Corpus Christi

Sacris Solemniis
At This Our Solemn Feast
by Thomas Aquinas

At this our solemn feast
let holy joys abound,
and from the inmost breast
let songs of praise resound;
let ancient rites depart,
and all be new around,
in every act, and voice, and heart.


Remember we that eve,
when, the Last Supper spread,
Christ, as we all believe,
the Lamb, with leavenless bread,
among His brethren shared,
and thus the Law obeyed,
of all unto their sire declared.

The typic Lamb consumed,
the legal Feast complete,
the Lord unto the Twelve
His Body gave to eat;
the whole to all, no less
the whole to each did mete
with His own hands, as we confess.

He gave them, weak and frail,

His Flesh, their Food to be;

on them, downcast

and sad, His Blood bestowed He:

and thus to them He spake,

"Receive this Cup from Me,

and all of you of this partake."

So He this Sacrifice

to institute did will,

and charged His priests alone

that office to fulfill:

in them He did confide:

to whom it pertains still to take,

and the rest divide.

Thus Angels' Bread is made

the Bread of man today:

the Living Bread from heaven

with figures dost away:

O wondrous gift indeed!

the poor and lowly may

upon their Lord and Master feed.

Thee, therefore, we implore,

o Godhead, One in Three,

o may Thou visit us

as we now worship Thee;

and lead us on Thy way,

That we at last may see

the light wherein

Thou dwellest aye.