"Ave Verum" is one of Mozart's most famous, and popular, works. Even today it is still included in the liturgy of the Roman Catholic church. It was written to celebrate the feast of Corpus Christi (which was of particular importance in Mozart's native Austria at the time).

Ave Verum was first performed at the parish church in Baden, Austria on Corpus Christi day in 1791 (Mozart gave it as a gift to the local choirmaster, Anton Stoll, with whom he became friends while Mozart's wife was staying at a nearby spa during her sixth pregancy). Mozart's autograph on the original manuscript is dated 17th June 1791 - less than six months before his death on December 5th.

The lyric itself is from a 14th century handwritten document from Reichenau, penned by an unknown author.