Solus ad Victimam

Alone to Sacrifice

Leighton, Kenneth (1929–1988)

Voicing:
Mixed Choir → SATB

Accompaniment:
Organ

Occasion:

Proper of Time → Holy Week → Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord

Publication Information:
Oxford University Press — 42.384 (1973)
ISBN 0-19-350349-2

Text Information:
Reference: Peter Abelard (1079–1142), Translated by Helen Waddell

Lyrics:

Alone to sacrifice thou goest, Lord,
giving thyself to Death whom thou hast slain.
For us thy wretched folk is any word?
Who knew that for our sins this is thy pain?
For they are ours, O Lord, our deeds,
Why must thou suffer torture for our sins?
Let our hearts suffer in thy Passion, Lord,
That very suffering may thy mercy win.
This is the night of tears, the three days’ space,
Sorrow abiding in the eventide,
Until the daybreak with the risen Christ,
And hearts that sorrowed shall be satisfied.
So may our hearts share in thine anguish, Lord,
That they may sharers of thy glory be;
Heavy with weeping may the three days pass,
To win the laughter of thine Easter Day.

Notes: Latin title, but entirely in English.
Submitted by: Brian Luckner Added: Nov 17, 2021 Last updated: Jan 21, 2022