I

O Lord our God, and brother, bruised

For us beneath a load of grief,

Before Thy solitary Face,

We come, to give our tears relief.

Refrain

O Face adorable, august,

Of our Redeemer, see

A guilty people come to make

Reparation unto Thee.

II

Look on that forehead pierced with thorns,

And contemplate that Face divine:

Its eyes bedimmed with tears and blood,

Saviour! can it indeed be Thine?

(Refrain.)

III

“When our eyes saw Him,” prophets

“Beauty and glory he had none.

“Bowed down, like storm tost reed he

“Or leper which the world doth shun.”

(Refrain.)

IV

He, loveliest of the sons of men,

He, of God’s rays the mirror clear,

Behold him now! And we, ah! we,

To be his hangmen do not fear.

(Refrain.)

V

Upon that cruel night, when scorned

And outraged was that Holy Face,

And the most high, thrice holy, God

Was yielded up to menials base.

(Refrain.)

VI

We too were there: our sinful hands

Perchance, on him fierce blows did wreak,

Or else, alas! we left him lone.

Friends faithless found, companions weak.

(Refrain.)

VII

Forgive us, Jesus, victim dear,

Forgive, ungrateful though we be;

When prostrate we confess our crimes,

Thy Face, Redeemer, let us see.

(Refrain.)

VIII

O Face adored! be Thine our sighs,

Our secret tears, by day and night;

The world runs after treasures frail,

Thy Face alone is our delight.

(Refrain.)

IX

We keep Thee, and Thou keepest us,

Thy blood and tears to us belong,

Our brows grow pure beneath Thy gaze.

And near to Thee, our hearts are strong.

(Refrain.)

X

O Face desirable, august,

Ceaseless we march on earth to Thee,

Face of our God awaiting us,

Soon we in Heaven Thyself shall see.

(Refrain.)