“At the Lamb’s High Feast” is a beautiful Eucharistic hymn. Although traditionally used during the Easter season, it is one that is always relevant as we celebrate the Eucharist and the Resurrection of Our Lord each and every time we go to Mass. This hymn dates back at least to the 7th or 8th century, but it is described as “Ambrosian” which means it could date back even farther - all the way to St. Ambrose himself or at least written in the same style he wrote in. The original Latin text was named “Ad regias agni dapes” meaning “At the Lamb’s royal banquet.” 

Our English text comes to us from Robert Campbell who translated it in 1849. He was a convert from the Episcopal Church of Scotland to Roman Catholicism. His translation is widely praised for its excellence. 

This hymn, in one form or another, has long been used as a hymn during Vespers during the Easter season leading up to the feast of the Ascension. Although primarily an Easter hymn, the joy of Jesus’s triumph over sin and death and His presence to us in the Holy Eucharist is worthy of celebration year round. 

There is a heavy emphasis on the connection between the Passover and the experience of the Israelites in the wilderness and Jesus’s sacrifice on the cross. A text rich in imagery that helps us to meditate on the economy of salvation and how God fulfills and culminates all of the promises of the Old Testament in the glory of Christ’s sacrifice to establish the New Covenant. 

Click here to watch a beautiful rendition of this hymn sung by the bishops at Vespers when Pope Benedict XVI visited the United States. 

1 At the Lamb's high feast we sing
praise to our victorious King,
who hath washed us in the tide
flowing from His piercéd side;
praise we Him whose love divine
gives His sacred blood for wine,
gives His body for the feast,
Christ the Victim, Christ the Priest.

2 Where the paschal blood is poured,
death's dark angel sheathes his sword;
Israel's hosts triumphant go
through the wave that drowns the foe.
Praise we Christ, whose blood was shed,
Paschal Victim, Paschal Bread;
with sincerity and love
eat we manna from above.
 

3 Mighty Victim from the sky,
pow'rs of hell beneath Thee lie;
death is conquered in the fight,
Thou hast brought us life and light;
hymns of glory and of praise,
risen Lord, to Thee we raise;
Holy Father, praise to Thee,
with the Spirit, ever be.
 

4. Easter triumph, Easter joy,

these alone do sin destroy.

From sin's power do thou set free

souls newborn, O Lord, in thee.

Hymns of glory, songs of praise,

Father, unto thee we raise:

risen Lord, all praise to thee

with the Spirit ever be.