My God, and is Thy table spread,And does Thy cup with love o’erflow?Thither be all Thy children led,And let them all its sweetness know.
Hail, sacred feast, which Jesus makes,Rich banquet of His flesh and blood!Thrice happy he who here partakesThat sacred stream, that heav’nly food!
Why are its bounties all in vainBefore unwilling hearts displayed?Was not for the Victim slain?Are we forbid the children’s bread?
O let Thy table honored be,And furnished well with joyful guests;And may each soul salvation see,That here its sacred pledges tastes!
Let crowds approach, with hearts prepared;With warm desire let all attend;Nor, when we leave our Father’s board,The pleasures or the profit end.
HOW BEAUTIFUL THE MYSTERY © 2000 Eric Schumacher. Permission granted to reproduce unaltered text in nonsalable, temporary worship media. All other uses require the permission of the author.
How beautiful the mystery:Th’eternal Word comes downTo live and love and die and rise,To claim His victor’s crown.
Content we find Him cradled thereAmongst the filth and beasts.Who would believe that He will beOur guide from death to peace!
By angry swords and dark decreeHe’s driven from His land.But still He humbly bows His headTo trust His Father’s hand.
The spotless Lamb lays down His life,A curse upon a cross.Then lives that He might guaranteeThat no sheep will be lost.
O! May our hearts grow ever fondOf Mary’s precious boy:Our Christ, our hope, our heart’s desire,Our King and Sov’reign Joy!
O Savior, may we never restTill Thou art formed within,Till Thou hast calmed our troubled breast,And crushed the power of sin.
O may we gaze upon Thy cross,Until the wondrous sightMakes earthly treasures seem but dross,And earthly sorrows light.
Until, released from carnal ties,Our spirit upward springs,And sees true peace above the skies,True joy in heavenly things.
There as we gaze, may we becomeUnited, Lord, to Thee,And, in a fairer, happier home,Thy perfect beauty see.