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Thomas Aquinas, c. 1260; tr. Alexander R. Thompson, 1883·Patristic
Verse 1
Zion, to thy Saviour singing,
To thy Prince and Shepherd bringing
Sweetest hymns of love and praise,
Thou wilt never reach the measure
Of His worth, by all the treasure
Of thy most ecstatic lays.
Verse 2
Of all wonders that can thrill thee,
And with adoration fill thee,
What than this can greater be,
That Himself to thee He giveth?
He that eateth ever liveth,
For the Bread of Life is He.
Verse 3
Fill thy lips to overflowing
With sweet praise, His mercy showing
Who this heavenly table spread:
On this day so glad and holy,
To each longing spirit lowly
Giveth He the living Bread.
Verse 4
Here the King hath spread His table,
Whereon eyes of faith are able
Christ our Passover to trace:
Shadows of the law are going,
Light and life and truth inflowing,
Night to day is giving place.
Verse 5
Lo, this angels’ food descending,
Heavenly love is hither sending,
Hungry lips on earth to feed:
So the paschal lamb was given,
So the manna came from heaven,
Isaac was His type indeed.
Verse 6
O Good Shepherd, Bread life-giving,
Us, Thy grace and life receiving,
Feed and shelter evermore;
Thou on earth our weakness guiding,
We in heaven with Thee abiding
With all saints will Thee adore.
Presbyterian 1895 No. 329 · 8.8.7.8.8.7. · Stabat Mater
Anonymous (Latin, 6th cent.); tr. Robert Campbell, 1849·Patristic
Verse 1
At the Lamb’s high feast we sing
Praise to our victorious King,
Who hath washed us in the tide
Flowing from His piercèd side;
Praise we Him whose love Divine
Gives His sacred blood for wine,
Gives His body for the feast,
Christ the Victim, Christ the Priest.
Verse 2
Where the paschal blood is poured,
Death’s dark angel sheathes his sword;
Israel’s hosts triumphant go
Through the wave that drowns the foe.
Praise we Christ, whose blood is shed,
Paschal Victim, Paschal Bread;
With sincerity and love
Eat we manna from above.
Verse 3
Mighty Victim from the sky,
Powers of hell beneath Thee lie;
Death is conquered in the fight,
Thou hast brought us life and light:
Paschal triumph, paschal joy,
Only sin can this destroy;
From the death of sin set free
Souls re-born, dear Lord, in Thee.
Presbyterian 1895 No. 335 · 7.7.7.7.D. · St. George's, Windsor
Augustine·Patristic
Thus there are two cities, one of the wicked, the other of the just, which to endure from the beginning of the human race even to the end of time, which are now intermingled in body, but separated in will, and which, moreover, are to be separated in body also on the day of judgment. For all men who love pride and temporal dominion together with empty vanity and display of presumption, and all spirits who set their affections on such things and seek their own glory by the subjection of man, are bound fast together in one fellowship; and even though they frequently fight one with another for these ends, still they are flung headlong by an equal weight of desire into the same abyss, and are united to one another by the likeness of their ways and deserts. And again, all men and all spirits who humbly seek God’s glory, not their own, and who follow Him in godliness, belong to one fellowship. And yet God is most merciful and long-suffering toward ungodly men, and offers them room for repentance and amendment.
Augustine, Catechetical