Anima Christi
(Soul of Christ)
music and arrangement: Gregory Stephen Popp
Soul of Christ, sanctify me
Body of Christ, save me
Blood of Christ, inebriate me
Water from Your side, wash me.
Anima Christi
Anima Christi
Passion of Christ, strengthen me
Oh good Jesus, hear me!
Within Your wounds, hide me
Apart from You, let me never be
Anima Christi
Anima Christi
From the evil one, protect me
And when my hour comes, call me.
Close to You, beckon me
That with Your saints I may, always be
Anima Christi
Anima Christi
Amen. |
Greg's Story
Obviously, I didn't write the words to this song. I only wish that I had. My feeble contribution has been a slight rearrangement of the text and some paraphrasing to fit the words into the meter of the song - the meaning remains unaltered.
I find this one of the most exquisitely beautiful prayers in our Church's legacy. This is a very old prayer and as a modern-day Catholic, I had never been exposed to it. I found the words to the prayer on the back of one of the missalettes in church one evening after mass. I had been reading much about the Eucharist and the words moved me deeply. Shortly after that I sat down at home with the missalette and my guitar, and the tune began to just come to me. Perhaps, "through me" would be a more accurate description. It was really amazing how easily the words fit into the tune. I feel this was a gift from The Holy Spirit, and I am humbled by His generosity and power.
The prayer itself is attributed to Pope John XXII however, the author of the prayer is not known with absolute certainty. I urge you to follow the link and read about the Anima Christi prayer. I also urge you to grab your missalette after communion and turn to the back page and pray this prayer to our Lord after you have received Him. Hopefully, you will pray it too when you listen to the song. |
