[Pardon me if there have been a/some previous discussion(s) of this question. If so, would someone comment on where a similar thread (or threads) may be found.]
In the discussion entitled Corpus Christi Sequence in English? I noted that St. Thomas Aquinas' Latin sequence uses the word "caro" (flesh), which is not used in the Church's dogma defined at the Council of Trent three centuries later. Aquinas' wording has been allowed to stand for the next 450 years.
I'm led to ask about other eucharistic hymns, what are the "rules," if you will, for communion hymns which contain the word "bread"? How do they conform to the Church's eucharistic doctrine, particularly the doctrine of transubstantiation?
Most folks probably would have no problem with biblical titles containing the word "bread" being used in the texts of communion songs, even though the words are going to be sung after the words of consecration have been prayed. So these would probably be acceptable to most people: Bread of Life; Bread come down from heaven; Living Bread; heavenly bread; heavenly food; Bread of Angels, etc.
What about quoting or paraphrasing a passage from one of the letters of Saint Paul: when we eat this bread and drink this cup, we proclaim... Is it OK to sing those words while eating and drinking the Body and Blood of Christ?
Or this text which joins paraphrases of 1 Cor. 10:16-17 and Eph. 4:4-6: One bread, one body, one Lord of all, one cup of blessing which we bless...
What about this line from "Gift of Finest Wheat": Do not one cup, one loaf declare our oneness in the Lord?
What about this line from Sylvia Dunstan's "All Who Hunger": All who hunger, gather gladly; Holy manna is our bread.
I remember hearing some bishops from the United States, at meetings of he USCCB, say that the words "bread" and "wine" should never to included in a communion song. Of course, such statements are over the top and overlook many passages from Scripture.
In Worship IV generally the words "Bread" and "Cup" have been capitalized in communion songs. The text of the refrain to Fr. Liam Lawton's "Where Two or Three Are Gathered" is presented with these capitalizations: Here in the Bread that is broken, here in the Cup that is poured, here in the Word that is spoken: Jesus Christ is Lord!
I think the word "wine" is used only in James Montgomery's "Shepherd of Soul." There the term "heav'nly wine" is uncapitalized.
Is the use of capitalizations (which, of course, cannot be "heard" when the hymns are sung) sufficient in safeguarding Catholic eucharistic doctrine, especially in hymns which talk about "breaking bread" and "drinking the cup"?
In the discussion entitled Corpus Christi Sequence in English? I noted that St. Thomas Aquinas' Latin sequence uses the word "caro" (flesh), which is not used in the Church's dogma defined at the Council of Trent three centuries later. Aquinas' wording has been allowed to stand for the next 450 years.
I'm led to ask about other eucharistic hymns, what are the "rules," if you will, for communion hymns which contain the word "bread"? How do they conform to the Church's eucharistic doctrine, particularly the doctrine of transubstantiation?
Most folks probably would have no problem with biblical titles containing the word "bread" being used in the texts of communion songs, even though the words are going to be sung after the words of consecration have been prayed. So these would probably be acceptable to most people: Bread of Life; Bread come down from heaven; Living Bread; heavenly bread; heavenly food; Bread of Angels, etc.
What about quoting or paraphrasing a passage from one of the letters of Saint Paul: when we eat this bread and drink this cup, we proclaim... Is it OK to sing those words while eating and drinking the Body and Blood of Christ?
Or this text which joins paraphrases of 1 Cor. 10:16-17 and Eph. 4:4-6: One bread, one body, one Lord of all, one cup of blessing which we bless...
What about this line from "Gift of Finest Wheat": Do not one cup, one loaf declare our oneness in the Lord?
What about this line from Sylvia Dunstan's "All Who Hunger": All who hunger, gather gladly; Holy manna is our bread.
I remember hearing some bishops from the United States, at meetings of he USCCB, say that the words "bread" and "wine" should never to included in a communion song. Of course, such statements are over the top and overlook many passages from Scripture.
In Worship IV generally the words "Bread" and "Cup" have been capitalized in communion songs. The text of the refrain to Fr. Liam Lawton's "Where Two or Three Are Gathered" is presented with these capitalizations: Here in the Bread that is broken, here in the Cup that is poured, here in the Word that is spoken: Jesus Christ is Lord!
I think the word "wine" is used only in James Montgomery's "Shepherd of Soul." There the term "heav'nly wine" is uncapitalized.
Is the use of capitalizations (which, of course, cannot be "heard" when the hymns are sung) sufficient in safeguarding Catholic eucharistic doctrine, especially in hymns which talk about "breaking bread" and "drinking the cup"?