Music: "I, myself, am the bread of life"?

[John_Lilburne]

To understand the hymn this extract from the Catechism of the Catholic Church, may be helpful:
"1396 The unity of the Mystical Body: the Eucharist makes the Church. Those who receive the Eucharist are united more closely to Christ. Through it Christ unites them to all the faithful in one body—the Church. Communion renews, strengthens, and deepens this incorporation into the Church, already achieved by Baptism. In Baptism we have been called to form but one body.233 The Eucharist fulfills this call: "The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread:"234

If you are the body and members of Christ, then it is your sacrament that is placed on the table of the Lord; it is your sacrament that you receive. To that which you are you respond “Amen” (“yes, it is true!”) and by responding to it you assent to it. For you hear the words, “the Body of Christ” and respond “Amen.” Be then a member of the Body of Christ that your Amen may be true.235"
Footnotes:
233 Cf. 1 Cor 12:13.
234 1 Cor 10:16-17.
235 St. Augustine, Sermo 272: PL 38, 1247.

The sermon by St. Augustine is at americancatholictruthsociety.com/docs/augustine/sermon272.htm .

 

[gwenred]

OK, going out on a limb here, but I have always liked this song. The actual words of the song are in italics, my interpretation below it.

REFRAIN:
I myself am the bread of life. (I’ve always assumed this to be spoken by Jesus)
*You and I are the bread of life *(we are what we eat - when we live in Him, he lives in us)
*Taken and blessed, broken and shared by Christ,
that the world might live * (the life of a Christian is to be Christ to one another)

VERSE 1:
This bread is spirit,
gift of the Maker’s love,
and we who share it
know that we can be one:
A Living sign of God in Christ.

(This bread is spirit has always bothered me a little, but not enough to throw the song out. I always think of it as the bread becomes Jesus, so His spirit enters us through it)

VERSE 2:
Here is God’s kingdom,
given to us as food.
This is our body, this is our blood:
A living sign of God in Christ.

(God’s kingdom can all be found right there in the Eucharist - once we eat it, He lives in us - He gave it for us, making it “ours”.)

VERSE 3:
Lives broken open,
stories shared aloud,
become a banquet,
A shelter for the world:
A living sign of God in Christ

We bring ourselves and offer ourselves with the Mass. Jesus takes it and turns it into a banquet, shelter for the world, refuge of sinners, etc … .

Alright, I’ve admitted it. I like it . . .

 

[Walking_Home]

This thread reminded me of the following—it goes along the same lines.

ewtn.com/vexperts/showmessage.asp?Pgnu=2&Pg=Forum8&recnu=27&number=509018

Questionable Songs
Question from Connie on 7/13/2007:

I am a choir member at our parish and we use the Gather Hymnal. I believe many of the songs we use are not liturgically correct. Recently we sang “Let Us Be Bread” with words, “Let us be bread, blessed by the Lord, broken and shared, life for the world.” “Let us be wine, etc.” Is this hymn O.K., or is it liturgically incorrect? Thank you.

Answer by Colin B. Donovan, STL on 7/31/2007:
While there is an authentic sense by which having become one with the One Bread who came down from heaven, Jesus Christ, we are to be christs to others, unless this is part of repertoire of hymns that reflect the fullness of Church teaching on the Eucharist, it suggests the wrong-headed, “We are Church, We are Eucharist” mentality. In some quarters Catholic Eucharistic faith has been replaced by faith in the assembly. If that seems to be the case, then such hymns are pastorally unjust and uncharitable for the incomplete teaching they communicate.

 

[masondoggy]

OK, going out on a limb here, but I have always liked this song. The actual words of the song are in italics, my interpretation below it.

REFRAIN:
I myself am the bread of life. (I’ve always assumed this to be spoken by Jesus)
*You and I are the bread of life *(we are what we eat - when we live in Him, he lives in us)
Taken and blessed, broken and shared by Christ,
*that the world might live *(the life of a Christian is to be Christ to one another)

VERSE 1:
*This bread is spirit, *
gift of the Maker’s love,
*and we who share it *
know that we can be one:
A Living sign of God in Christ.

