Sacred Music Online

Lauda Sion (Corpus Christi Sequence)

Words: Thomas Aquinas (Translated by Robert Loretz)
Music: Robert Loretz, adapted from J.S.Bach Prelude in Cm, Bk. 2
This is a setting of the sequence for the feast of Corpis Christi, or The Solemnity of the Body and Blood of the Lord." The music is the same as that used for the sequence for Pentecost Sunday, "Holy Spirit, Lord of Light". The sequence can be sung between the second reading and the Alleluia, or if this is not desirable due to its length, it could be used as a communion hymn on that day or other days. The words were composed by St. Thomas Aquinas, especially for the feast, which began in his era, and they are a rich summary of many aspects of his Eucharistic theology.

1. Sion ever praise your Saviour, dare to pour your hearts full fervour into ev'ry hymn you raise, Yet as much as you can muster, He will always be the greater and exceed your feeble praise.
2. For today our special anthem sings of Bread not only living but lifegiving in its pow'r, We affirm this is the manna that He handed to His brothers in that sacred banquet's hour.
3. Let our praise be full and joyful, let it manifest a youthful jubilation of the mind, For a solemn feast commences, we recall the institution of this Meal unique in kind.
4. Older rituals are ended, for the new King has ascended, the new Pasch and the new law, Newness chases out the older, truth replaves shadows colder, daylight causes frost to thaw.
5. All that Christ that night accomplished, He commissions to continue in His sacred memory. With so holy an instruction, bread and wine once consecrated now the saving Victim be.
6. Bread to holy Flesh now passes, and the wine to Blood He changes, as His sacred words affirm, What's beyond all understanding and the order of our senses, we must by our faith hold firm.

7. Underneath the signs external, of the bread and wine's appearance, deeper mysteries reside, Flesh for eating, Blood for drinking, yet the one Christ whole and living is received on either side.
8. Not consumed is He in eating, neither severed, He, nor broken, Godhead, Body, Blood and Soul, Be it one host or a thousand, Christ is always undivided, though partaken, always whole.
9. To the good who are approaching and the evil likewise taking, diff'rent shares of death and life, To the good it is salvation, to the wicked condemnation, one sole food gives bliss or strife.
10. Once the sacrament is broken, one same Jesus is partaken in the whole as in the part, When the sign is thus divided, what is signified remaineth, with His full life to impart.
11. For behold the bread of angels is to be the food of pilgrims, lifting them to Paradise, Once foretold in ancient figures, Paschal lamb and manna given, Isaac led to sacrifice.
12. Truest Bread and Shepherd holy, show Your mercy to the lowly, fill us with Your saving grace, You all powerful and seeing, nourish now our mortal being, till we see You face to face.

Signup to Access

Unlimited access
License for non-commercial use
Complete audio & scores
Individual

US $99 /year

For personal, non-commercial use
Get Started
Church/Parish

US $99 /year

For church services
Get Started
Diocese

US $799 /year

For use in church services throughout the diocese
Get Started

Related Sacred Music

Magnificat

This is a setting of Mary’s Magnificat, suitable for soloist or congregation. It has a recurring refrain of the opening…

O God of Truth

This hymn takes the words of St. Ambrose of Milan and adds the invocation in Hebrew: "Yeshua Maranatha" (Come Lord…

Where Your Heart Is, There Will Be Your Treasure

This hymn is based on two gospel passages.The first is from the sermon on the mount and is an exhortation…

To Love God Above All Things

The chorus of the this hymn can be used as a stand alone hymn. The words are adapted from Venerable…

The Lamb His Sheep Redeems

This hymn is especially good for the Easter Season from Easter Sunday until Pentecost but can also be used in…

O Beauty Ever Ancient

This hymn uses a hauntingly beautiful Norwegian folk melody to set words adapted from the Confessions of St. Augustine, from…

I Have Surrendered

This hymn is a setting of a poem of St. Teresa of Avila, in which her soul sings of the…

God Loved The World So Much

A Glory Yet Unseen

This proclamation of Mary's Coronation uses the music from "This Joyful Eastertide", which adds to the festive air of celebration.

Our affordable 
plans

Unlimited access
License for non-commercial use
Complete audio & scores
Individual

US $99 /year

For personal, non-commercial use
Get Started
Church/Parish

US $99 /year

For church services
Get Started
Diocese

US $799 /year

For use in church services throughout the diocese
Get Started
Our Testimonials

What others are saying about us

Sacred Music Online offers a rich musical resource for the glory of God, that truly touches the soul. 

When reverent music carries profound truth, it disposes us to a deeper encounter in prayer. Trivial texts and music only undermine this, no matter how good the intention. May the hymns, psalms and Mass settings offered here, help foster worship in spirit and in truth. 
Follow Us
2022, Sacred Music Online - Terms of Service
chevron-downtext-align-left