Corpus Christi - Sequence 'Lauda Sion'

 

Holy Mass   -   Consecration of bread into Body of Christ (transubstantiation)

Corpus Christi - Sequence 'Lauda Sion'

1. Sion, lift thy voice and sing;

Praise thy Saviour and thy King;

Praise with hymns thy Shepherd true.

2. Strive thy best to praise Him well,

Yet doth He all praise excel;

None can ever reach His due.

3. See today before us laid

The living and life-giving Bread,

Theme for praise and joy profound.

4. The same which at the sacred board

Was by our incarnate Lord,

Giv'n to His apostles round.

5. Let the praise be loud and high;

Sweet and tranquil be the joy

Felt today in every breast;

6. On this festival divine,

Which records the origin

Of the glorious Eucharist.

7. On this table of the King,

Our new paschal offering

Brings to end the olden rite.

8. Here, for empty shadows fled,

Is reality instead;

Here, instead of darkness, light.

9. His own act, at supper seated,

Christ ordained to be repeated,

In His memory divine;

10. Wherefore now, with adoration,

We the Host of our salvation

Consecrate from bread and wine.

11. Hear what holy Church maintaineth,

That the bread its substance changeth

Into flesh, the wine to blood.

12. Doth it pass thy comprehending?

Faith, the law of sight transcending,

Leaps to things not understood.

13. Here, beneath these signs are hidden

Priceless things, to sense forbidden;

Signs, not things, are all we see:

14. Flesh from bread, and blood from wine,

Yet is Christ in either sign

All entire, confessed to be.

15. They too who of Him partake,

Sever not, nor rend, nor break,

But entire their Lord receive.

16. Whether one or thousands eat,

All receive the self-same meat,

Nor the less for others leave.

17. Both the wicked and the good

Eat of this celestial food;

But with ends how opposite!

18. Here 't is life, and there 't is death,

The same, yet issuing to each,

In a different infinite.

19. Nor a single doubt retain,

When they break the host in twain,

But that in each part remain,

What was in the whole before.

20. Since the simple sign alone

Suffers change in state or form,

The signified remaining one

And the same for evermore.

21. Lo! upon the altar lies

Hidden deep from human eyes,

Bread of angels from the skies,

Made the food of mortal man:

22. Children's meat, to dogs denied:

In old types fore-signified:

In the manna heav'n-supplied,

Isaac, and the paschal Lamb.

23. Jesu! Shepherd of the sheep!

Thou Thy flock in safety keep.

Living Bread! thy life supply;

Strengthen us, or else we die;

Fill us with celestial grace:

24. Thou, who feedest us below!

Source of all we have or know!

Grant that with Thy saints above,

Sitting at the feast of love,

We may see Thee, face to face.

Amen. Alleluia.