I Am The Bread Of Life

[MissyP89]

This weekend's Gospel ends with Jesus telling us that He is the Bread of Life, and all who come to Him shall not hunger, etc. Anyone that's been to a Novus Ordo Mass in the US in the last 30 years has probably heard the hymn based of this Gospel passage at least 73,000 times.

So, I'm just curious to see how many parishes in the pham used the hymn this weekend. Mine did.

[size=1](Of course, in all of our music ministry's insanity, we sang that, and then followed it up with Panis Angelicus entirely in Latin, so go figure. )[/size]

[b]N.B.[/b] To clarify, I want to know if your parish used the hymn, not necessarily whether or not you personally joined in the singing. I know a lot of people don't sing it for various reasons. Pax!

Edited August 1, 2009 by MissyP89

[VeniteAdoremus]

I did not sing it, for two reasons:

1. The crazy people here in my mum's parish insist on liturgy and hymns in either Latin or French (I hear more parishes in France have that problem)
2. I am not the Bread of Life. I'm not even Living Bread.

I did [i]see[/i] living bread once when I found my old lunch box in a bag that my dad's cleaning lady had stuffed in the hallway closet a couple of weeks earlier, but strangely enough that didn't entice me to burst into song.

[CatherineM]

By which composer? There are two different ones in our hymnal.

[MissyP89]

[quote name='CatherineM' post='1938274' date='Aug 1 2009, 07:45 PM']By which composer? There are two different ones in our hymnal.[/quote]

Either works.

[puellapaschalis]

When at primary school I sang a hymn which went thusly:

I am the Bread of Life
He who comes to Me shall not hunger
He who believes in Me shall not thirst
...and I don't remember the rest of the verse, but the chorus went something like:

And I will raaaaaaaaaaiiiiise him uuuuup
And I will raaaaaaaaaaiiiiise him uuuuup
And I will raaaaaaaaaaaaaaaiiiiiiissssseeee him uuuuuppppp on the laaaaaasssst day!

But I highly doubt we'll be singing it here.

[MissyP89]

[quote name='puellapaschalis' post='1938279' date='Aug 1 2009, 07:55 PM']When at primary school I sang a hymn which went thusly:

I am the Bread of Life
He who comes to Me shall not hunger
He who believes in Me shall not thirst
...and I don't remember the rest of the verse, but the chorus went something like:

And I will raaaaaaaaaaiiiiise him uuuuup
And I will raaaaaaaaaaiiiiise him uuuuup
And I will raaaaaaaaaaaaaaaiiiiiiissssseeee him uuuuuppppp on the laaaaaasssst day!

But I highly doubt we'll be singing it here.[/quote]

That's the one!

[puellapaschalis]

[quote name='MissyP89' post='1938293' date='Aug 2 2009, 02:15 AM']That's the one![/quote]

Does the second half of the first verse go:

No-one can come to Me
Unless the Father call him

?

(bizarre what comes to mind at TWENTY PAST TWO IN THE FRIGGIN' MORNING ARGH)

[CatherineM]

Yeah, it's not Sunday here yet. Don't know what we are going to be singing.

[InHisLove726]

I very much despise that song. It's theologically incorrect. I will not sing it, or any other song that puts me in the place of God. I want to shout: "I am not the Bread of Life! Jesus IS!"

I'll let you know if we use it in Mass tomorrow. I hope we don't. There's a new cantor who is classically trained in voice, and since she came, we've been enjoying "Panis Angelicus" and "Pie Jesu."

Edited August 2, 2009 by InHisLove726

[Vincent Vega]

Of course, we sang it. I like it.
[quote name='InHisLove726' post='1938324' date='Aug 1 2009, 07:45 PM']I very much despise that song. It's theologically incorrect. I will not sing it, or any other song that puts me in the place of God. I want to shout: "I am not the Bread of Life! Jesus IS!" [/quote]
I think of songs like that more along the lines of telling a story or even something like reciting scripture. Just like "Be Not Afraid", I'm not actually asking my fellow parishioners to come follow me, and promising that I will give them rest. I think it's widely understood that it's supposed to be the words of Jesus, and not whoever is singing it at the time. It's for that reason that I don't mind singing either of those hymns, or others like it.

