Suitable for the offertory at any Mass, but particularly on Corpus Christi or Maundy Thursday.
Alexander Crawford
Tune: Rendez a Dieu (NEH 240)
Sing we with joyful hearts and voices
Of this most blest and sacred feast,
In which this wounded world rejoices,
Balm for the greatest and the least.
Lift up your hearts in high thanksgiving,
For it is right to praise the Lord.
Those who were dead, through Christ are living,
Dwelling in him, th’eternal Word.
Born of the Blessèd Virgin Mary,
In human womb Christ found a place,
Humbled himself to share our frailty,
Heav’n joined with earth in little space.
From his great love, beyond all measure,
Opens to us a mystery,
Gives of himself a precious treasure:
A share in his divinity.
On that last night, his chosen brothers
Gathered around their blessèd Lord,
Shared that last meal with one another,
Listened to his amazing words:
‘This is my body, for you broken,
This is my blood, for you outpoured.’
Never more wondrous words were spoken,
The final cov’nant of the Lord.
Now we in faithful adoration
Offer these gifts of bread and wine;
Fruits of the earth, God’s own creation,
Transcending bounds of space and time:
Christians have fed in line unbroken,
Faithful of this and every land,
Hearing Christ’s words as when first spoken,
Taking the cup as from his hand.
Sing we in memory of Christ’s passion,
His perfect sacrifice of love,
Promise for all the world’s salvation,
Pledge of a room in heav’n above.
Eat we this bread and live forever,
Drink we this cup, and never die.
For we will live in Christ; and ever
Christ will within our hearts abide.
