Palm Sunday

Fresco by Pietro Lorenzetti (1320)

“The next day a large crowd, which had come for the Feast, heard ‘Jesus is coming into Jerusalem.’ They took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, shouting ‘Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the King of Israel!’

“Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, as it is written, ‘Fear not, O Daughter of Zion... Behold, your king is coming... seated upon a young donkey’” — John 12:12–15 (my trans)

“All glory, laud and honor,
To Thee, Redeemer, King,
To whom the lips of children
Made sweet hosannas ring.

Thou art the king of Israel,
Thou David’s royal Son,
Who in the Lord’s name comest,
The King and Blessèd One.

The company of angels
Are praising Thee on High,
And mortal men and all things
Created make reply.

The people of the Hebrews
With palms before Thee went;
Our prayer and praise and anthems
Before Thee we present.

To Thee, before Thy passion,
They sang their hymns of praise;
To Thee, now high exalted,
Our melody we raise.

Thou didst accept their praises;
Accept the prayers we bring,
Who in all good delightest,
Thou good and gracious King.”