Dearest Jesus, I will stay with Thee thru this longest night
Each bead of Thy sweat washing away my sin's blight
Each drop of crimson red, restoring my soul's white
Without Thine act of love - eternal death its hopeless plight.
Sweetest Jesus, let me wipe each bead of sweat from Thy precious brow
Let me comfort and console Thee - Oh! if only I could somehow.
Beat the sword of my sin into a virtuous plow
Until the sole object of my every act is Thou
Tomorrow Thou suffer death on a cross in my stead
How demeaning, how agonizing the crown on Thy head
How painful, how tortuous the path Thou will tred
How huge a ransom - lest my soul remain forever dead.
Did Thou remember me in the garden - with endless tear?
Did Thou hear me plainly - amid the incessant jeer?
Did Thou see me in the eyes of Thy mother dear?
Did Thou think of me when death moved near?
Oh grant me sorrow; make my eyes burn and cry
In the knowledge that it is for me you must die.
Let me embrace the cross with arms no one could pry
That forever in death with Thee I might lie.
For then weak and worthless sinner though I be
When Thou enter heaven amid great jubilee
Unnoticed, I might sneak in attached to Thee
There to dwell joyously in eternity.