This is a very popular choice when selected at our church. It is written by John Michael Talbot and is best with minimal instrumentation as long as you can time the long intervals. It is a meditation on the real presence.
You can hear the original here. I can’t find the a link to buy the sheet music online, so you would need to contact his website.
Christ has no body now but yours, no hands, no feet on earth but yours.
Yours are the eyes through which He looks
compassion on this world,
yours are the feet with which He walks to do good. Yours are the hands
with which He blesses all the world. Yours are the hands, yours are the feet,
yours are the eyes.
You are His body.Christ has no body now but yours,
no hands, no feet on earth but yours.
Yours are the eyes through which He looks
compassion on this world,
Christ has no body now on earth
but yours.
© Birdwing Music, 1987.
http://www.johnmichaeltalbot.com/
Where can I buy the music sheet of this song, please? Thnx
G’Day Liliana
That’s a difficult one.
The sheet music on his site does not list what songs are on each album so would need to contact them about that.
https://johnmichaeltalbot.com/john-michael-talbot-sheet-music
It appears CCLI subscribers can download the sheet music here under their licence:
https://songselect.ccli.com/Songs/62229/st-teresas
You could also contact OCP in case it is on one of their collections:
https://www.ocp.org/en-us/artists/528
For such a lovely song it does seem hard to find.
In such cases it always seems best to contact the songwriter on their website.
cheers
Geoff
Liliana
DId you ever find a place to buy this song’s sheet music. I have been trying for a long time but cannot get it.
There are a couple of problems with this song.
First, Christ does indeed have a body – he ascended to Heaven body and soul – so the lyrics are heretical even though the intent behind them is noble.
Second, St. Teresa never wrote these words. Any claim that she did would have to show me a citation as to where it exists in her writings.
G’Day JD
You make good points. You might have to ask Talbot for the derivation of his lyrics. I can’t even find which St Theresa is meant and whether it is prayer by her, inspired by her or for her.
I’ve always hoped that songs aren’t meant to be the catechism, thanks be to God. This one’s meaning though is pretty clearly expressed in the last line, “Christ has no body now on earth but yours”. It’s likely we could agree that the the Body of Christ is truly present in the gathered assembly and that Body of Christ is the only one on earth and has a responsibility to be Christ in the world.
thanks and cheers
Geoff
It’s attributed to St. Teresa of Avila:
https://catholic-link.org/quotes/st-teresa-of-avila-quote-christ-has-no-body-but-yours/
A very profound text, the second line includes the words “on earth”, so I don’t believe there are any theological arguments against this.
There are a number of other nice hymns that with al least some inspiration from this text included in mainstream hymnals including those by Steve Warner (https://youtu.be/1c2S6cVb0wE) and Tom Kendzia (https://youtu.be/weB-TqM1in4)
‘
Many people are turned off by the inference (probably unintended) that Jesus is somehow unable to accomplish anything on earth except through us ordinary humans. The very wonderful point that is totally missing from this piece is an expression of recognition and thankfulness that He (Jesus) chooses to work through us, not that He is dependent upon us. The privilege and responsibility is ours: – – * Jesus came near and spoke to them, “I’ve received all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything that I’ve commanded you. Look, I myself will be with you every day until the end of this present age.” —Matthew 28:16-20 (CEB). If anything, it should be clear after 2 millennia of mankind’s failure to get it together, (evident even in this day with the Orthodox Christian Church in Russia condoning the Russian intrusion into Ukraine,) that it will take Jesus, Himself, to bring about His Father’s will on this earth. COME LORD, JESUS. “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” Hebrews 10:24-25 ESV