Rejoice Sion
Sequences Group -

Praise, O Sion, praise your Saviour,
Shepherd, Prince, with glad behavior,
Praise in hymn and canticle:

Sing His glory without measure,
For the merit of your Treasure
Never shall your praises fill.

Wondrous theme of mortal singing,
Living Bread and Bread life-bringing.
Sing we on this joyful day:

At the Lords own table given
To the twelve as Bread from Heaven,
Doubting not we firmly say.

Sing His praise with voice sonorous;
Every heart shall hear the chorus
Swell in melody sublime:

For this day the Shepherd gave us
Flesh and blood to feed and save us,
Lasting to the end of time.

At the new King's sacred table,
The new Law's new Pasch is able
To succeed the ancient Rite:

Old to new its place hath given,
Truth has far the shadows driven,
Darkness flees before the Light.

And as He has done and planned it-
"Do this" -- hear His love command it,
"For a memory of me."

Learned, Lord in Your own science,
Bread and wine, in sweet compliance,
As a Host we offer You.

Thus in faith the Christian hears:
That Christ's Flesh as bread appears,
And as wine His Precious Blood:

Though we feel it not nor see it,
Living Faith that does decree it
All defects of sense makes good.

Lo! beneath the species dual
(Signs not things), is hid a jewel
Far beyond creation's reach!

Though His Flesh as food abides,
And His Blood as drink -- He hides
Undivided under each.

Whoever eats It can never
Break the Body, rend or sever;
Christ entire our hearts does fill:

Thousands eat the Bread of Heaven,
Yet as much to one is given:
Christ, though eaten, living still.

God and bad, they come to greet Him:
Unto life the former eat Him,
And the latter unto death;

These find death and those find heaven;
See, from the same life-seed given,
How the harvest differs!

When at last the Bread is broken,
Doubt not what the Lord has spoken:
In each part the same love token,
The same Christ, our hearts adore:

For no power the Thing divides --
'Tis the symbols He provides,
While the Saviour still abides
Undiminished as before.

Hail, angelic Bread of Heaven,
Now the pilgrim's hoping-leaven,
Yea, the Bread to children given
That to dogs must not be thrown:

In the figures contemplated,
was with Issac immolated,
By the Lamb was antedated,
In the Manna it was known.

O Good Shepherd, still confessing
Love, in spite of our transgressing,--
Here Your blessed Food possessing,
Make us share Your every blessing
In the land of life and love:

You, whose power has all completed
And Your Flesh as Food has meted,
Make us, at Your table seated,
By Your Saints, as friends be greeted,
In Your paradise above. Amen.