Receive Who You Are

Last year, while researching a talk I was to give to our catechumens, I stumbled upon a quote from St. Augustine in the Catechism of the Catholic Church at paragraph #1396. At the time of his writing which would have been in the 4th century, Bishop Augustine composed a mystogogical reflection to help his neophytes understand the meaning behind the Eucharist that they had just received for the first time. What struck me upon reading it was how completely fresh and modern it sounded to my 21st century ears. Though 1600 years have passed, there is still much meaning to be contemplated within Augustine's description of the mystery of Christ's presence in the Eucharist. This is what I read:

"So now, if you want to understand the body of Christ, listen to the Apostle Paul speaking to the faithful: you are the body of Christ, member for member. {I Cor. 12:27} If you, therefore, are Christ's body and members, it is your own mystery that is placed on the Lord's table! It is your own mystery that you are receiving! You are saying, "Amen" to what you are: your response is a personal signature, affirming your faith. When you hear, "the body of Christ," you respond, "Amen." Be a member of Christ's body, then, so that your "Amen" may ring true." SERMON #272

In the recording from our Lenten concert this year, you'll hear a couple of our choir members really shine. The main soloist on this piece, Sarah Bolling-Mancini is joined on alto harmony by Nimalie Stone. On the final refrains and on the Coda, you'll also hear the choir of IHM energetically providing the descant, "Corpus Christi (body of Christ) Sanguine Christi (blood of Christ). We will live in Christ's own Spirit. One body and blood and one soul, one divinity; receive who you are."

While playing the piano on this piece at our concert, I remember feeling overwhelmed by the vibrant faith of our singers and players coming to life and resounding within the semi-darkness of the church. As I listen to this recording, it continues to stir my soul to hear us joining the chorus of our 2000 year tradition of belief in the real presence of Christ in the holy Eucharist.

The instrumental parts for strings and woodwinds were arranged by Mark Scozzafave, who along with his wife Aimee, are alums of IHM's music ministry. Though we missed their participation in our concert this year since they have returned to their careers and their incredible music ministry at their home parish of Old St. Pat's in Chicago, we were so pleased that Mark could share his considerable musical gifts with us in this way.

How grateful Michael and I are to hear our musical ideas come to such beautiful fruition through the collaborative spirit of so many inestimably talented people who have also become dear friends. We'd like to thank you, too, for listening and for taking part in our music ministry in this way! As always, we certainly welcome your feedback.  Lyrics can be found after the jump.

Receive Who You Are

Refrain

Receive who you are: your life now in Christ;

Become the person God knows you to be.

Say, “Amen” to who you are, to God fully present,

In body and blood, in one soul, one divinity,

Receive who you are.

Verse 1

Christ, the path we strive to follow.

Christ, the life we seek to live.

Christ, the holy oil of healing.

Christ, the mercy that we give.

Verse 2

Christ, the love that led to Calvary.

Christ, the way to paradise.

Christ, the inward hidden dying.

Christ, the rising to new life.

Verse 3

Christ, the Lamb redeeming sinners.

Christ, who frees all those in fear.

Christ, the justice for the victim.

Christ, who calls us to draw near.

Verse 4

Come to the altar of God

Where his sacrifice becomes

The Body of Christ, the Blood of Christ.

It is to what we are that we say, “Amen, amen.”

Refrain Counter-Melody

Corpus Christe, Sanguine Christe:

We will live in Christ’s own Spirit.

Corpus Christe, Sanguine Christe:

In body and blood, in one soul, one divinity,

Receive who you are.