"Le banquet celeste, or "The Heavenly Banquet," is the first of Olivier Messiaen's published organ works. This quiet, meditative piece is both a reflection on the events of Holy Thursday and a celebration of the eternal heavenly feast to come. Throughout, a slow theme grows and develops in the strings--the "celestes"--which has an eternal and heavenly peace to it, while the pedal plays short striking notes, which the music indicates as representing Christ sweating drops of blood in the Garden of Gethsemane. I first heard this piece at the very first Holy Thursday Mass I ever attended, and it is a large reason why I am Catholic today. I hope it is evocative for others."
English and Spanish Translations
Communion: When the Lord saw the sisters of Lazarus in tears near the tomb, he wept in the presence of the Jews and cried: "Lazarus, come forth." And out he came, hands and feet bound, the man who had been dead for four days. (John 11:33, 35, 43-44, 39)
Antífona de Comunión: Cuando el Señor vio las hermanas de Lázaro, llorando cerca de la tumba, lloró en la presencia de los judíos y gritó: "Lázaro, sal de ahí!" Y salió, las manos y los pies amarrados, el hombre que había estado muerto por cuatro días. (Juan 11:33, 35, 43-44, 39)"