Sacred Wounds

Woodcut from an English blockbook, ca. 1495, Bodleian Library, University of Oxford

Another Anglican hymn today which makes reference to the Sacred Heart. O dearest Lord, written around 1930 as a poem entitled ‘The Sacred Wounds’ by Father Andrew of the Society of Divine Compassion, makes perhaps the most explicit reference to the Sacred Heart to be found in Anglican hymnals. As far as I have been able to ascertain the hymn, rich in medieval imagery of the Five Wounds of Christ, makes its first appearance in the Canadian Book of Common Praise ​in 1938, mentioned in yesterday’s post. The hymn can now be found in many contemporary hymnals, Anglican and Nonconformist, a fact that Father Andrew, a convinced Anglo-Catholic, I'm sure would have found remarkable beyond words.

O dearest Lord, Thy sacred Head
With thorns was pierced for me;
O pour Thy blessing on my head
That I may think for Thee.
 
O dearest Lord, Thy sacred Hands
With nails were pierced for me;
O shed Thy blessing on my hands
That they may work for thee.
 
O dearest Lord, Thy sacred Feet
With nails were pierced for me;
O pour Thy blessing on my feet
That they may follow Thee.
 
O dearest Lord, Thy sacred Heart
With spear was pierced for me;
O pour Thy Spirit in my heart
That I may live for Thee.

Father Andrew SDC, 1869-1946