"O salutaris hostia" is the fifth verse of the "Verbum supernum" anthem in honor of Blessed Sacrament. Gounod just kept the fifth verse for the circumstance. Indeed, this singing is an extract of a short mass, the “Mass in C major”, N°4, with 2 equal voices and it is accompanied with an organ (or with a harmonium) called “A la Congrégation des Dames Auxiliatrices de l'Immaculée Conception”. This part is inserted between the “Sanctus” (we have published it: N°9062) and l’”Agnus Dei”. Besides this version, Gounod composed 8 other versions of this anthem: 5 versions performed by 4 mixed voices including two of them have been published in “4 motets solennels” (4 solem motets), 2 versions with 2 voices and a version for soloist accompanied on piano or organ.
