Hosanna

This is the English rendering of the Greek ώσαννα, which in turn comes from the Aramaic hôš ‘-nā, from the Hebrew for ‘Save us!’ (Psalm 118: 25). In the Christian tradition it is particularly associated with Christ’s Entry into Jerusalem (Mark 11: 10, Matthew 21: 9, 15, John 12: 13), and in the liturgical tradition it is linked to the ‘Benedictus qui venit in nomine Deus’, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord’. In hymn writing it was particularly associated with the voices of children, as in ‘Gloria, laus et honor’*: Gloria, laus et honor tibi sit Rex Christe Redemptor, Cui puerile decus prompsit Hosanna pium. (‘All glory, laud and honour*/ To Thee, Redeemer, King/ To Whom...