Lyrics and Translation:
| English: O Sacred Head surrounded By crown of piercing thorn! O bleeding Head so wounded, Reviled and put to scorn! Death’s pallid hue comes o’er Thee, The glow of life decays, Yet angel hosts adore Thee, And tremble as they gaze. I see Thy strength and vigor All fading in the strife, And death with cruel rigor, Bereaving Thee of life: O agony and dying! O love to sinners free! Jesus, all grace supplying, O turn Thy face on me. In this, Thy bitter passion, Good shepherd, think of me, With Thy most sweet compassion, Unworthy though I be: Beneath Thy cross abiding, Forever would I rest; In Thy dear love confiding, And with Thy presence blest.” |
Type: Lenten Hymn
Story: This Hymn appeared in its English translation in the Psalter Hymnal Handbook, and in the Passion Chorale by Hassler, who had it as “O Sacred Head Now Wounded”. The English version is taken from Gerhardt’s German composition “O Haupt voll Blut und Wunden” which was itself a translation of “Salve caput cruentatum” a hymn composed by St. Bernard of Clairvaux.
Composer: Hans Hassler
Parts: 4
Voicing: SATB
Language: English
Subject: Lent, Passion, Our Lord
Season: Lent
Organ: Yes
