A common Good Friday hymn, written by Frederick William Faber in 1849, which covers the Gospel stories of Jesus' crucifixion. It is often used to open a Good Friday service, in combination with a sermon or meditation on the traditional "Seven last words from the cross", or in Roman Catholic service for "The Stations of The Cross". In most modern congregations there is no patience for the full set of verses, usually only the four unindented verses below are sung.
In the traditional arrangement it is a moving hymn. The text itself commends itself well to detailed study, and comparison against the four Gospels, for those who enjoy such things. (Some Faber detractors find him overly wordy, but 'O Come and Mourn' is generally seem as one of his better efforts.)
Compare works such as Were You There When They Crucified My Lord? for a more emotive approach.
O come and mourn with me awhile;
O come ye to the Savior's side;
O come, together let us mourn;
Jesus, our Love, is crucified.
Have we no tears to shed for Him,
while soldiers scoff and foes1 deride?
Ah! look how patiently He hangs;
Jesus, our Love, is crucified.
How fast His hands and feet are nailed;
His blessed tongue with thirst is tied,
His failing eyes are blind with blood:
Jesus, our Love, is crucified.
His mother cannot reach His face;
she stands in helplessness beside;
her heart is martyred with her Son's:
Jesus, our Love, is Crucified.
Seven times He spoke, seven words of love;
and all three hours His silence cried
for mercy on the souls of men;
Jesus, our Love, is crucified.
O break, O break, hard heart of mine!
Thy weak self-love and guilty pride
His Pilate and His Judas were:
Jesus, our Love, is crucified.
A broken heart, a fount of tears,
ask, and they will not be denied;
a broken heart love's cradle is:
Jesus, our Love, is crucified.
O love of God! O sin of man! 2
In this dread act your strength is tried;
and victory remains with love;
for He, our Love, is crucified.
- In some older versions, 'Jews' is seen instead of 'foes'.
- Sometimes 'O sin filled world!'