I have always enjoyed listening to chant. One of my favorite things to do when I lived in San Diego was to go to morning prayer at Prince of Peace Abbey Besides having one of the coolest Icons I've ever seen (If you watch their banner, you can see it on the wall behind the altar) being able to chant the office with them was incredibly meaningful.
So I listen to chant often, especially when writing sermons or during meditation time. This Lenten season, I became particularly enamored with Salve Caput Cruentatum.
Depending on which Google article you read, it is based on a longer Latin poem title Salve mundi salutare and was written by Bernard of Clairvaux, or Arnulf of Leuven. It was later translated into German and eventually English ("O Sacred Head, Now Wounded"). The poem addresses seven parts of Christ's body on the cross: feet, knees, hands, side, breast, heart, and head.
It's been a while since I caught the poet's muse, but this chant inspired me, so here is my own attempt at thinking about Jesus on the Cross. I hope it blesses you.
I see my Savior upon the cross
I see your feet upon the cross Your feet
trudged in the empty wilderness;
danced at a wedding in Cana;
dripped with costly oil and a woman’s tears;
Your feet
stumbled in the streets of Jerusalem;
drip your blood from the nail pinning them to the wood;
are where my feet should be.
I see your knees upon the cross
Your knees
knelt in daily prayer to your Father;
dandled a little child upon your lap;
bent to wash disciples’ – and betrayer’s – feet;
Your knees
scraped against the hard stones of the streets of Jerusalem;
shakily lift your body for a breath;
are where my knees should be.
I see your side upon the cross
Your side
felt your mother’s arm wrapped tight as you fled to Egypt;
was near the disciples as they walked;
lay near by the disciple whom you loved;
Your side
was next to a thief who asked to be remembered in paradise
gushes blood and water as a spear slices between your ribs
is where my side should be.
I see your hands upon the cross
Your hands
reached out and gently, lovingly, touched lepers;
applied mud to a blind man’s eyes, bringing sight;
broke bread in an upper room;
Your hands
grasped the rough splintered wood of the cross
spasm with pain from nails driven through their flesh
are where my hands should be.
I see your face upon the cross
Your face
looked upon your mother’s face while at her breast;
smiled with joy as Peter walked on water
wept with sorrow at the death of one you loved;
Your face
swells from blows given by soldiers
grimaces in agony both physical and spiritual
is where my face should be
I see my Savior upon the cross
Suspended where I should be.
Amazing grace that you, my Lord,
would will to die for me.
danced at a wedding in Cana;
dripped with costly oil and a woman’s tears;
Your feet
stumbled in the streets of Jerusalem;
drip your blood from the nail pinning them to the wood;
are where my feet should be.
I see your knees upon the cross
Your knees
knelt in daily prayer to your Father;
dandled a little child upon your lap;
bent to wash disciples’ – and betrayer’s – feet;
Your knees
scraped against the hard stones of the streets of Jerusalem;
shakily lift your body for a breath;
are where my knees should be.
I see your side upon the cross
Your side
felt your mother’s arm wrapped tight as you fled to Egypt;
was near the disciples as they walked;
lay near by the disciple whom you loved;
Your side
was next to a thief who asked to be remembered in paradise
gushes blood and water as a spear slices between your ribs
is where my side should be.
I see your hands upon the cross
Your hands
reached out and gently, lovingly, touched lepers;
applied mud to a blind man’s eyes, bringing sight;
broke bread in an upper room;
Your hands
grasped the rough splintered wood of the cross
spasm with pain from nails driven through their flesh
are where my hands should be.
I see your face upon the cross
Your face
looked upon your mother’s face while at her breast;
smiled with joy as Peter walked on water
wept with sorrow at the death of one you loved;
Your face
swells from blows given by soldiers
grimaces in agony both physical and spiritual
is where my face should be
I see my Savior upon the cross
Suspended where I should be.
Amazing grace that you, my Lord,
would will to die for me.
J.C. King
4/15/22
Good Friday
