On the Friday's of Lent, Night Prayer will take its lead from different depictions of the suffering and death of Jesus. Tonight, we reflect on a photograph taken by Tim LeBerre (@TimLeBerre) a Cultural Property Protection Officer in Ukraine. The photo shows men removing the crucifix from the Armenian Cathedral of Lviv, Ukraine, to be stored in a bunker for protection. The last time it was taken from the cathedral was during WWII. At the end of this post you can see the crucifix in its usual setting.
Over 2,000 years ago, Lord,
they took your body down from the Cross
where you had given all you had to give,
once, for all, that we might have life
and have it to the full...
In a borrowed tomb, they buried your body
and three days later you rose from the dead:
your mercy bled out, our sins forgiven,
the gates of heaven opened wide
to welcome us home to your Father's love...
You ascended to heaven, in glory you reign,
but you suffer still in the pain and the wounds
of your sisters and brothers, like you, the innocent,
bearing the burden of others' sin
on the violent cross of hate and war...
How long will selfish greed for power
crucify love at the cost of life?
Such innocent lambs, led to the slaughter,
crying and praying for mercy and peace...
O Lamb of God,
you take away
the sins of the world:
have mercy on us, Lord Jesus,
have mercy and grant us peace…
Protect us, Lord, while we're awake
and watch over us while we sleep
that awake, we might keep watch with you
and asleep, rest in your peace...
Amen.
A contemporary rendering by Donald Drake. of a classical subject, The Descent from the Cross.
Pie Jesus by Andrew Lloyd Weber
performed by Paul Miles-Kingston, Choir of Winchester Cathedral, English Champer Orchestra, James Lancelot, Lordin Maazel, Sarah Brightman
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Pie Jesu,
qui tollis peccata mundi,
dona eis requiem.
qui tollis peccata mundi,
dona eis requiem.
Sweet Jesus,
you take away the sins of the world,
give them rest.
you take away the sins of the world,
give them rest.
Agnus Dei,
qui tollis peccata mundi,
dona eis requiem,
sempiternam requiem.
Lamb of God,
you take away the sins of the world,
give them rest,
sempiternam requiem.
Lamb of God,
you take away the sins of the world,
give them rest,
eternal rest.
Jesus Altar of the Armenian Cathedral of Lviv, Ukraine
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