Author: St Thomas Aquinas, 1227-74 Hymnal: NEH1985 #521 (1986) Lyrics: Part 1:
1 Laud, O Sion, thy salvation,
Laud with hymns of exultation
Christ, thy King and Shepherd true:
Spend thyself, his honour raising,
Who surpasseth all thy praising;
Never canst thou reach his due.
2 Sing today, the mystery showing
Of the living, life bestowing
Bread from heaven before thee set;
E'en the same of old provided,
Where the Twelve, divinely guided,
At the holy Table met.
3 Full and clear ring out thy chanting,
Joy nor sweetest grace be wanting
To thy heart and soul today:
When we gather up the measure
Of that Supper and its treasure,
Keeping feast in glad array.
4 Lo, the new King's Table gracing,
This new Passover of blessing
Hath fulfilled the elder rite:
Now the new the old effaceth,
Truth revealed the shadow chaseth,
Day is breaking on the night.
5 What he did at Supper seated,
Christ ordained to be repeated,
His memorial ne'er to cease:
And, his word for guidance taking,
Bread and wine we hallow, making
Thus our Sacrifice of peace.
6 This the truth to Christians given
Bread becomes his Flesh from heaven,
Wine becomes his holy Blood.
Doth it pass thy comprehending?
Yet by faith, thy sight transcending,
Wondrous things are understood.
7 Yea, beneath these signs are hidden
Glorious things to sight forbidden:
Look not on the outward sign.
Wine is poured and Bread is broken,
But in either sacred token
Christ is here by power divine.
8 Who so of this Food partaketh,
Christ divideth not nor breaketh:
He is whole to all that taste.
Whether one this bread receiveth,
Or a thousand, still he giveth
One same Food that cannot waste.
9 Good and evil men are sharing
One repast, an end preparing
Varied as the heart of man:
Life or death shall be awarded,
As their days have been recorded
Which from their beginning ran.
10 When the Sacrament is broken,
Doubt not in each severed token,
Hallowed by the word once spoken,
Resteth all the true content:
Nought the precious Gift divideth,
Breaking but the sign betideth,
He himself the same abideth,
Nothing of his fullness spent.
Part 2:
11 Lo! the Angel's Food is given
To the pilgrim who hath striven:
See the children's Bread from heaven,
Which to dogs may not be cast:
Truth the ancient types fulfilling,
Isaac bound, a victim willing,
Paschal lamb, its life blood spilling.
Part 3:
12 O true Bread, good Shepherd, tend us
Jesu, of thy love befriend us,
Thou refresh us, thou defend us,
Thine eternal goodness send us
In the land of life to see;
Thou who all things canst and knowest,
Who on earth such Food bestowest,
Grant us with thy Saints, tho' lowest,
Where the heavenly Feast thou showest,
Fellow heirs and guests to be.
Amen. Alleluia.
Topics: Corpus Christi Sequence Languages: English Tune Title: LAUDA, SION, SALVATOREM
Laud, O Sion, thy salvation
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