AN EASTER GIFT FOR MY READERS: "O Sacred Head, Now Wounded" is a Christian Passion hymn based on a Latin text written during the Middle Ages. Paul Gerhardt wrote a German version O Haupt voll Blut und Wunden. Contents [hide] 1 Text 1.1 Original Latin 1.2 German translation 1.3 English translation 2 Melody 3 Lyrics (J.W. Alexander's version, 1830) 4 References 5 External links [edit]Text [edit]Original Latin The hymn is based on a long medieval Latin poem, Salve mundi salutare, with stanzas addressing the various parts of Christ's body hanging on the Cross. The last part of the poem, from which the hymn is taken, is addressed to Christ's head, and begins "Salve caput cruentatum." The poem is often attributed to Bernard of Clairvaux (1091-1153), but is now attributed to the Medieval poet Arnulf of Louvain (died 1250). I hope that by listening to this tape you will feel a special emotion and blessing.