O BREAD OF HEAVEN
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.
Edmund Vaughan (1827 - 1908)
From St Alphonsus Liguori
1
O BREAD OF HEAVEN
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.
Edmund Vaughan (1827 - 1908)
From St Alphonsus Liguori
2
O BREAD OF HEAVEN
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.
Edmund Vaughan (1827 - 1908)
From St Alphonsus Liguori
3
O BREAD OF HEAVEN
My dearest God! Who dost so bind
My heart with countless
claims to Thee!
O sweetest love, my soul shall find
In Thy dear bonds true liberty.
Thyself Thou hast bestowed on me;
Thine, Thine for ever, I will be.
Edmund Vaughan (1827 - 1908)
From St Alphonsus Liguori
4
O BREAD OF HEAVEN
O mighty fire, Thou that dost burn
To kindle every mind and heart!
For Thee my frozen soul doth yearn;
Come, Lord of love,
Thy warmth impart;
If thus to speak too bold appear,
‘Tis love like Thine
has banished fear.
Edmund Vaughan (1827 - 1908)
From St Alphonsus Liguori
5
O BREAD OF HEAVEN
O sweetest dart of love divine!
If I have sinned,
then vengeance take;
Come pierce this guilty
heart of mine,
And let it die for His dear sake
Who once expired on Calvary,
His heart pierced through, �for love of me.
Edmund Vaughan (1827 - 1908)
From St Alphonsus Liguori
6
O BREAD OF HEAVEN
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?
Edmund Vaughan (1827 - 1908)
From St Alphonsus Liguori
7