Maronite Year XLIX

Thursday of the Body of Christ
1 Corinthians 10:14-21; John 6:47-53

May your Body and blood, O Lord, sanctify,
making holy both the body and the soul,
cleansing all our thoughts, purifying our hearts,
preparing us for new life in Your kingdom.

Before Your life-giving passion, You took bread,
blessed it, sanctified it, broke it, and gave it,
as You were blessed, sanctified, broken, given,
for forgiveness of sins and eternal life.

You truly are the living bread from heaven
that those who believe may have eternal life,
Your flesh a manna that gives life forever,
for those who eat are made part of Your Body.

You blessed the cup of wine mixed with the water,
sanctified and gave it to your disciples,
as the blood shed and handed over for us,
for forgiveness of sins and eternal life.

You are our pleasing oblation, offered up,
the forgiving sacrifice to the Father;
unless we eat of Your flesh and drink Your blood,
no life do we have, for life comes from Your grace.

Our humanity with Your divinity,
Your divinity with our humanity,
are united, for You assumed our nature;
thus through You we have salvation for our souls.