Panis Angelicus
Straalen McCallum Lyrics

The lyrics to Straalen McCallum's song 'Panis Angelicus' convey a sense of wonder and awe towards the miraculous nature of the Eucharist. The first stanza speaks of the bread of angels becoming the bread of mankind, and celestial bread being given a symbolic representation in the world. The second stanza continues in the same vein, marveling at the mystery of consuming the body of the Lord. The refrain repeats the words "pauper, pauper, servus et humilis", translating to "poor, poor, servant and humble", emphasizing the humility and worthiness of the human recipient of such divine nourishment.

The song draws its inspiration from the hymn 'Panis Angelicus' written by St. Thomas Aquinas during the 13th century. The hymn was composed for the Feast of Corpus Christi, celebrating the belief in transubstantiation, the doctrine that the bread and wine of the Eucharist become the body and blood of Christ. 'Panis Angelicus' has since become a popular hymn in the Catholic Church, with renditions sung by various artists over the years.