Fresco from Parish Church of Zirl, Austria - Courtesy of Wikipedia
The hymns used on Palm Sunday in the Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) recall the entrance of Christ into Jerusalem as Holy Week begins. In the following video, Fr. Robert Barron of Word On Fire Ministries reflects upon the significance these events would have had for 1st century Jews. He begins with Jesus' approach "from the east" and the prophetic foretelling in Ezekiel 43 when the Shekinah, the Glory of Yahweh (that had left the Temple in Ezekiel 10) would return to reclaim the his Temple. Fr. Barron continues by quoting Zechariah 9:9 and other Old Testament passages relating to the promised return of the Davidic King, Jesus the Son of David who arrives triumphant on Palm Sunday only be crucified on Good Friday, with above him the inscription: "I am the King of the Jews".
O Sacred Head, Surrounded is a translation by Sir Henry W. Baker (1821-1877) of the final portion of the medieval Latin poem, Salve Mundi Salutare. This lengthy medieval poem is a meditation on the sufferings of Christ's body at the crucifixion. Historically it has been attributed to St. Bernard of Clairvaux (1091-1153), but recent research suggests it is more likely the work of the Cistercian Abbot, Arnulf of Leuven (c.1200-1250). An early translation into German was done by the Lutheran hymnist, Paul Gerhardt (1607-1676). That version was then translated into english by Presbyterian minister and theologian, James W. Alexander(1804-1859). His, O Sacred Head, Now Wounded is the source of the different versions of the hymn by that same name. It is believed that Baker's hymn is instead a translation from the original latin. The text included in the Liturgy of the Hours contains an additional verse written by Melvin Farrell, S.S., first published in 1961. It is set to the Passion Chorale by Hans Leo Hassler (1564-1612) which was originally published as the tune for a secular love song in 1601, and then eventually adapted to Gerhardt's hymn in 1656. Other famous composers who have used the same melody include: Johann Sebastian Bach (St Matthew's Passion), Franz Liszt (Way of the Cross), and Paul Simon (American Tune). In the Liturgy of the Hours, O Sacred Head, Surrounded is used on Palm Sunday and during Holy Week.
O SACRED HEAD SURROUNDED - Translated by Henry Baker (Public Domain)
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. But death too is my ending;
In that dread hour of need,
My friendless cause befriending,
Lord, to my rescue speed:
Thyself, O Jesus, trace me,
Right passage to the grave,
And from Thy cross embrace me,
With arms outstretched to save.
Hail, Redeemer, King Divine was written by Redemptorist, Patrick Brennan (1877-1952).
It is sung to the tune St. George's Windsor by English organist and composer Sir George J. Elvey (1816-1895). Another popular setting to the tune Merseyside (see bottom video) was written by Fr. Charles Rigby (1901 – 1952) for the laying of the foundation stone of the Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King in 1932. An interesting vintage British Pathé news reel of the Solemn Blessing (featuring the singing of Hail, Redeemer, King Divine) can be found here. Because of the ambitious plans (it was to be the world's 2nd largest Cathedral, after St. Peter's) construction was never started. It would not be built until the 1960s, with a new modern design. In the Liturgy of the Hours, Hail, Redeemer, King Divine is used on Palm Sunday and on the Solemnity of Christ the King.
Crown Him with Many Crowns was first published in 1851. The original text was written by English poet, Matthew Bridges (1800-1894). In 1828 he wrote the book: The Roman Empire Under Constantine the Great, which condemned the Catholic Church. But by 1848, through his association with the Cardinal Newman and the Oxford Movement he converted to Catholicism. He spent the latter part of his life in Quebec, Canada. In 1851, Anglican Minister Godfrey Thring (1823-1903), concerned that the popular hymn contained Roman Catholic theology, wrote several new verses. Today, most versions of the hymn (including the one used in the Liturgy of the Hours) contain elements of both works. It is sung to the 1868 tune: Diademata (Elvey) by English organist and composer, Sir George Elvey (1816–1893). In the Liturgy of the Hours, Crown Him With Many Crowns is used on Palm Sunday and on the Solemnity of Christ the King.
CROWN HIM WITH MANY CROWNS by Matthew Bridges, 1851 (Public Domain)
1. Crown Him with many crowns, the Lamb upon His throne.
Hark! How the heavenly anthem drowns all music but its own.
Awake, my soul, and sing of Him who died for thee,
And hail Him as thy matchless King through all eternity.
2. Crown Him the virgin’s Son, the God incarnate born,
Whose arm those crimson trophies won which now
His brow adorn;
Fruit of the mystic rose, as of that rose the stem;
The root whence mercy ever flows, the Babe of Bethlehem.
3. Crown Him the Son of God, before the worlds began,
And ye who tread where He hath trod, crown Him the Son of Man;
Who every grief hath known that wrings the human breast,
And takes and bears them for His own, that all in Him may rest.
4. Crown Him the Lord of life, who triumphed over the grave,
And rose victorious in the strife for those He came to save.
His glories now we sing, who died, and rose on high,
Who died eternal life to bring, and lives that death may die.
5. Crown Him the Lord of peace, whose power a scepter sways
From pole to pole, that wars may cease, and all be prayer and praise.
His reign shall know no end, and round His piercèd feet
Fair flowers of paradise extend their fragrance ever sweet.
6. Crown Him the Lord of love, behold His hands and side,
Those wounds, yet visible above, in beauty glorified.
No angel in the sky can fully bear that sight,
But downward bends his burning eye at mysteries so bright.
7. Crown Him the Lord of Heaven, enthroned in worlds above,
Crown Him the King to Whom is given the wondrous name of Love.
Crown Him with many crowns, as thrones before Him fall;
Crown Him, ye kings, with many crowns, for He is King of all.
8. Crown Him the Lord of lords, who over all doth reign,
Who once on earth, the incarnate Word, for ransomed sinners slain,
Now lives in realms of light, where saints with angels sing
Their songs before Him day and night, their God, Redeemer, King.
9. Crown Him the Lord of years, the Potentate of time,
Creator of the rolling spheres, ineffably sublime.
All hail, Redeemer, hail! For Thou has died for me;
Thy praise and glory shall not fail throughout eternity.
Lord, Your Glory in Christ We Have Seen is a 1971 translation by Anthony G. Petti (1932-1985) of the 1957 hymn: Dieu, Nous Avons Vu Ta Gloire, with words by Fr. Didier Rimaud (1922-2003) and music by Jean Langlais (1907-1991). It was written for a Vigil Service preceding the final High Mass of a conference on "The Bible and Liturgy". Dimaud was a Jesuit Priest who was very active in liturgical reforms of Vatican II in France. Langlais was a well known French composer and organist. He lost his eyesight early in life from Glaucoma. He was sent to the National Institute for Blind Children in Paris where he began his studies in music. He would eventually be appointed organist at the Basilica of Sainte-Clotilde in Paris, a position he held from 1945 until his death in 1991. In the Liturgy of the Hours, Lord, Your Glory in Christ We Have Seen is used during Lent, on Palm Sunday, through Holy Week, and on the Feast of the Transfiguration.
The King of Glory, first published in 1966 was written by Fr. Willard Jabusch (b. 1930). Father Jabusch is a priest of the Archdiocese of Chicago. He is also the composer of Whatsoever You Do, which along with King of Glory has been translated into many languages. The King of Glory Comes is set to the Israeli Folk tune, Promised One. Probably of Hasidic origin, it was brought by Zionist settlers to Israel and was later included in the Fireside Book of Folk Songs (1947). In the Liturgy of the Hours, King of Glory is used during Advent and on Palm Sunday.
.jpg){kind=icon}
