Catholic Activity: Lent Hymn: Open, O Hard and Sinful Heart!

Text, Angelus Silesius, 1637; melody, 1638. Appropriate hymn for Lent and Holy Week.

DIRECTIONS

1. Open, oh hard and sinful heart,
God will return to heed you.
Think of His pain and bitter part,
Let not more guilt impede you.
He who to penance is inspired,
Shall then in truth be living.
The sinner's death God ne'er desired,
His mercy is forgiving.

2. Open your eyes, believe, be wise,
With God there's no pretending.
Your sorry soul in danger lies
Of death and pains unending.
Come back, come back, O wayward one,
Shake off the sins that bind you.
Surely God's own almighty Throne
Plentiful grace will find you.

3. Open your heart, your God behold,
With outstretched hands so tender,
On the dread cross in grief untold
His life for you surrender.
A trembling rends the hardest stone,
Sun, moon and stars are darkened.
Are you unsoftened, you alone,
Have you to Him not harkened?

Activity Source: Around the Year with the Trapp Family by Maria Augusta Trapp, Pantheon Books Inc., New York, New York, 1955