Break Thou the Bread of Life

This is one of two hymns written by Ms. Lathbury, inspired by the setting of the Chautauqua Institute on the shores of Lake Chautauqua.  The other is "Day Is Dying in the West."  Although possible to use this song during Communion -- it does talk about longing for a relationship with Christ -- the bread reference is probably confusing to many congregants if sung in this context.  Other issues are that we don't "break to" someone (at least in this context), the lack of clarity in the phrase "sacred page," and that "fetter" is not much in current use.

Original lyrics:

Break THOU the bread of life,
Dear Lord, to me,
As THOU DIDST break the loaves
Beside the sea;
Beyond the sacred page
I seek THEE, Lord;
My spirit pants for THEE,
O living Word!

Bless THOU the truth, dear Lord,
To me, to me,
As THOU DIDST bless the bread
By Galilee;
Then shall all bondage cease,
All fetters fall,
And I shall find my peace,
My All in All.

Lyrics by Mary A. Lathbury

Comments and Suggestions:

Changing “My spirit pants for THEE” to “My Spirit pants for YOU” would initially appear to interrupt the rhyme scheme of ME, SEA, THEE.  Comparison to the second verse, however, confirms that THEE is not integral to the intended rhyme scheme, which is already broken in the original first verse because THEE should rhyme with PAGE.

Renewal lyrics:

Break NOW the bread of life,
Dear Lord, to me,
As YOU ONCE BROKE the loaves
Beside the sea;
Beyond the BIBLE page,
I seek YOU, Lord;
My spirit pants for YOU,
O living Word!

Bless NOW the truth, dear Lord,
To me, to me,
As YOU DID bless the bread
By Galilee;
Then shall all bondage cease,
SIN'S CHAINS ALL fall,
And I shall find my peace,
My All in All.

Renewal lyric changes by RH Reinhard (c) 2014