Edited August 2, 2009 by USAirwaysIHS

[InHisLove726]

[quote name='USAirwaysIHS' post='1938397' date='Aug 1 2009, 09:50 PM']Of course, we sang it. I like it.

I think of songs like that more along the lines of telling a story or even something like reciting scripture. Just like "Be Not Afraid", I'm not actually asking my fellow parishioners to come follow me, and promising that I will give them rest. I think it's widely understood that it's supposed to be the words of Jesus, and not whoever is singing it at the time. It's for that reason that I don't mind singing either of those hymns, or others like it.[/quote]

+JMJT+

I just have a lot of trouble with those songs. I know it's supposed to be like a story, but I don't like putting myself in the place of God in those songs. I don't completely despise all contemporary music, but I prefer Latin hymns.

Edited August 2, 2009 by InHisLove726

[Norseman82]

[quote name='InHisLove726' post='1938463' date='Aug 1 2009, 10:49 PM']+JMJT+

I just have a lot of trouble with those songs. I know it's supposed to be like a story, but I don't like putting myself in the place of God in those songs. I don't completely despise all contemporary music, but I prefer Latin hymns. [/quote]

We did not sing it this week. I do not know if there are plans to sing it next week.

However, I do believe that the song is probably the most IN YOUR FACE defense of the Real Presence that I've heard, so, unless and until the Pope issues an outright ban of the song, I have no problem singing it.

[zunshynn]

[quote name='Norseman82' post='1938903' date='Aug 2 2009, 09:43 AM']However, I do believe that the song is probably the most IN YOUR FACE defense of the Real Presence that I've heard, so, unless and until the Pope issues an outright ban of the song, I have no problem singing it.[/quote]

Have you ever heard Ave Verum? I think that is a way more in your face defense of the Real Presence...

[quote]Hail, true Body, born
of the Virgin Mary,
truly suffered, sacrificed
on the cross for man,
whose pierced side
flowed with water and blood:
May it be for us a foretaste
in the trial of death.[/quote]

[quote]I am the bread of life
He who comes to Me shall not hunger
He who believes in Me shall not thirst
No one can come to Me
Unless the Father draw him

And I will raise him up
And I will raise him up
And I will raise him up on the last day

The bread that I will give
Is My flesh for the life of the world
And he who eats of this bread
He shall live for ever
He shall live for ever

Unless you eat
Of the flesh of the Son of Man
And drink of His blood
And drink of His blood
You shall not have life within you

I am the resurrection
I am the life
He who believes in Me
Even if he die
He shall live for ever

Yes, Lord, we believe
That You are the Christ
The Son of God
Who has come
Into the world[/quote]

I don't know, I dislike it more because it gives me a headache than it's theological inaccuracy. It's one of those songs that always sounds like wailing no matter what.

I think as a "story" kind of song it is theologically okay... but I don't think that type of song is really appropriate for mass, least of all communion. It's a time of adoration, not apologetics... It's not about defending or learning about the Eucharist, it's about worshipping the Eucharist.

Songs addressed TO God are what we really should be singing... We sing so many songs that are about us... about being a community, about what God does for us... rather than a direct act of thanksgiving, or adoration. I think that's a problem that has subtly caused us to have this mentality that I'm supposed to be noticeably "getting something out of Mass" for it to be worth it.

[Resurrexi]

[quote name='zunshynn' post='1938920' date='Aug 2 2009, 11:35 AM']Have you ever heard Ave Verum? I think that is a way more in your face defense of the Real Presence...[/quote]

I love "Ave Verum". It is the first prayer that I pray whenever I go to adoration.

Edited August 2, 2009 by Resurrexi

[zunshynn]

Let me clarify my previous post a little... I'm not saying anything against songs in defense of the Eucharist, in and of themselves. But I think when you're actually WITH Jesus Christ, the True Bread of Life, it is a greater testimony of faith in the Real Presence to be singing to Him, then singing about Him.