I previously looked at this one in OCP’s Guitar Accompaniment Book, which kindly made the chant metrical.
The New Living Parish Hymn Book had John de Luca’s own arrangement of PLAINSONG ADORE TE DEVOTE a C17 chant. He did the Latin version earlier as number seven in this hymn book.
The text is attributed to Thomas Aquinas (C13) as translated by Gerald Manley Hopkins C19), so we are in exalted company.
The fake BIAB organ backing I made is my fault and no reflection on de Luca’s arrangement.
1. Godhead here in hiding, whom I do adore
Masked by these bare shadows, shape and nothing more,
See, Lord, at thy service low lies here a heart
Lost, all lost in wonder at the God thou art.2. Seeing, touching, tasting are in thee deceived;
How says trusty hearing? that shall be believed;
What God’s Son hath told me take for truth I do;
Truth himself speaks truly, or there’s nothing true.3. On the Cross thy Godhead made no sign to men;
Here thy very manhood steals from human ken;
Both are my confession, both are my belief,
And I pray the prayer of the dying thief.4. I am not like Thomas, wounds I cannot see,
But can plainly call thee Lord and God as he;
This faith each day deeper faith be my holding of,
Daily make me harder hope and dearer love.5. O thou our reminder of Christ crucified,
Living Bread, the life of us for whom he died,
Lend this life to me then; feed and feast my mind,
There be thou the sweetness man was meant to find.6. Jesu, whom I look at shrouded here below,
I beseech thee send me what I thirst for so,
Some day to gaze on thee face to face in light
And be blest for ever with thy glory’s sight.
Amen.
Listen to a lovely acapella version here.
There are lots of version on the Youtubes – here are a few.
