OF OUR LORD'S PASSION: TO HIS FACE
Bleeding brow, with thorns surrounded,
Pallid, anguished, sorely wounded,
Face so marred to mortal vision,
King so mocked in mad derision,
Thee I hail with ceaseless love!
Countenance all changed, yet dearest,
Sweet Thou art and to me nearest;
Though death's hue is o'er Thee stealing,
Round Thee trembling hosts are kneeling,
From the courts of heaven above.
All Thy beauty is departed,
Gone the vigor life imparted,
Worn Thy frame, by death o'ertaken,
Comeliness hath Thee forsaken,
Still, on Thee with love I gaze.
Since Thy death is mine exemption,
Since Thy woe is my redemption,
Sinner though I be, I pray Thee
Come, nor let my guilt delay Thee,
Shine with love's returning rays.
In hac tua passione
Me agnosce, pastor bone,
Cuius sumpsi mel ex ore,
Haustum lactis ex dulcore
Prae omnibus deliciis.
Non me reum asperneris,
Nec indignum dedigneris,
Morte tibi iam vicina
Tuum caput hic acclina,
In meis pausa brachiis.
Tuae sanctae passioni
Me gauderem interponi,
In hac cruce tecum mori
Praesta crucis amatori,
Sub cruce tua moriar.
Morti tuae iam amarae
Grates ago, Iesu care,
Qui es clemens, pie Deus,
Fac quod petit tuus reus,
Ut absque te non finiar.
Hear me, though Thou still dost languish,
Gentle Shepherd, in Thine anguish;
From whose lips in fullest measure
I have gathered sweetest treasure,
Far surpassing this world's best.
Cast me not away rejected,
Sinful, sorrowful, dejected;
Now Thy head to death declining,
In my willing arms reclining,
On my heart find peaceful rest.
In Thine hour of holy sadness
Could I share with Thee, what gladness
Should Thy cross to me be showing.
Gladness past all thought or knowing,
Bowed beneath Thy cross to die!
Blessed Jesus, thanks I render
That in bitter death, so tender,
Thou dost hear Thy suppliant calling;
Save me, Lord, and keep from falling
From Thee, when mine hour is nigh.
Dum me mori est necesse,
Noli mihi tunc deesse;
In tremenda mortis hora
Veni, Iesu, absque mora,
Tuere me et libera.
Quum me iubes emigrare,
Iesu care, tunc appare;
O amator amplectende,
Temet ipsum tunc ostende
In cruce salutifera.
When to death my life is tending,
Fail not then, Thy presence lending,
In that fearful hour, to hear me,
Blessed Jesus, haste Thee near me;
On me look, and set me free.
When, at Thy command, departing,
On my journey I am starting,
Jesus, show Thyself above me,
Loved One, then, embrace and love me,
And Thy cross my life shall be.
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