But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed. Isaiah 53:5
"O Sacred Head, Now Wounded," one of the most poignant hymns of Lent, calls us to acknowledge that it was our sins for which Jesus was wounded and died upon the cross. The verses of this hymn and the Scripture verses which inspired them will be the foundation for our contemplation of Christ's suffering, death and resurrection in sermons and devotions this Lent and Easter Season.
The text: The hymn is based on a long medieval Latin poem, Salve mundi salutare, with stanzas addressing the various parts of Christ's body hanging on the Cross. The last part of the poem, from which the hymn is taken, is addressed to Christ's head, and begins "Salve caput cruentatum." The poem is often attributed to Bernard of Clairvaux (1091-1153), but it first appears in the 14th century.
The last part of the poem was translated into German by the prolific Lutheran hymnist Paul Gerhardt (1607-1676). The German hymn begins, "O Haupt voll Blut und Wunden."
The hymn was first translated into English in 1752 by John Gambold (1711-1771), an Anglican vicar in Oxfordshire. His translation begins, "O Head so full of bruises." In 1830 a new translation of the hymn was made by an American Presbyterian minister, James Waddel Alexander (1804-1859). Alexander's translation, beginning "O sacred head, now wounded," became one of the most widely used in 19th and 20th century hymnals.
The music: The music for the German and English versions of the hymn is by Hans Leo Hassler, written around 1600 for a secular love song, "Mein Gmuth ist mir verwiret." The tune was appropriated for Gerhardt's German hymn in 1656. Johann Sebastian Bach arranged the melody and used it five times in his St. Matthew's Passion. Bach also used this melody in the opening choral and triumphant final chorus of his Christmas Oratorio.
(Promotional video for "He Was Crucified" from CPH set to "O Sacred Now Wounded." Linked from YouTube)
Wednesday Evening Lenten Services begin Ash Wednesday, March 9th
Devotional books in keeping with our Lenten theme will be available at the church.
If you desire a deeper understanding of our Lord's suffering for us, you might want to read "He Was Crucified" available from Concordia Publishing.
This beautiful book offers reflections of a medical doctor on the physical and mental anguish Jesus endured in the hours leading up to His death. Enrich your meditation on Christ's passion using prayers and hymns paired with moving commentary and masterpieces of art from artists including Michelangelo, Rubens, Dali, and Siqueiros.
This devotional book can be used any time during the Church Year to reflect on the Passion of Jesus, but is particularly appropriate during the seasons of Lent and Holy Week.
CPH makes an accompanying study guide available for download.
If you desire a deeper understanding of our Lord's suffering for us, you might want to read