Author: Johann Franck, 1618-77; Catherine Winkworth, 1827-78 Appears in 120 hymnals Lyrics: 1 Soul, adorn yourself with gladness;
Leave behind all gloom and sadness.
Come into the daylight's splendor;
There with joy your praises render
Unto him whose grace unbounded
Has this wondrous supper founded.
Though he reigns above most holy,
Deigns to dwell with you most lowly.
2 Hasten as a bride to meet him,
And with loving rev'rence greet him,
For with words of life immortal
He is knocking at your portal.
Open wide the gates before him,
Saying, as you there adore him:
Grant, Lord, that I now receive you,
That I nevermore will leave you.
3 He who craves a precious treasure
Neither cost nor pain will measure,
But the priceless gifts of heaven
God to us has freely given.
Though the wealth of earth were proffered,
Naught would buy the gifts here offered:
Christ's true body, for you riven,
And his blood, for you once given.
4 Now I kneel before you lowly,
Filled with joy most deep and holy,
As with trembling awe and wonder
On your mighty work I ponder,
How by mystery surrounded,
Depths that no one ever sounded.
None may dare to pierce unbidden
Secrets that with you are hidden.
5 Human reason, though it ponders,
Cannot fathom these great wonders,
That Christ's body must be boundless
Since the souls it feeds are countless,
And that he his blood is giving
With the wine we are receiving.
These great mysteries unsounded
Are by God alone expounded.
6 Lord, by love and mercy driven,
You have left your throne in heaven
On the cross for me to languish
And to die in bitter anguish,
To forgo all joy and gladness
And to shed your blood in sadness.
By this blood redeemed and living,
Lord, I praise you with thanksgiving.
7 Jesus, Sun of life, my Splendor,
Jesus, Friend of friends most tender,
Jesus, Joy of my desiring,
Fount of life, my soul inspiring -
At your feet I cry, my Maker:
Let me be a fit partaker
Of this blessed food from heaven
For our good, your glory, given.
8 Jesus, Lord of life, I pray you,
Let me gladly here obey you.
By your love I am invited;
Be your love with love requited.
By this supper let me measure,
Lord, how vast and deep love's treasure.
Through the gift of grace you give me
As your guest in heav'n receive me. Topics: Holy Communion; Holy Communion Used With Tune: SCHMÜCKE DICH Text Sources: Trans. The Lutheran Hymnal, St. Louis, 1941, st. 3, 5-6, alt.
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