Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus! (Phi 2:5 NIV)

That is the proper practice of lent, the discipleship of Jesus, the nature and form that we poor sinners should follow the great, big cross bearer and carry our little cross after his huge one. Truly, dear brothers, after we have recognised the heights to which the deep suffering of Jesus leads, we might gain courage and even feel a holy longing to follow this Lord of all, who love him, and just as he did not consider his own life too much, we too should strive to be more and more like him. We have a saviour, who lived in this world for us and who also died for us and now lives eternally for us as he is praying always for us, so we too can have nothing better to do, than to live, suffer and die for others and pray for them here and there. The companions of David gathered around him shouting: “Yours we are David and we are on your side, you son of Jesse! Peace, Peace be with you Peace with your friends and God is your helper!” Let us become such companions of our saviour – and greet him similarly and follow him with even greater faithfulness!

We greet you o King of mercy! Life, joy and hope of our souls – hail be to you! We praise you, we pray to you, we acclaim and greet you – even with tears, in sorrow and this dark valley of death. Therefore o Lord Jesus Christ, you who are our advocate with the Father, look us graciously, have mercy upon us and show us the way out of this misery dark place dear and holy son of God and Mary true! (Salve regina 1543)

We greet you on the cross on high – praiseworthy lamb of God sublime with prayer, psalm and devotion. Here you are suffering greatest pain, obedient, loving without fail death by a thousand pierces. Yet my faith clearly sees in you: God’s fame and splendour glory true dwell in your body surely and that you’ve earned our praising song that you’re the Lord to whom we belong: Hail king enthroned celestial.

We follow you through death and pain, Lord you’re our saviour and our gain nothing from you will sever. You lead the narrow way ahead, your crucifixion grants free course to life for those that trust you. Oh Jesus your most loving care grants that we lack naught since you share the fruit of your death vicariously; I fear not death and can rejoice: Our Faith gains all you ever promised! Blessed are you now and forever + (Valentin Ernst Löscher 1673-1749)

This is a translation of Wilhelm Löhe’s devotion for Tuesday after Palmsunday (6th Sunday in Lent). The hymn can be sung to the melody of “Ich grüße Dich am Kreuzesstamm”. Both are found on Pg. 154 in Lob sei Dir ewig, o Jesu!   (Eternal Praise to you o Jesus!) edited by A. Schuster and published in the Freimund Verlag, Neuendettelsau 1949.