If you’ve ever found yourself misty-eyed during Mass, there’s a good chance you’ve heard Panis Angelicus floating through the air.
This beautiful hymn, which translates to “Bread of Angels,” is a favorite choice for a Communion hymn. While many Catholics are familiar with Panis Angelicus, most of us do not know the history of this stunning hymn.
You may have never heard of César Franck, but you have certainly heard his famous rendition of Panis Angelicus. Born in Belgium in 1822, Franck was a devout Catholic and a bit of a musical genius. In 1872, he composed Panis Angelicus as part of his larger work, Messe à trois voix (Mass for Three Voices). But here’s the thing—Franck didn’t write the words; he simply set them to music.
There is a reason the words of Panis Angelicus seem so profound, even to those of us who can’t understand the Latin: it was written by a saint, and maybe one of the smartest men who ever lived: St. Thomas Aquinas!
St. Thomas penned these words way back in the 13th century as part of his hymn Sacris Solemniis, written for the Feast of Corpus Christi. Aquinas had a deep love for the Eucharist and spent much of his life writing on Eucharistic theology. The specific stanza that begins with the words “Panis angelicus” beautifully captures the essence of the Eucharist as the bread of angels given to nourish us:
The angel’s bread becomes the bread of men
The heavenly bread ends all symbols
Oh, miraculous thing! The body of the Lord will nourish
The poor, poor, and humble servant
The poor, poor, and humble servant
You may have known that St. Thomas Aquinas was a brilliant philosopher, but who knew he was responsible for one of our favorite Catholic hymns? In fact, St. Thomas Aquinas has a lot to teach us, even aside from his profound theology. In 12 Life Lessons From St. Thomas Aquinas, you’ll find the twelve essential, eternal life lessons culled from Thomas’s writings, accompanied by practical ways to implement them in your life. Order your copy today from The Catholic Company and begin to learn life lessons from this powerful saint!
