Ecce Panis

Sung during the Eucharist, this motet by Frans Joseph Krafft sets a profound Latin text concerning the Blessed Sacrament. The lyrics, drawn from the sequence Lauda Sion Salvatorem, meditate on the symbolism of the bread of angels, the food of pilgrims, and the true bread of children. It reflects on how this mystery was prefigured in scripture, from Isaac's sacrifice to the manna given to the Israelites. The second part addresses Jesus as the good shepherd and true bread, imploring him to feed, protect, and ultimately lead the faithful to see him in the land of the living, making them commensals and co-heirs of the saints. This SATB setting offers a rich and devotional musical expression for the sacred text.