Herzliebster Jesu, was hast du verbrochen

Herzliebster Jesu, was hast du verbrochen. Johann Heermann* (1585-1647). First published in Heermann’s Devoti Musica Cordis (Breslau and Leipzig, 1630), in fifteen 4-line stanzas, with the title ‘Ursache des bittern Leidens Jesu Christi, und Trost aus seiner Lieb und Gnade. Aus Augustino’ (‘The cause of the bitter sufferings of Jesus Christ, and consolation from his love and grace. From Augustine’). Like other hymns by Heermann, this is indebted to the writings of the Church Fathers, but the attribution to Augustine* is incorrect. This was not Heermann’s fault: the passage (Meditation VII) comes from the medieval Meditationes of St Augustine, which is a compilation of various writings from...