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With the season of Lent upon us, it's natural to spend time thinking about Jesus' death. It's a season of heavy feelings, when we consider the weight of our sin and the wonder of God's grace.

When he wrote the poetry to "O Sacred Head, Now Wounded" hundreds of years ago, Bernard of Clairvaux experienced these same feelings. His words create a stirring picture of Jesus, head bowed and bloody under the crown of thorns that is cutting into his flesh. But even more stirring is his heart...

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With the season of Lent upon us, it's natural to spend time thinking about Jesus' death. It's a season of heavy feelings, when we consider the weight of our sin and the wonder of God's grace.

When he wrote the poetry to "O Sacred Head, Now Wounded" hundreds of years ago, Bernard of Clairvaux experienced these same feelings. His words create a stirring picture of Jesus, head bowed and bloody under the crown of thorns that is cutting into his flesh. But even more stirring is his heartfelt confession that "Mine, mine was the transgression, but thine the deadly pain."

In our busy world, it's so easy to be caught up in the cares and concerns of this life worrying about finances, trying to get our work done, keeping up with family and friends. But with the words of this week's hymn, our attention will be pulled back to the thing that matters most: Jesus' sacrificial death. Even on our busiest days, may we never forget to thank him for this act of love.

In the weeks ahead, consider the words to "O Sacred Head, Now Wounded" and remember Jesus' suffering anew. His torture was our triumph. His sorrow was our salvation. And in response to Christ's astounding sacrifice, we must echo the sentiments of our timeless hymn "O make me Thine forever; And should I fainting be, Lord, let me never, never, Outlive my love for Thee."

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"O Sacred Head, Now Wounded" is based on a long medieval poem attributed to Bernard of Clairvaux, 'Salve mundi salutare'. This poem talks about Christ's body, as he suffered and hung on the cross. It has seven sections, each addressing a part of Jesus' body-his feet, knees, hands, side, breast, heart, and head. Our hymn is a translation of the seventh section 'Salve caput crucentatum', focused on Jesus' head.

An intensely personal hymn, "O Sacred Head, Now Wounded" acknowledges th...

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"O Sacred Head, Now Wounded" is based on a long medieval poem attributed to Bernard of Clairvaux, 'Salve mundi salutare'. This poem talks about Christ's body, as he suffered and hung on the cross. It has seven sections, each addressing a part of Jesus' body-his feet, knees, hands, side, breast, heart, and head. Our hymn is a translation of the seventh section 'Salve caput crucentatum', focused on Jesus' head.

An intensely personal hymn, "O Sacred Head, Now Wounded" acknowledges the pain and shame that Christ endured when he paid the price for our sin. The poet cries out "I joy to call Thee mine." And we join the poet as we each confess "Mine, mine was the transgression." We go on to sing, "Lo here I fall my Savior" as we fall prostrate, knowing the price of our salvation, and the pain with which it was paid.

Language fails us as we accept this gift of salvation: The words we know aren't adequate to describe Jesus' sacrifice. But in the final stanza, we declare our heart's desire, asking God to uphold us that we may, to the very end of our days, always live full of gratefulness and love for our blessed Savior.

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