(This bread is spirit has always bothered me a little, but not enough to throw the song out. I always think of it as the bread becomes Jesus, so His spirit enters us through it)

VERSE 2:
*Here is God’s kingdom, *
given to us as food.
This is our body, this is our blood:
A living sign of God in Christ.

(God’s kingdom can all be found right there in the Eucharist - once we eat it, He lives in us - He gave it for us, making it “ours”.)

VERSE 3:
Lives broken open,
*stories shared aloud, *
become a banquet,
A shelter for the world:
A living sign of God in Christ

We bring ourselves and offer ourselves with the Mass. Jesus takes it and turns it into a banquet, shelter for the world, refuge of sinners, etc … .

Alright, I’ve admitted it. I like it . . .

That’s how I’ve always interpreted the song. And I’ve always liked it too. (…could be because the choir always did an awesome job at that song when I was growing up?? )

 

[gwenred]

That’s how I’ve always interpreted the song. And I’ve always liked it too. (…could be because the choir always did an awesome job at that song when I was growing up?? )

Thanks for posting, Mason - it’s nice not to have to sit on the limb all alone!

 

[PaixGioiaAmor]

Could we put the debate on this song to rest?

This isn’t hard. Christ literally becomes bread for us. We are called to BECOME what we receive; to be food for the poor, to be a form of Eucharist to the world. We ARE the bread of life - figuratively, for those who don’t get this - to the world. This is what Eucharist is about - we receive Jesus Christ, than we manifest Him to the world. That’s what this song is about.

On a totally personal note: I hate the song. It’s **** - not because it uses bad theology, but because the music is trite and the poetry not well written.

But it’s not heretical.

 

[Jenny_Z]

A few years ago I had the misfortune of attending a so-called mass celebrated by a priest of a fringe group. He began “In the name of the father and mother and child and holy spirit”. And it went downhill from there.

Hosts and wine were distributed with the words “You are the Body/Blood of Christ. R: I am.”

I think that would have sent me running out of the church faster than liturgical dancers…

 

[puzzleannie]

IMO this song is heretical, but since so much of what passes for liturgical music these days shares its faults, we have lost sensitivity to such expressions. It is one of the top ten gag-me-with-a-spoon songs for me.

In our parish we are not allowed to use hymns in which the cantor or singers speak for Christ in the first person, and the Gather hymnals (which were donated many years ago and destroyed in storm damage last year) will not be replaced while this pastor is around. Even more repulsive to this pastor are songs, like the one under discussion, in which the congregation worships and glorifies itself rather than Christ.

 

[Conciliar]

Could we put the debate on this song to rest?

This isn’t hard. Christ literally becomes bread for us. We are called to BECOME what we receive; to be food for the poor, to be a form of Eucharist to the world. We ARE the bread of life - figuratively, for those who don’t get this - to the world. This is what Eucharist is about - we receive Jesus Christ, than we manifest Him to the world. That’s what this song is about.

On a totally personal note: I hate the song. It’s **** - not because it uses bad theology, but because the music is trite and the poetry not well written.

But it’s not heretical.

No, it’s not hard. The simple fact that we’re debating the lyrics says it all.

The lyrics do not serve as solid catechesis. At best they only serve to confuse and blur Eucharistic theology, and this precisely at the moment when we are about to receive the Real Presence of Christ.

If you believe recent polls, a ghastly number of Catholics do not believe in the Real Presence of Christ and see the Eucharist as symbolic. Does this song promote orthodoxy, or does it reinforce mistaken beliefs?

If a pastor or music director is truly concerned to promte an understanding of the idea that we are to become that which we receive, they’d avoid this song like the plague.

 

[PaixGioiaAmor]

No, it’s not hard. The simple fact that we’re debating the lyrics says it all.

The lyrics do not serve as solid catechesis. At best they only serve to confuse and blur Eucharistic theology, and this precisely at the moment when we are about to receive the Real Presence of Christ.

If you believe recent polls, a ghastly number of Catholics do not believe in the Real Presence of Christ and see the Eucharist as symbolic. Does this song promote orthodoxy, or does it reinforce mistaken beliefs?

