It dates to the 13th century, first recorded in a central Italian Franciscan manuscript (Chicago, Newberry Library, 24).
The prayer is a meditation on Jesus's Real Presence in the Blessed Sacrament, and ties it to the redemptive meaning of suffering in the life of all believers.
———Latin Ave verum corpus, natum de Maria Virgine,[a] vere passum, immolatum in cruce pro homine cuius latus perforatum fluxit aqua et sanguine:[b] esto nobis prægustatum in mortis examine.
Hail, true Body, born of the Virgin Mary, truly suffered, sacrificed on the cross for mankind, from whose pierced side flowed water and blood: Be for us a foretaste [of the Heavenly banquet] in the trial of death!
There are also versions by Camille Saint-Saëns, Orlande de Lassus, Imant Raminsh,[3] Alexandre Guilmant, William Mathias, Colin Mawby, Malcolm Archer[4] and Jack Gibbons.