At the Lamb's High Feast We Sing

Today’s hymn, a glorious Easter hymn, traces back to the 7th century. It was written in the style of the old Ambrosian hymnal, which shaped the form of hymns in the tradition of St. Ambrose of Milan until the 9th century. Due to its age, we do not know who first penned the hymn, which was written in Latin. Numerous translations have been made throughout the centuries, with one of the most common being found below.

The hymn recalls the neophytes on Holy Saturday who traditionally wear white garments after their Baptisms, symbolizing the purity of their souls now that they have been “washed…in the tide [f]lowing from His pierced side.” Clothed in these white robes, the neophytes approach “the Lamb’s high feast” for the first time at the Easter Vigil Mass, which traditionally occurs after midnight on Easter Sunday morning.

The hymn demonstrates how the reception of Holy Communion is a participation in the Paschal mystery: by shedding His Blood on the Cross, Christ conquered death and vanquished Satan, meriting salvation for mankind. When man participates with this grace, he is washed clean from his sins and able to approach the altar, where he receives Christ’s Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity in the Eucharist. The infinite gift of the Eucharist is only possible through the Resurrection, a truth reflected in this hymn.

Below is a beautiful translation of the Latin hymn, which itself speaks more than any commentary. The translation is the same used in the recording of the hymn below.

At the Lamb’s high feast we sing
Praise to our victorious King,
Who hath washed us in the tide
Flowing from His piercèd side.

Praise we Him whose love divine
Gives the guests His Blood for wine,
Gives His Body for the feast,
Love the victim, love the priest.

Where the Paschal blood is poured,
Death’s dark Angel sheathes his sword;
Israel’s hosts triumphant go
Through the wave that drowns the foe.

Christ, the Lamb whose Blood was shed,
Paschal victim, Paschal bread;
With sincerity and love
Eat we manna from above.

Mighty Victim from the sky,
Powers of hell beneath Thee lie;
Death is conquered in the fight;
Thou hast brought us life and light.

Now Thy banner Thou dost wave;
Vanquished Satan and the grave;
Angels join His praise to tell—
See o’erthrown the prince of hell.

Paschal triumph, Paschal joy,
Only sin can this destroy;
From the death of sin set free,
Souls re-born, dear Lord, in Thee.

Hymns of glory, sons of praise,
Father, unto Thee we raise;
Risen Lord, all praise to Thee,
Ever with the Spirit be.