Ave Verum Corpus

During the Maundy Thursday service this evening, I sang in the choir for the first time in almost a year. With my transportation issues, moving, getting shingles, etc etc, it has been too difficult to keep up attending all of the choir practices and church services. I miss singing.

Tonight, I decided to join the choir on a whim and one of the beautiful songs we sang was Ave Verum Corpus by Mozart. Music like this is one of the millions of reasons I love being a Christian. Imagine singing pieces like this as a congregation, in a choir, alone in my house- along with Celtic, gospel, folk, any other culture infused music EVERY WEEK and which describes grace, forgiveness, divine love and power. That to me, is like having God breathe new life and strength into the inner fibers of my weary bones and broken spirit.

This video has Spanish subtitles, but the choir is singing in Latin.

The Latin words:

Ave verum corpus, natum
de Maria Virgine,
vere passum, immolatum
in cruce pro homine,
cuius latus perforatum
fluxit aqua et sanguine:
esto nobis praegustatum
in mortis examine.


The English translation:

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


Because of Christ's love demonstrated to us in laying down his life to forgive our sin and bring us closer to God, this is our new commandment:

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
John 13:34-35