4

WITH JOY THIS FESTAL DAY.

(Matins.)

With joy this festal day
Let all the welkin ring,
And what the lip shall say
Be the heart's heralding,
And, as the Old departs,
Renewed be everything,

Voices and labors, hymns and hearts!

For now do we recall

The Supper of that night

When to His brethren all

The Lord of gracious might

The Lamb and Azyme-bread

Gave in the olden rite

By Jewry's fathers chronicled.

Then lo, the typic Board

Bears what it but foretold;

His Body did the Lord

Give to the Twelve: behold,

Himself entire to each,

While all entirely hold,

Christ gave, as holy faith doth teach.

Dedit fragilibus corporis ferculum, Dedit et tristibus sanguinis poculum, Dicens: Accipite quod trado vasculum, Omnes ex eo bibite.

Sic sacrificium istud instituit,
Cujus officium committi voluit
Solis presbyteris, quibus sic congruit,
Ut sumant, et dent ceteris.

Panis angelicus fit panis hominum;
Dat panis caelicus figuris terminum:
O res mirabilis, manducat Dominum
Pauper, servus, et humilis.

Te, trina Deitas unaque, poscimus,
Sic nos tu visita, sicut te colimus,
Per tuas semitas duc nos quo tendimus,
Ad lucem, quam inhabitas.

He gave to weakness then

The strength of heavenly Food;
To the sad hearts of men,

Wine of a gracious flood;
Saying: Receive ye this,

The chalice of My Blood;
O drink ye all-My Blood it is.

The Saviour in this wise

Did for our lowly sake
Ordain the Sacrifice,

And of its office make

The New Law's priest possessed,

Who should the first partake, And then distribute to the rest.

The very Angels' Bread

Doth food to men afford;

The types have vanished,

Remains the Truth adored:

O wondrous mystery!

Their banquet is the LordThe poor and lowly, bond and free.

O God forever blest,

O Three in One, we pray:

Visit the longing breast,

Enter this house of clay,

And lead us through the Night

Unto the perfect Day

Where dwellest Thou in endless light!

SACRIS SOLEMNIIS.

(In Rhymic Stanzas.)

Sacris solemniis

Juncta sint gaudia,
Et ex praecordiis
Sonent praeconia;
Recedant vetera,

Nova sint omnia,

Corda, voces et opera.

Noctis recolitur

Coena novissima,

Qua Christus creditur

Agnum et azyma

Dedisse fratribus

Juxta legitima

Priscis indulta patribus.

Post agnum typicum,

Expletis epulis,
Corpus Dominicum

Datum discipulis,

Sic totum omnibus

Quod totum singulis,

Ejus fatemur manibus.

UNTO THIS SOLEMN FEAST.

(Another Translation.)

Unto this solemn Feast

Your joyful praises bring,

And from the heart released

Let the new anthem spring;

And as the Old recedes,

Renewed be everything

Your hearts, your voices, and your deeds.

'Tis meet that we recall

The Supper, last and dread, When in the banquet hall

Christ His disciples fed,

On that most blessed night,
With lamb and azyme bread,
And thus fulfilled the ancient rite.

The typic lamb they ate

The Paschal rite was o'er;
And then-O marvel great!-
In His own hands He bore
The flesh ordained to save,
And then, in equal store,
To each and all His Body gave.