Hymn for the Week

Did it ever occur to you that we really should celebrate Easter for more than just a few days? We celebrate Christmas for a month, more or less. Of course without Christmas Easter never would have happened, but Christmas without Easter just wouldn't work..."if we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied". (I Cor. 15:19) Wouldn't it be neat to have several days of celebrating our Hope? Anyway, on to the hymn; I've chosen a Passion hymn, and I think I will pick a more Easter-related hymn for next week.

Did you know the words to this one are attributed to Bernard of Clairvaux in 1153? That's over 800 years ago! It was translated from Latin to German by Paul Gerhardt in 1656 and from Latin to English in 1830. This was a favorite chorale of J. S. Bach; he harmonized it (more than once, in fact) and used it in his St. Matthew's Passion. Here is the Cyber Hymnal link; though I don't plan on memorizing all of the many verses listed, it's certainly worth looking them over.

O sacred Head, now wounded, with grief and shame weighed down,
Now scornfully surrounded with thorns, Thine only crown;
How art thou pale with anguish, with sore abuse and scorn!
How doth Thy visage languish that once was bright as morn!

What Thou, my Lord, hast suffered, was all for sinners’ gain;
Mine, mine was the transgression, but Thine the deadly pain.
Lo, here I fall, my Savior! ’Tis I deserve Thy place;
Look on me with Thy favor, vouchsafe to me Thy grace.

What language shall I borrow to thank Thee, dearest friend,
For this Thy dying sorrow, Thy pity without end?
O make me Thine forever, and should I fainting be,
Lord, let me never, never outlive my love to Thee.