Sing today, the mystery showing
Of the living, life-bestowing
Bread before thee set.

E'en the same of old provided,
Where the twelve, divinely guided,
At the holy Table met.

Full and clear ring out they chanting,
Joy nor sweetest grace be wanting
To thy heart and soul today;

When we gather up the measure
Of that Supper and its treassure,
Keeping feast in glad array.

Lo, the new King's Table gracing,
This new Passover of blessing
Hath fulfilled the elder rite:

Now the new the old effaceth,
Truth revealed the shadow chaseth,
Day is breaking on the night.

His own act, at supper seated,
Christ ordained to be repeated,
In His memory divine.

Wherefore, now, with adoration,
We the Host of our salvation
Consecrate from bread and wine.

This the truth to Christians given-
Bread becomes His Flesh from heaven,
Wine becomes His holy Blood.

Doth it pass thy comprehending?
Faith, the law of sight transcending,
Leaps to things not understood.

Yea, beneath these signs are hidden
Glorious things to sight forbidden:
Look not on the outward sign.

Wine is poured and Bread is broken,
But in either sacred token
Christ is here by power divine.

Whoso of this Food partaketh,
Rendeth not the Lord nor breaketh:
Christ is whole to all that taste.

Thousands are, as one, receivers,
One, as thousands of believers,
Takes the food that cannot waste.

Good and evil men are sharing
One repast, a doom preparing
Varied as the heart of man.

Doom of life or death awarded,
As their days shall be recorded
Which from one beginning ran.

When the Sacrament is broken,
Doubt not in each severed token,
Hallowed by the word once spoken,
Resteth all the true content:

Naught the precious Gift divideth,
Breaking but the sign betideth,
He Himself the same abideth,
Nothing of His fulness spent.

Lo! the Angels' Food is given
To the pilgrim who hath striven;
See the children's Bread from heaven,
Which on dogs may not be spent.

Truth, the ancient types fulfilling,
Isaac bound, a victim willing,
Paschal lamb, its life-blood spilling,
Manna to the fathers sent.

Very Bread, good Shepherd, tend us,
Jesu, of Thy love befriend us,
Thou refresh us, Thou defend us,
Thine eternal goodness send us
In the land of life to see:

Thou Who all things canst and knowest,
Who on earth such Food bestowest,
Grant us with Thy Saints, though lowest,
Where the heavenly Feast Thou showest,
Fellow-heirs and guest to be. Amen.