Jesus Crucified (No. 78)
Oh come and mourn with me awhile;
See Mary calls us to her side;
Oh come and let us mourn with her;
Jesus, our Love, is Crucified!
Have we no tears to shed for Him?
While soldiers scoff and Jews deride?
Ah! look how patiently He hangs;
Jesus, our Love, is crucified!
How fast His hands and Feet are nailed;
His blessed tongue with thirst is tied,
His failing Eyes are blind with blood;
Jesus, our Love, is crucified!
His mother cannot reach His face;
She stands in helplessness behind;
Her heart is martyred with her Son’s;
Jesus, our Love, is crucified!
Seven times He spoke, seven words of love,
And there long hours His silence cried
For mercy on the souls of men;
Jesus, our Love, is crucified!
What was Thy crime, my dearest Lord?
By earth, by heaven, Though hast been tried,
And guilty found of too much love;
Jesus, our Love, is crucified!
Found guilty of excess of love,
It was Thine own sweet will that tied
Thee tighter far than helpless nails;
Jesus, our Love, is crucified!
Death came, and Jesus meekly bowed;
His failing eyes He strove to guide
With mindful love to Mary’s face;
Jesus, our Love, is crucified!
O break, O break, heart of mine;
Thy weak self-love and guilty pride
His Pilate and His Judas were;
Jesus, our Love is crucified!
Come, take thy stand beneath the Cross,
And let the Blood from out His Side
Fall gently on thee drop by drop;
Jesus, our Love, is crucified!
A broken heart, a fount of tears,
Ask, and they will not be denied;
A broken heart, love’s cradle is;
Jesus our love is crucified!
O love of God! O sin of man!
In this dread act your sin is tried;
And victory remains with love,
For He, our Love, is crucified!
William Dressler, Peters’ Catholic Melodist, pg. 74.