Holy Communion

Communion chant

He has given them a heavenly bread
and man has eaten the bread of angels.
He has given them a heavenly bread
we have received a bread of blessing:
the Body of Christ and his precious Blood.
The Lord. . . then took the bread,
and a saving drink, the chalice of life.
We have received the holy bread.
Let us bless the Lord who has done great things on all the earth. All the people, praise the Lord,
exult with joy in the Lord, O you just:
you have received the Body and Blood of Christ.
We give you thanks, O Christ, our God,
because you have deigned to share with us
your Body and your Blood, O Saviour;
you have drawn to yourself our hearts. . .

Fragment from an ancient Eucharistic liturgy

Communion chant

Your sacrament, Lord Jesus Christ,
gives life
and the remission of sins;
you have suffered the passion for our sake.

For us you have drunk gall to take from us all bitterness;

you have drunk a bitter wine for us to lift us from our weariness;

you have been despised for us,
that the dew of immortality might be poured upon us;

you have been beaten with scourges to ensure to our frailty eternal life;

you have been crowned with thorns that your faithful might be crowned with the evergreen laurels of love;

you have been wrapped in a winding sheet that we might be clothed in your strength;

you were laid in the tomb
that in a new age loving kindness might again be granted to us.

Fragment from an ancient eucharistic liturgy