1. 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. 2. 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. 3. Thou are the bread of life, O Lord, to me, Thy holy Word the truth That saveth me; Give me to eat and live With Thee above; Teach me to love Thy truth, For Thou are love. 4. O send Thy Spirit, Lord, Now unto me, That He may touch my eyes And make me see; Show me the truth concealed Within Thy Word, And in Thy Book revealed I see the Lord.
Lyrics: Verses 1, 2: Mary Artemesia Lathbury; Verses 3, 4: Alexander Groves
Music: William Fiske Sherwin
Tune: BREAD OF LIFE
Meter: 6.4.6.4.D.
Mary Ann Lathbury, 1841–1913
The hymn’s author, Mary Lathbury, was a longtime associate with the Chautauqua Assembly, a Methodist camp meeting located on beautiful Lake Chautauqua in New York. In 1877 at the request of the camp director, Miss Lathbury wrote these words to be used as a theme song for the Bible study sessions. The music was composed by the gifted music director of Chautauqua, William F. Sherwin.