Ubi Caritas

Audrey Assad sings “Ubi Caritas” in Latin, in the form of the ancient chant used in Holy Thursday liturgy. Its first line gives the theme: “Ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est,” meaning where charity and love are, God is there. The next line says it is the love of Christ that has gathered the people into one body.

The text asks for a gathered community to rejoice in him and to fear and love the living God, and to love one another “from a sincere heart.” Another passage prays against division, “let us not be divided in mind,” and asks that bitterness, quarrels and strife cease, because Christ our God is in the midst. The final stanzas look forward to seeing his face with the blessed in glory, in a joy that is immense and good, for ages without end. Audrey Assad's sparse, hushed setting suits a prayer of this kind.

The first line shares its thought with 1 John 4:8, God is love. Unity as the mark of the church is John 13:35, and Christ present among those gathered is Matthew 18:20.