Good Friday

Litany

Man of sorrows, wrapt in grief,
bow thine ear to our relief;
thou for us the path hast trod
of the righteous wrath of God;
thou the cup of fire has drained
till its light alone remained.
Lamb of love! We look to thee:
hear our mournful litany.

By the garden, fraught with woe;
whither thou full oft wouldst go;
by thine agony of prayer
In the desolation there;
by the dire and deep distress
of that mystery fathomless;
Lord, our tears in mercy see:
hearken to our litany.

By the chalice brimming o’er
with disgrace and torment sore;
by those lips which fain would pray
that it might but pass away;
by the heart which drank it dry,
lest a rebel race should die;
by thy pity, Lord, our plea:
hear our solemn litany.

Man of sorrows! Let thy grief
purchase for us our relief;
Lord of mercy! Bow thine ear,
slow to anger, swift to hear;
by the cross’s royal road
lead us to the throwne of God,
there for aye to sing to thee
heaven’s triumphant litany.

Joseph Parry, 1841 - 1903