Hymns of the Early Church / being translations from the poetry of the Latin church, arranged in the order of the Christian year

Communion

John Brownlie

EJA O DULCIS ANIMA

Author unknown. Belonging, according to Mone, to the thirteenth or fifteenth century.

I

See, sweet soul, my sister dear,

Now the bridegroom neareth;

Haste, prepare a place for Him

Who in love appeareth.

II

Soon He comes, a gentle guest,

Comes with heart o’erflowing;

All the best that heaven affords

In His love bestowing.

III

Where His gracious presence is

There is joy unending;

Blessing with His friendship comes,

Every bliss transcending.

IV

Yea, He comes to rest awhile,

Thee with love entwining;

At thy board He’ll take His place,

By thy side reclining.

V

Up, my soul, to meet thy Spouse;

Hark! His footfall sounding;

In thy bosom He will dwell

With His love abounding.

VI

Hold Him fast in fond embrace;

Say thou’lt leave Him never,

Till the blessing of His love

Rest on thee for ever.

O ESCA VIATORUM

Ascribed by some to Thomas Aquinas, but believed by latest and best authorities to have been composed by some unknown German Jesuit of the seventeenth century. It has not been traced further back than the Mainz Gesang-Buch of 1661, where it is styled “Hymn on the true Bread of Heaven.”

I

O Food for pilgrims pining!

O Bread for angels shining!

O Manna fresh from heaven!

In bountiful completeness,

O may Thy heavenly sweetness

To hungering hearts be given.

II

O Font of love surprising,

From Jesu’s heart uprising!

A pure refreshing flow;

Nought else our thirst allayeth—

For this the pilgrim prayeth—

This draught of love bestow.

III

Thy face we come revering,

O Jesus, now appearing

In sacramental rite.

O when in heaven, before it

Unveiled, may we adore it,

Our faith absorbed in sight.

JESU, DULCEDO CORDIUM

In the Paris Breviary of 1736, this is the hymn for Lauds for the festival of the Transfiguration. It is composed of six stanzas of the Gospel Rhythm of St. Bernard, beginning, Jesu, dulcis memoria, the fourth stanza of which begins, Jesu, dulcedo Cordium.

I

Jesu, delight of every heart,

Thou font of life, Thou source of light,

Earth can no joy so real impart,

No soul can form a hope so bright.

II

Abide with us, O Lord, we pray,

And cause Thy heavenly light to glow;

Drive from our minds the clouds away,

And let the world Thy sweetness know.

III

When Thou dost seek the humble heart,

Thy heavenly truth is freely given;

Then vanities of earth depart,

Then glows the fervent love of heaven.

IV

O Jesus, of Thy wondrous grace,

Make us Thy boundless love to know;

And when we see Thee face to face,

To us Thy matchless glory show.

V

They know how sweet the Lord can be,

Who deeply drink His love divine;

How blest, who find their all in Thee,

Nor thirst for other joys than Thine.

VI

O Thou the spring whence pity flows!

Light from the Fatherland to cheer!

To us Thy glorious light disclose,

Nor let dark clouds afflict us here.

VERBUM SUPERNUM PRODIENS

By St. Thomas of Aquino, the Angelical Doctor. Born about 1225-1227; educated in the Benedictine monastery at Monte Cassino, and at the University of Naples. Having resolved to become a Dominican friar, St. Thomas, after much opposition from his family, took the vows of obedience, celibacy, and poverty at Naples, in 1243. The remainder of his life was spent in the service of the Church at Paris, Cologne, Rome, Naples, Bologna. When on his way to attend the Second Council of Lyons, he died in the Benedictine abbey of Fossa Nuova, in the diocese of Terracina, in 1274. This hymn was written about 1263 for the office for use on Corpus Christi. It is found in the Roman, Mozarabic, York, Sarum, Aberdeen, Paris, and other Breviaries, its primary use being at Lauds in Corpus Christi.

I

The Word, proceeding from above,

Yet still at God’s right hand in heaven,

Came to His work impelled by love,

And soon life’s day declined to even.

II

A traitor in His chosen band

Betrays his Lord to death and grave;

But ere He died, with His own hand

Himself as food to man He gave.

III

In double form the gift was made;

He gave them of His flesh and blood,

That so the feast His love purveyed,

Might prove for man sufficient food.

IV

By birth a friend in Him we find;

As food He fills the festal board;

In death the ransom of our kind;

In heaven He is our great reward.

V

O Saving Sacrifice! that made

The gates of heaven stand open wide,

Be Thou our strength, come to our aid,

When foes would crush on every side.

VI

To Thee, Good Shepherd, who for meat

Dost give Thy flesh to feed Thine own,

To Father, and to Paraclete,

Be praise through ages yet unknown.

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