Body of Christ! The bells were loud,
And the streets were thronged, and a joyous crowd
Stood waiting therein for Thee to pass,
O Maker of men, who died for sin;
O Bread of the Mass, O Body of Christ!

Life was heavy, and hearts were sore,
For over the world went the battle's roar;
But here were women with joy in their eyes,
And the place was happy with children's cries,
And hymns were singing; O Body of Christ!

Over the place broad wings came winging;—
Their hum was loud above tower and street.
What angels are these? What gift are they bringing,
O Prince of Peace, to lay at Thy Feet
In the sight of this crowd? O Body of Christ!

In honour of Thee the people meet:
In honour of Thee are the eagles fleet;
They open their talons, they let down death,
And a hundred bodies are empty of breath,
And four-score children. O Body of Christ!

“A tooth for a tooth, and an eye for an eye.”
Worshipping Thee, the eagles fly;
And because in Thee they have put their trust,
(For righteous are we, and our cause is just)
This have they done! O Body of Christ!

For, God be our aid, we fight with a foe
Who to us and to ours did even so:
On us they came and slew in the night,
So we slay now in the noonday light
Their old and their young. O Body of Christ!

The better the day, the better the deed.
So let them go, and give ear, and take heed!
Now unto the day hath the doom sufficed,
O Corpus Christi! O Body of Christ!
O Love that died for a world in need!