O Food of Exiles Lowly

This is a hymn about the Eucharist. It is a translation of Mainz Gesangbuch's O Esca Viatorum, which itself was based on John 6: 41-51.

It was translated to English by American-Canadian Roman Catholic priest, scholar, teacher and musician M Owen Lee CSB (1930-2019), and first published in The New Saint Basil Hymnal, Ralph Jusko Publications, Cincinnati, USA, 1958,

With meter 7.7.6.7.7.8, tunes it has been set to include:

INNSBRUCK by Heinrich Isaak, (c1460- c1527) - the most commonly used tune
PICARDY - from a 17th century folksong (obviously with some stretching to fit the meter).

Downloads

This section may contain affiliate links: I earn from qualifying purchases on these. Free downloads are provided where possible (eg for public domain items).

PowerPoint slides

Examples

Solo, unaccompanied

(video play when clicked, even though it appears unknown)

Soloist with gentle organ backing

Soloist with louder organ backing

Instrumental - improvisation on the organ

Lyrics

O Food of exiles lowly,
O Bread of angels holy,
O Manna from on high!
We hunger for your blessing,
All good in you possessing,
With favor hear our heart's outcry.

O cleansing water, streaming
From Jesus' side, redeeming
All those of Adam's race!
O quenching fountain flowing,
Our ev'ry want bestowing,
O come and fill our souls with grace.

O Lord, we kneel before you
And fervently adore you,
All hid beneath this bread.
But make to us this promise:
To see you in your fullness,
The sacred body's mystic head.