My church sang “The Church’s One foundation” (AURELIA) today. While I think this parish does keep it in rotation, it is not really one I am familiar from other parishes (we have only been members a few years). In fact, the lyrics of this one really struck me today, so I don’t even think they use it very often, but I must hear the tune elsewhere. They also sing “Faith of Our Fathers” (ST. CATHERINE) regularly, which again, I wasn’t familiar with outside this parish. (I am probably not a good judge, as I went to charismatic parish growing up, and then my Catholic college used a more contemporary hymnal).
I love “O God Beyond All Praising” (THAXTED) but it is not in our hymnal, so I never hear it.
Also “I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say” (KINGSFOLD), is one of my favorites, but I understand there is not always a good place for it, so it is not used much.
We use The Church’s One Foundation and I heard the Voice of Jesus say very often.
This weekend we sang the following hymn after Communion a
beautiful hymn that only appears maybe 3 times a year:
O Bread of Heaven
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Text:
O Bread of Heaven, beneath this veil
Thou dost my very God conceal:
My Jesus, dearest treasure, hail!
I love Thee and, adoring, kneel;
Each loving soul by Thee is fed
With Thine own Self in form of Bread.
O food of life, Thou Who dost give
The pledge of immortality;
I live, no 'tis not I that live;
God gives me life, God lives in me:
He feeds my soul, He guides my ways,
And every grief with joy repays.
O Bond of love that dost unite
The servant to his living Lord;
Could I dare live and not requite
Such love - then death were meet reward:
I cannot live unless to prove
Some love for such unmeasured love.
Beloved Lord, in Heaven above
There, Jesus, Thou awaitest me,
To gaze on Thee with endless love;
Yes, thus I hope, thus shall it be:
For how can He deny me Heaven,
Who here on earth Himself hath given?