The Eucharistic hymns by Thomas Aquinas : theology, devotion and spirituality

Abstract

The aim of this dissertation is to present and delve into the beauty of the theology found in the five Eucharistic hymns written by Thomas Aquinas for the feast of Corpus Christi. The main focus is on the theology, but there are several aspects that are in relation with theology such as poetical features and music, which are considered. The literature review method is used by finding various books, journals and websites related to this topic. The first chapter deals with the context and the background of the Angelic Doctor which then leads to the second Chapter in which every hymn is studied and analysed. Here there is the study of certain poetical and literature features which interest us and that are] essential to identify the importance of certain central themes in Eucharistic theology. In this Chapter there is also a comparative analysis with Aquinas’ other work Summa Theologiae. These Eucharistic themes found in the hymns are mostly developed in the Summa. In the last Chapter there is an outline of the musical aspect of these hymns which shows that along the years these hymns survived in the liturgy of the Catholic Church and are still in use up to the present day.