A Communion Hymn

Does your congregation sing during the distribution of Communion? It’s a common practice among Lutherans. Recently the church I attended used this hymn for that purpose. It was written by Friedrich C. Heyder (1677-1754), who was born in Merseburg, Germany. He was a deacon there, and later became a pastor. This hymn is highly regarded as a catechetical tool (in other words, it teaches us). Listen and reflect upon the meaning of the Sacrament of Communion in your own life.

For more hymns used during Holy Communion see these posts:

I Lay My Sins on Jesus

I Am The Bread of Life

Just As I Am

I Am The Bread of Life

Mercy Sister Suzanne Tolan wrote this beautiful hymn, “I Am the Bread of Life” in 1966.  I have often heard it used as a communion hymn, for obvious reasons.  She was one of the first composers to write music in English for the Catholic Church after Vatican II.  She has also authored a book by the same title about her ministry in music and prayer (I haven’t read it yet, but maybe I will this month.)