Ubi Caritas

The song "Ubi Caritas" is a Christian hymn that has been part of the liturgical tradition for many centuries, often sung during the Maundy Thursday service to commemorate the Last Supper of Jesus Christ with his disciples. The title translates from Latin to 'Where charity and love are, God is there,' which encapsulates the central theme of the hymn: the presence of God in the acts of love and charity among people.

The lyrics emphasize the unity brought about by Christ's love, urging the congregation to rejoice and find joy in Jesus. It calls for the faithful to fear and love the living God and to love each other with a sincere heart. This reflects the Christian belief that God's love is the foundation of all communal and personal relationships and that this love is a reflection of God's presence.

The hymn also warns against division and conflict, advocating for the cessation of harmful disputes and strife. It suggests that Christ himself is present when people come together in unity. The final verses look forward to the eternal joy of seeing Christ's face in glory, alongside the blessed, which is a reference to the beatific vision—the ultimate direct self-communication of God to the individual person. This is a profound expression of Christian eschatological hope, the anticipation of an everlasting communion with God.