Ave vivens hostia

Settings by composers

• Anonymous — ATB
• Charles H. Giffen — SATB + 2 descants
• André Vierendeels — SATB
• André Vierendeels — TTB

Other settings possibly not included in the manual list above

• Charles H. Giffen — Hail, Thou living Victim blest

Text and translations

Latin text Johannes Peckham, 13th c., attr. 1. Ave, vivens hostia,     Veritas et vita,   In qua sacrificia      Cuncta sunt finita,   Per te patri gloria    Datur infinita,   Per te stat ecclesia    Iugiter munita. 2. Ave, vas clementiae,     Scrinium dulcoris,   In quo sunt deliciae     Caelici saporis,   Veritas substantiae     Tota salvatoris,   Sacramentum gratiae,     Pabulum amoris.   3. Ave, manna caelicum     Verius legali,   Datum in viaticum     Misero mortali,   Medicamen mysticum     Morbo spiritali,   Morte dans catholicum     Vitae immortali. 4. Ave, corpus Domini     Et munus finale,   Corpus iunctum numini,     Nobile iocale,   Quod reliquit homini     In memoriale,   Cum finali termino     Mundo dixit vale. 5. Ave, plenum gaudium,     Vita beatorum,   Pauperum solacium,     Salus miserorum,   Grande privilegium     Est hoc viatorum.   Quorum sacrificium     Merces est caelorum.   6. Ave, virtus fortium,     Obvians ruinae,   Turris et praesidium     Plebis peregrinae,   Quam insultus hostium     Frangere non sine,   Ne vi malignantium     Pereat in fine.   German translation 1. Sei gegrüßt, du lebendige Opfergabe, Wahrheit und Leben, in der alle Opfer zu Ende gebracht sind. Durch dich wird dem Vater unendlicher Ruhm gegeben, durch dich steht die Kirche immerdar befestigt. 2. Sei gegrüßt, du Gefäß der Milde, Schrein der Süßigkeit, in dem die Wonnen des himmlischen* Geschmacks sind. Ganze Wahrheit des Wesens des Erlösers, Sakrament der Gnade, Speise der Liebe.

English translation Hugh T. Henry (1862-1946), transl. 1. Hail, Thou living Victim blest,    truth and life supernal,   Olden types in Thee confessed    find their end eternal.   Infinite through Thee the praise    to the Father given,   While Thy love the Church arrays    as an earthly heaven. 2. Hail, Thou ancient Mercy-seat,    source of grace and favour;   Precious ointment-box replete    with celestial savour:   Thou the God-man truly art    in divine completeness:   Fed on Thee, the loving heart    knows Thy raptured sweetness. 3. Hail, Thou Manna from the skies,    yet more truly given   To the pilgrim soul that sighs    for her promised Heaven:   Mystic medicine Thou art    for the wounded spirit;   Healed by Thee, may every heart    endless life inherit.

English translation Ronald A. Knox (1888-1957), transl. Hail, true Victim, life and light  Unto sinners lending-- Every older form and rite  Hath in thee its ending-- Spotless in the Father's sight  Evermore ascending, Holy church in bitter fight  Evermore befriending. Hail, true Manna from the sky--  Israel never knew thee; Pilgrims, for the day's supply,  Daily homage do thee; When our souls in sickness lie,  Yields that sickness to thee; Christians, when they come to die,  Live immortal through thee. Hail, Christ's Body--gift he made,  His own death foreshewing, (Godhead under earthly shade  Like a jewel glowing), Sacred memories, ne'er to fade,  On his Church bestowing, When to earth farewell he bade,  To his Passion going. Jesus truly in this place  God and Man resideth; Him no shadow doth replace,  Him no rent divideth, Very flesh, although his face,  Glorified, he hideth; Garnered in this little space  All of Christ abideth. Seen in heaven by blessed eyes  This his body reigneth; Form of bread, in other wise,  Here its scope containeth;-- Mystery he alone descrise  Who the same ordaineth; Well may her such thing devise  Whom no power restraineth. Plead, true Victim, in our stead,  To the Father crying, Thou, Thy children's daily bread,  Daily health supplying; Banquet for the exile spread,  Grant us life undying: May our love from Thine be fed,  Self and sense denying!