Caro mea vere est cibus

Philippe de Monte sets a profound text from the Gospel of John concerning the Eucharist. The words, familiar to communicants, speak of Christ's flesh as true food and his blood as true drink. The motet explores the theological mystery of spiritual nourishment, where those who partake in Christ remain in him, and he in them. De Monte’s SATTB setting emphasizes the devotional nature of the text, moving from the sustenance of the faithful to the eternal life promised to those who eat this heavenly bread, a bread that surpasses the manna of the Old Testament. This is a deeply expressive and contemplative work for a skilled choir.