my taste thy sweetness never failing give.
Jesus, whom now hidden, I by faith behold,
what my soul doth long for, that thy word foretold;
face to face thy splendor, I at last shall see,
in the glorious vision, blessed Lord, of thee.