Naji Hakim

O sacrum convivium

O sacrum convivium for organ by Naji Hakim is a paraphrase of the antiphon to the Magnificat of the vespers of the feast of Corpus Christi. The gregorian melody is ornamented and developed in a song form. The middle section recalls the spirit of the liturgy and the warmth of the organ at Basilique du Sacré-Coeur de Montmartre in Paris. The joyful character prolongs the accents of Saint Thomas Aquinas' text: O sacrum convivium! in quo Christus sumitur: recolitur memoria passionis eius: mens impletur gratia: et futurae gloriae nobis pignus datur. Alleluia. (O sacred banquet at which Christ is consumed, the memory of his Passion is recalled, our souls are filled with grace, and the pledge of future glory is given to us.)