Adoro Te Devote

From the Catholic Encyclopedia

("I adore Thee devoutly").

A hymn sometimes styled Rhythmus, or Oratio, S. Thomæ (sc. Aquinatis) written c. 1260 (?), which forms no part of the Office or Mass of the Blessed Sacrament, although found in the Roman Missal (In gratiarum actione post missam) with 100 days indulgence for priests (subsequently extended to all the faithful by decree of the S.C. Indulgent., 17 June, 1895). It is also found commonly in prayer and hymn-books. It has received sixteen translations into English verse. The Latin text, with English translation, may be found in the Baltimore "Manual of Prayers" (659, 660). Either one of two refrains is inserted after each quatrain (a variation of one of which is in the Manual), but originally the hymn originally the hymn lacked the refrain.

MONE, Lateiniiche Hymnen des Mittelalters, I, 275-276, for MSS. variations and elucidations and for two refrains; DANIEL, Thesaurus Hymnologicus, I, 255-256, and IV, 234-235; JULIAN, Dict of Hvmnology, s. v., for first lines of English versions; American Eccles Rev., Feb., 1896, 143-147, for text, transl., rhythmic analysis, etc.; also ibid., 167, for indulgence extended.

H.T. HENRY