O esca viatorum

Settings by composers

• Anonymous SSA (vv. 1 & 3)
• Heinrich Isaac SATB
• Johann Michael Haydn SATB
• Joseph Haydn SATB (v. 1 only)
• Peter Piel SATB (v. 1 only)

Text and translations

Latin text 1  O esca viatorum, O panis angelorum, O manna coelitum, Esurientes ciba Dulcedine non priva Corda quaerentium. 2  O lympha, fons amoris, Qui puro Salvatoris E corde profluis Te sitientes pota Haec sola nostra vota, His una sufficis. 3  O Jesu, tuum vultum Quem colimus occultum Sub panis specie. Fac, ut remoto velo Post libera in coelo Cernamus facie. Amen.

English translation 1. O food of men wayfaring, The bread of angels sharing, O Manna from on high! We hunger; Lord, supply us, Nor thy delights deny us, Whose hearts to thee draw nigh. 2. O Stream of love past telling. O purest fountain, welling From out the Saviour’s side! We faint with thirst; revive us, Of thine abundance give us, And all we need provide. 3. O Jesu, by thee bidden, We here adore thee, hidden ‘Neath forms of bread and wine. Grant when the veil is riven, We may behold, in heaven, Thy countenance divine. Translation by Athelstan Riley