Theme: Lenten Prayerful Meditation Music
Lead: Liz

O Sacred Head Surrounded | Chant | Passion Chorale
Author (attributed to): Bernard of Clairvaux

 O sacred Head surrounded
 By crown of piercing thorn!
 O bleeding Head, so wounded,
 Reviled and put to scorn!
 The pow'r of death comes o'er you,
 The glow of life decays,
 Yet angel hosts adore you
 And tremble as they gaze.

In this, your bitter passion,
Good Shepherd, think of me
With your most sweet compassion,
Unworthy though I be:
Beneath your cross abiding
For ever would I rest,
In your dear love confiding,
And with your presence blest

 I see your strength and vigor
 All fading in the strife,
 And death with cruel rigor,
 Bereaving you of life;
 O agony and dying!
 O love to sinners free!
 Jesus, all grace supplying,
 O turn your face on me.

Again We Keep This Solemn Fast | Lenten Hymn | St. Gregory the Great

 Again we keep this solemn fast, a gift of faith from ages past, 
These forty days that, year-by-year, bid contrite hearts to Christ draw near. 

The law and prophets from of old in figured ways this Lent foretold, 
Which Christ, all ages’ Lord and Guide, in these last days has sanctified. 

More sparing, therefore, let us make the words we speak, the food we take, 
Our sleep, our laughter, ev’ry sense; learn peace through holy penitence. 

Let us avoid each harmful way that lures the careless mind astray; 
By watchful prayer our spirits free from scheming of the Enemy. 

We pray, O blessed Three in One, Our God while endless ages run,
That this, our Lent of forty days, may bring us growth and give you praise.

 Lord Who Throughout These Forty Days | Lenten Hymn | Claudia Hernaman

 Lord, who throughout these forty days,
 For us did fast and pray,
 Teach us with you to mourn our sins,
 And close by you to stay.

 As you with Satan did contend,
 And did the vict'ry win,
 O give us strength in you to fight,
 In you to conquer sin.

 As you did hunger bear and thirst,
 So teach us, gracious Lord,
 To die to self, and always live
 By your most holy word.

 And through these days of penitence,
 And through your Passion-tide,
 Forevermore, in life and death,
 O Lord, with us abide.

 Abide with us that when this life
 Of suffering is past,
 An Easter of unending joy
 We may attain at last!

Parce Domine | Gregorian Chant

Refrain: Spare, O Lord, spare Thy people, lest Thou be angry with us forever.
Let us bow down before the avenging wrath; let us weep before the Judge; let us cry forth in prayer of supplication, and all fall prostrate in prayer. 

By our sins we have offended thy clemency, O God; pour out on us thy pardon from on high, Thou Who dost forgive. 

Offering an acceptable time, give streams of tears to wash the sacrifice of our heart, which joyful charity enkindles. 

Hear, thou merciful Creator, the tearful prayers poured forth during this holy fast of forty days. 

Beloved searcher of hearts, thou knowest the infirmities of men; show pardoning grace to those who return to thee.