I Gaze Upon Thy Holy Passion (Chanted by 2 singers/readers)

I Gaze Upon Thy Holy Passion

Lord hear me, the chief of sinners!/

O God have I stained Thy memory!/

Whilst Thou art betrayed by Judas/
I betray Thee in my heart/

Whilst Thou art sold for silver/

I trade Thee for my malice/

Whilst Thou suffer Thy great Passion for our sake/

I lash out in my anger/

Whilst Thy most pure mother weepeth for Thee in agony out of her deep love/

I wound myself in selfish pity, weeping burning tears.

I make others to stumble and drown them in pain and sorrow/

Thou givest Thyself as a sacrifice of love for even those who have nailed Thee there/

I take the hammer and fasten Thee to the tree in callousness/

Thou comest to die, bringing life/

I come unrepentant, seeking to steal it like a thief in the night/

Whilst Thou bringest life/

I mark myself with death/

Whilst Thou cleanse all with Thy grace/

I stain my robe with every evil/

Thou who makest all things, our Creator, have mercy on me!/

For I come naught but with destruction in my heart!/

Soften my heart, O God!  I have sinned more than the harlot./
I have eaten of all banquets but Thine,

That pure and Holy one which Thou hast ordained for me!/

I have run to the hills in anguish and away from Thy tender loving kindness!/

O Lord, who lovest mankind, preserve me despite my great sinfulness!/

Keep me in Thy great goodness; hasten to turn me from my ways./

Put me on the path of righteousness, correct me and mark me for Thine own./

Encompass my being with the depths of Thy fatherly love./

Bring my soul out of prison so that I may praise Thy name, so that I may follow Thy ways./

Have mercy on me, O God, according to Thy great mercy;

And according to the multitude of Thy compassions blot out my transgression./

Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin./

For I know mine iniquity, and my sin is ever before me./

Against Thee only have I sinned and done this evil before Thee, /

That Thou mightest be justified in Thy words, and prevail when Thou art judged./

For behold, Thou hast loved truth;

The hidden and secret things of Thy wisdom hast Thou made manifest unto me./

Thou shalt sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be made clean;

Thou shalt wash me, and I shall be made whiter than snow./

Thou shalt make me to hear joy and gladness; the bones that be humbled, they shall rejoice./

Turn Thy face away from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities./

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me./

Cast me not away from Thy presence, and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me./

Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation, and with Thy governing Spirit establish me./

A sacrifice unto God is a broken spirit; /a heart that is broken and contrite O God, Thou wilt not despise.