Alone Thou Goest Forth, O Lord

McCabe, Michael (b. 1941)

Voicing:
Mixed Choir → SATB

Accompaniment:
Organ

Occasion:

Proper of Time → Holy Week → Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord
Proper of Time → The Sacred Paschal Triduum → Holy Thursday of the Lord’s Supper, at the Evening Mass
Proper of Time → The Sacred Paschal Triduum → Friday of the Passion of the Lord

Publication Information:
Paraclete Press — PPM00511 (2005)

Text Information:
Reference: Peter Abelard (1079–1142), Translated by F. Bland Tucker

Lyrics:

Alone thou goest forth, O Lord,
in sacrifice to die.
Is this thy sorrow naught to us
Who pass unheeding by?
Our sins, not thine, thou bearest, Lord,
Make us thy sorrow feel.
Till through our pity and our shame
Love answers love’s appeal.
This is earth’s darkest hour,
but thou dost light and life restore.
Then let all praise be given thee
Who livest evermore.
Give us compassion Lord, for thee,
That as we share this hour,
Thy cross may bring to us thy joy,
And resurrection power.
Amen, amen.

Notes: SATB with Soprano and Alto divisi. Accompanied, so not useful for Good Friday unless one uses the organ that day.
Submitted by: Brian Luckner Added: Nov 17, 2021 Last updated: Jan 22, 2022