A poem about the Eucharist that I recently discovered

[Carol in Cal.]

This was written as a hymn, by William Loehe, I am not sure of the date, but I believe it was written in the mid-1800's.  It's been translated into English fairly recently, and I think the words are breath-taking.

However, they are hard to grasp in sung form, so it's nice to lay them out as a poem and consider them.  I've sung this more than once in recent years, but didn't really see the breadth of what it was getting at, and the continuity between the verses, until I saw it written out this way recently.  If I were homeschooling right now, this is one we would probably memorize.

 

    Wide open stand the gates adorned with pearl,

While round God’s golden throne

The choirs of saints in endless circles curl,

    And joyous praise the Son!

They watch Him now descending

    To visit waiting earth.

The Lord of Life unending

    Brings dying hope new birth!

 

He speaks the Word the bread and wine to bless:

    “This is My flesh and blood!â€

He bids us eat and drink with thankfulness

    This gift of holy food.

All human thought must falter—

    Our God stoops low to heal,

Now present on the altar,

    For us both host and meal!

 

The cherubim, their faces veiled from light,

    While saints in wonder kneel,

Sing praise to Him whose face with glory bright

    No earthly masks conceal.

This sacrament God gives us

    Binds us in unity,

Joins earth with heav’n beyond us,

    Time with eternity!

 

 

[Faithr]

Beautiful!  What is the name?  Is there a youtube clip or something to hear the melody?

 

Thanks for posting this!

[freeindeed]

This is beautiful. Thank you for sharing.

[Carol in Cal.]

The title is the italicized first line.  Lutheran hymns usually are just called by their first lines.

 

I'll try to find the tune.  It's gorgeous.

[Carol in Cal.]

OK, here is a prelude based on the hymn tune, with just the hymn tune being played starting around minute 1:45.  

https://youtu.be/bCV8jHhJOxc