Good Friday

O sacred head, surrounded

by crown of piercing thorn!

O bleeding head, so wounded,

reviled and put to scorn!

Our sins have marred the glory

of Thy most holy face,

yet angel hosts adore Thee

and tremble as they gaze

~Words: Paul Gerhardt; based on poem ascribed to Bernard of Clairvaux & Music: Hans Leo Hassler; arranged by Johann Sebastian Bach (partial re-post)

Were you there when the sun refused to shine?

Oh! Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble

Were you there when the sun refused to shine?

~Traditional Spiritual

See, my servant shall prosper,

he shall be raised high and greatly exalted.

Even as many were amazed at him—

so marred was his look beyond that of man,

and his appearance beyond that of mortals—

So shall he startle many nations,

because of him kings shall stand speechless;

For those who have not been told shall see,

those who have not heard shall ponder it.

~Isaiah 52:13-15 (re-post)

King of kings, yet born of Mary,

As of old on earth He stood,

Lord of lords, in human vesture,

In the body and the blood;

He will give to all the faithful

His own self for heavenly food.

Rank on rank the host of heaven

Spreads its vanguard on the way,

As the Light of light descendeth

From the realms of endless day,

That the powers of hell may vanish

As the darkness clears away.

~Words: Liturgy of St. James, 4th Century & Music: Picardy, French carol melody (partial re-post)

A Path Through . . .