O Saving Victim
O Salutaris Hostia
St. Thomas Aquinas wrote this in 1264 as the end of a longer hymn for the new feast of Corpus Christi. It calls the Host a victim who saves, asks for strength in a fight we are losing on our own, and looks ahead to heaven as home. This English version was made by Edward Caswall in 1849 and is the one most parishes still sing.
St. Thomas Aquinas, 1264; tr. Edward Caswall
O saving Victim, opening wide
the gate of heaven to man below,
our foes press on from every side;
thine aid supply, thy strength bestow.
To thy great name be endless praise,
immortal Godhead, One in Three;
O grant us endless length of days
in our true native land with thee.
Amen.