"O Salutaris Hostia" is one of the most enduring expressions of Eucharistic devotion in the Catholic Church. Composed by the preeminent theologian St. Thomas Aquinas in the 13th century, it remains a cornerstone of liturgical prayer, specifically during the Exposition and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.
The final stanza looks toward the "native land" ( patria ), which is heaven, framing our life as a journey back to God. Musical Legacy O Salutaris Hostia - Catholic Latin Hymn
In 1264, Pope Urban IV instituted the Feast of Corpus Christi and commissioned St. Thomas Aquinas to compose the liturgy and hymns for this new celebration. "O Salutaris Hostia" actually comprises the final two stanzas of a much longer hymn, Verbum Supernum Prodiens , which Aquinas wrote for the Hour of Lauds (Morning Prayer) in the Divine Office. "O Salutaris Hostia" is one of the most