Draw Nigh and Take the Body of the Lord

Draw nigh and take the body of the Lord

Draw Nigh and Take the Body of the Lord is a hymn text by Latin anonymous (700) in L.M. (8.8.8.8) meter. Translated by John Mason Neale. Found in elw 472, h82 328, lbw 226, lsb 637.

This hymn expresses the Lutheran doctrine of the real presence of Christ in the Sacrament of the Altar, calling communicants to reverent reception. It emphasizes both the objective reality of Christ's body and blood and the subjective faith and devotion required of the communicant.

History & Background

This Latin hymn originates from the medieval Western Church, likely 7th-8th century, reflecting patristic theology on the Eucharist. John Mason Neale translated it into English in 1851, and it has remained a standard eucharistic hymn in Anglican and Lutheran traditions.

Hymnal Appearances

Evangelical Lutheran Worship — 472
The Hymnal 1982 — 328
Lutheran Book of Worship — 226
Lutheran Service Book — 637
Lutheran Worship — 240
The Lutheran Hymnal — 307

Translation

John Mason Neale

Bulletin Note

From the Latin Church, circa 700. This hymn's insistence on Christ's real, objective presence shaped Lutheran sacramental theology against symbolic-only interpretations, while its call to self-examination grounds faith in repentance.

Preaching Connection

This hymn anchors the doctrine of real presence in the concrete act of reception: faith responds to Christ's objective gift with reverent trust, making it a perfect complement to preaching on justification by faith and the means of grace.

Catechism & Confessional Connections

The Definition & Command of Communion Small Catechism — Holy Communion
Of Lord’s Supper Augsburg Confession

Background Research

AI-assisted draft This background note was researched with AI from published hymnal sources and has not yet been checked line by line. Please verify details such as dates before relying on them.

Sancti, venite, Christi corpus sumite, a 7th-c. Irish communion hymn composed at Bangor Abbey (Co. Down), preserved in the Antiphonary of Bangor (680-691). The manuscript travelled to Bobbio in Italy, then to the Ambrosian Library in Milan, where Muratori published it (1697-98). Legend (Leabhar Breac): angels first sang it at St. Secundinus's church at Dunshaughlin, when Secundinus was reconciled with his uncle St. Patrick. Neale's English 'Draw nigh and take the Body of the Lord'. Source: Wikipedia 'Sancti venite'.

AI-assisted draft These study notes were drafted with AI from the hymn text and have not yet been reviewed line by line. Treat them as a starting point and check them against the sources.

Overview

One of the oldest Communion hymns in Christendom, preserved in the Antiphonary of Bangor, an Irish manuscript of the late 7th century. Legend says angels sang it in the church of St. Sechnall. It was sung while the faithful received the Sacrament. Neale's translation calls the faithful to take the body and drink the blood of Christ, the Victim and Priest (st. 1); confesses that he gives eternal life, heavenly bread and living water (st. 2); and invites faithful hearts to take the 'pledges of salvation,' praying the Judge and Savior to be present (st. 3).

Central theme: Christ, Priest and Victim, giving his body and blood as pledges of salvation and eternal life

Structure

Three couplet-quatrains (10.10.10.10). Invitation and sacrifice (1) — gifts (2) — invitation and prayer (3).

Law & Gospel Shape

Gospel — 'for you outpoured'; 'pledges of salvation.'

Confessional Connections

'For you outpoured' — the Lutheran emphasis on 'for you.' Christ as both Priest and Victim of the one sacrifice (Heb 7:27; Ap XXIV.22-24: Christ's death is the only propitiatory sacrifice; the Supper is not a repeated sacrifice but its gift). The Sacrament as 'pledge' (Ap XIII; LC V).

Liturgical Use (Study Notes)

During the distribution of Holy Communion; Maundy Thursday.

Historical Notes

The Antiphonary of Bangor (c. 680-691) is now in the Ambrosian Library, Milan. Neale translated it in 1851.

About the Tune

OLD 124TH (Genevan Psalter, 1551), here abbreviated in some books.

Scripture References

Matt 26:26-28 Ps 34:8 Heb 7:26-27 Heb 9:11-14 1 Tim 2:6 John 6:35, 51-54 John 4:14 John 7:37 Heb 10:22 2 Cor 1:22 Acts 10:42

Stanza by Stanza

1 Draw nigh and take the body of the Lord…

Come near and take the body of the Lord and drink the holy blood poured out for you. He was offered for the greatest and the least, himself the Victim and himself the Priest.

The Latin begins 'Sancti, venite' — 'Come, holy ones.' The invitation is to eat and drink the true body and blood 'for you outpoured' (Matt 26:28). 'For greatest and for least' — the sacrifice is for all without distinction. 'Himself the Victim and Himself the Priest' — Heb 7:27; 9:11-14: Christ offered himself once for all. The Supper distributes the fruits of that one sacrifice; it does not repeat it (Ap XXIV).

Scripture: Matt 26:26-28, Heb 7:26-27, Heb 9:11-14, 1 Tim 2:6, Gal 3:28
Imagery & language: Invitation; Priest and Victim.
Law / Gospel: Gospel — body and blood for you.
Connection to previous: Opening invitation.

Lord's Supper one sacrifice Christ as priest

2 He that His saints in this world rules and shields…

He who rules and protects his saints in this world gives eternal life to all believers; he makes the hungry whole with heavenly bread and gives living water to the thirsty soul.

Christ the King and Shepherd 'rules and shields' his saints. To 'all believers' he gives eternal life (John 6:54). 'Heavenly bread' (John 6:51) and 'living waters' (John 4:14; 7:37) — the gifts satisfy the deepest hunger and thirst. Faith receives the life the Sacrament offers.

Scripture: John 6:35, 51-54, John 4:14, John 7:37, Ps 23:1-5, Isa 55:1
Imagery & language: Bread; water; shield.
Law / Gospel: Gospel — eternal life given.
Connection to previous: Gifts of the Sacrament.

eternal life bread of life Christ the Shepherd

3 Approach ye, then, with faithful hearts sincere…

Approach, then, with faithful, sincere hearts and take the pledges of salvation here. Judge of all, our only Savior, be with us now in your feast of love.

'With faithful hearts sincere' — worthy reception is faith (Heb 10:22). The body and blood are 'pledges of salvation' — guarantees of forgiveness. The striking address: 'O Judge of all, our only Savior Thou' — the coming Judge (Acts 10:42) is the one who now gives himself in mercy. 'Feast of love.'

Scripture: Heb 10:22, 2 Cor 1:22, Acts 10:42, John 5:22-24, 1 Cor 11:26
Imagery & language: Approach; pledges; Judge and Savior.
Law / Gospel: Gospel — the Judge as Savior in the Supper.
Connection to previous: Concluding invitation and prayer.

faith pledge Christ Judge and Savior

Themes

Holy Communion Sacramental eating and drinking Reverent approach to the altar Christ's real presence Comfort in the Sacrament

Look Further

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