Friday, April 2, 2010

Good Friday (3)

O Sacred  Head Surrounded

O sacred head, surrounded
by crown of piercing thorn!
O bleeding head, so wounded,
reviled and put to scorn!
Death's pallid hue comes over you
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
                                                        for ever would I rest,
                                                        in thy dear love confiding,
                                                        and with thy presence blest.
    
Bernard of Clairvaux (1091-1153)

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