20 Hymns for Holy Week

Sing, My Tongue, the Glorious Battle (PANGE LINGUA [Mode III])
Venantius Honorius Clementianus Fortunatus; trans. J.M. Neale

He endures the nails, the spitting,
Vinegar, and spear, and reed;
From that holy body broken
Blood and water forth proceed:
Earth, and stars, and sky, and ocean,
By that flood from stain are freed.

To Mock Your Reign, O Dearest Lord (THIRD MODE MELODY)
Fred Pratt Green, 1973

A sceptered reed, O patient Lord,
They thrust into your hand,
And acted out their grim charade
To its appointed end.
They did not know, as we do now,
Though empires rise and fall,
Your Kingdom shall not cease to grow
Till love embraces all.

Cross of Jesus, Cross of Sorrow (Cross of Jesus)
William J. Sparrow-Simpson

Cross of Jesus, cross of sorrow,
Where the blood of Christ was shed,
Perfect man on thee did suffer,
Perfect God on thee has bled!

Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross (NEAR THE CROSS)
Fanny J. Crosby, 1869

Near the cross! O Lamb of God,
Bring its scenes before me;
Help me walk from day to day
With its shadows o’er me.

O Love Divine, What Hast Thou Done (SELENA)
Charles Wesley, 1742

Behold him, all ye that pass by,
The bleeding Prince of life and peace!
Come, sinners, see your Savior die,
And say, “Was ever grief like his?”
Come, feel with me his blood applied:
My lord, my Love, is crucified!

Photos:
Flickr, creative commons 2.0
Flickr, creative commons 2.0
Flickr, creative commons 2.0
Flickr, creative commons 2.0
Flickr, creative commons 2.0