PASSIONTIDE
Attolle paulum lumina.
O SINNER, raise the eye of faith,
To true repentance turning,
Consider well the curse of sin,
Its shame and guilt discerning:
Upon the Crucified One look,
So shalt thou learn, as in a book,
What well is worth thy learning.
2 Look on the head, with such a crown
Of bitter thorns surrounded;
Look on the blood that trickles down
The feet and hands thus wounded;
And see his flesh with scourges rent:
Mark how upon the Innocent
Man’s malice hath abounded.
3 But though upon him many a pain
Its bitterness is spending,
Yet more, O how much more! his heart
Man’s wickedness is rending!
Such is the load for sinners borne,
As Mary’s Son in woe forlorn
His life for us is ending.
4 None ever knew such pangs before,
None ever such affliction,
As when his people brought to pass
The Saviour’s crucifixion.
He willed to bear for us the throes,
For us the unimagined woes,
Of death’s most fell infliction.
5 * O sinner, stay and ponder well
Sin’s fearful condemnation;
Think on the wounds that Christ endured
In working thy salvation;
For if thy Lord had never died,
Nought else could sinful man betide
But utter reprobation.
6. Lord, give us sinners grace to flee
The death of evil-doing,
To shun the gloomy gates of hell,
Thine awful judgement viewing.
So thank we thee, O Christ, to-day,
And so for life eternal pray,
The holy road pursuing.
145
