Bread of the World, in Mercy Broken

I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me will never go hungry. John 6:32

Words: Reginald Heber (1783–1826). Published posthumously in Hymns Written and Adapted to the Weekly Service of the Church Year (London: J. Murray, 1827), pages 124–25. Before the sacrament.

Music: Eucharistic Hymn John S. B. Hodges, 1868 (🔊 pdf nwc).

Alternate Tune:

Rendez à Dieu Louis Bourgeois, 1543; revised 1551 (🔊 pdf nwc)

If you know where to get a good photo of good Hodges (head & shoulders, at least 200×300 pixels),

Bread of the world, in mercy broken,
Wine of the soul, in mercy shed!
By whom the words of life were spoken,
And in whose death our sins are dead!

Look on the heart by sorrow broken,
Look on the tears by sinners shed,
And be Thy feast to us the token,
That by Thy grace our souls are fed!

The Last Supper
Valentin de Boulogne (1592–1632)

Scripture Verse

Introduction

Lyrics