If a pastor or music director is truly concerned to promte an understanding of the idea that we are to become that which we receive, they’d avoid this song like the plague.

The fact that we are debating it says nothing about the song. It says something about the pedestrian, pre-school level understanding of theology that most Catholics have.

 

[PaixGioiaAmor]

IMO this song is heretical, but since so much of what passes for liturgical music these days shares its faults, we have lost sensitivity to such expressions. It is one of the top ten gag-me-with-a-spoon songs for me.

In our parish we are not allowed to use hymns in which the cantor or singers speak for Christ in the first person, Why not? This is short sighted. This would only be confusing if people really are stupid - something, by the way, that people on this board have argued against, claiming that “liturgists treat people like they are stupid”. Well, apparantly, they are. and the Gather hymnals (which were donated many years ago and destroyed in storm damage last year) will not be replaced while this pastor is around. Even more repulsive to this pastor are songs, like the one under discussion, in which the congregation worships and glorifies itself rather than Christ. As I said in my earlier post, that’s not what this song is about.

 

[VociMike]

The fact that we are debating it says nothing about the song. It says something about the pedestrian, pre-school level understanding of theology that most Catholics have.

Then don’t give those dumb little old Catholics lyrics which are bound to confuse their dumb little old heads and make them think dumb little old heretical thoughts. IMDLOO

 

[mdgspencer]

How about singing “I am the Holy Ghost?” That would be challenging and disturbing too. Besides some other things.
When Jesus said I am the bread of life in John 6 he was saying he was the eucharist.

I am pleased to see that the lyrics of the hymn have had the desired effect. The people listening and singing are disturbed by the idea that as the Church visible in the world they are to be salt of the earth, bread of life to the community around them. It is indeed a challenging and disturbing thought. I bow my head in shame at such words because I know how poorly I measure up to the ideal of Christian behavior.
Far from being heretical, it is a call to live the gospel.

Matthew

 

[VAC]

The fact that we are debating it says nothing about the song. It says something about the pedestrian, pre-school level understanding of theology that most Catholics have.

I absolutely agree that there is massive widespread poor catechesis. I believe that the CCD system needs an overhaul, but I have no idea how to fix it. Clearer messages in song lyrics might be a start.

 

[VociMike]

How about singing “I am the Holy Ghost?” That would be challenging and disturbing too.

Or perhaps we could sing “You and I are the way and the truth and the life.” I’m sure some symbolic justification for that could be invented as well.

 

[PaixGioiaAmor]

Or perhaps we could sing “You and I are the way and the truth and the life.” I’m sure some symbolic justification for that could be invented as well.

Not really.

And to say that we become the bread of life to the world is hardly “inventing” anything. It’s the Gospel.

 

[BigFeet]

And to say that we become the bread of life to the world is hardly “inventing” anything. It’s the Gospel.

Please quote chapter and verse for this.

 

[scylla]

The fact that we are debating it says nothing about the song. It says something about the pedestrian, pre-school level understanding of theology that most Catholics have.

You are right, most Catholics have been dumbed down, have had crummy teaching.

We need solid direct, clear teaching, that informs and challenges us to seek our salvation and to share the message of salvation, as people have been poorly lead for many years now and countless souls are being loss.

God Bless
Scylla

 

[JimR-OCDS]

Or perhaps we could sing “You and I are the way and the truth and the life.” I’m sure some symbolic justification for that could be invented as well.

Going over the deep end aren’t cha?

None of the hymns complained about on this forum, like “I Am The Bread, Of Life,” say anything close.

I guess you have to think outside your own little box to understand the meaning of such hymns.

Jim

 

[puzzleannie]

I’ve heard the song for years, I’ve hated the song for years, I know perfectly well what it is about, which is confusing the Mystical Body of Christ created by His action in the Paschal Mystery, with the congregation, and implies it is their actions which create Eucharist and community. That is heresy.

you asked for my opinion. I gave it. I also stated current parish policy on hymn lyrics. You can certainly attack my opinion, but don’t attack the policy I didn’t set it. If you don’t want my opinion, please do not solicit it.