Catholic Family Vignettes

Soul, bedeck thyself with gladness!

Open wide the door!

Imperatives, as we approach the holy season of Advent. These exhortations are also titles for two beautiful compositions performed at a pre-Advent organ concert last night, by Holy Family parish music director, Dr. Elizabeth Krause.

Sitting in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament contained within the tabernacle, heart and soul stirred by the sweet melodies which filled the church, I contemplated the following:

*That all the wealth of the world, indeed the universe itself, is but a dim reflection of the splendor that awaits us behind the golden doors of the tabernacle...

*Small, humbled and vulnerable, our Lord comes to us in the Blessed Sacrament, and we become that same tabernacle...

*Receiving our King and Creator...is incomprehensible! It is staggering! The same Jesus that is "eternally begotten by the Father," worthy of all praise and adulation, cradled in the arms of His Immaculate Mother, is given to me by the holy hands of his priests...unworthy creature that I am.

*Shouldn't I "bedeck my soul with gladness?" "Open wide the door?"

Blessings to all, as we approach this holy season!

Deck Thyself, My Soul, With Gladness
(Johann Franck - 1649)

Deck thyself, my soul, with gladness,
Leave the gloomy haunts of sadness;
Come into the daylight’s splendor,
There with joy thy praises render
Unto Christ Whose grace unbounded
Hath this wondrous banquet founded.
Higher o’er all the heav’ns He reigneth,
Yet to dwell with thee He deigneth.

Hasten as a bride to meet Him
And with loving reverence greet Him;
For with words of life immortal
Now He knocketh at thy portal.
Haste to ope the gates before Him,
Saying, while thou dost adore Him,
Suffer, Lord, that I receive Thee,
And I nevermore will leave Thee.

He who craves a precious treasure
Neither cost nor pain will measure;
But the priceless gifts of heaven
God to us hath freely given.
Though the wealth of earth were offered,
Naught would buy the gifts here offered:
Christ’s true body, for thee riven,
And His blood, for thee once given.

Ah, how hungers all my spirit
For the love I do not merit!
Oft have I, with sighs fast thronging,
Thought upon this food with longing,
In the battle well nigh worsted,
For this cup of life have thirsted,
For the Friend Who here invites us
And to God Himself unites us.

In my heart I find ascending
Holy awe, with rapture blending,
As this mystery I ponder,
Filling all my soul with wonder,
Bearing witness at this hour
Of the greatness of God’s power;
Far beyond all human telling
Is the power within Him dwelling.

Human reason, though it ponder,
Cannot fathom this great wonder
That Christ’s body e’er remaineth
Though it countless souls sustaineth
And that He His blood is giving
With the wine we are receiving.
These great mysteries unsounded
Are by God alone expounded.

Sun, who all my life dost brighten,
Light, who dost my soul enlighten;
Joy the best that any knoweth;
Fount, whence all my being floweth;
At Thy feet I cry, my Maker,
Let me be a fit partaker
Of this blessèd food from heaven,
For our good, Thy glory, given.

Lord, by love and mercy driven
Thou hast left Thy throne in heaven
On the cross for me to languish
And to die in bitter anguish,
To forego all joy and gladness
And to shed Thy blood in sadness.
By this blood redeemed and living,
Lord, I praise Thee with thanksgiving.

Jesus, Bread of Life, I pray Thee,
Let me gladly here obey Thee.
By Thy love I am invited,
Be Thy love with love requited;
From this supper let me measure,
Lord, how vast and deep love’s treasure.
Through the gifts Thou here dost give me
As Thy guest in heaven receive me.