Ortega was born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico near the banks of the Rio Grande. He started learning piano at eight years of age. Through his father's work with the United States Department of State, he also spent time in Ecuador and Barbados. It is from his heritage and classical training at The University of New Mexico where Ortega derives his sound, embracing country, classical, Celtic, Latin American, world, modern folk, and rustic hymnody. Fernando Ortega currently leads worship at Christ the King Anglican Church in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
His album Storm reached No. 197 on the Billboard 200 in 2002, and Christmas Songs reached No. 36 on the Billboard Christmas Album Chart in 2009.
O Sacred Head Now Wounded
Fernando Ortega Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With grief and shame weighed down,
Now scornfully surrounded
With thorns, Thine only crown
How pale thou art with anguish,
with sore abuse and scorn!
How doth Thy visage languish
which once was bright as morn!
What Thou, my Lord, hast suffered,
T'was all for sinners' gain;
Mine, mine was the transgression,
But Thine the deadly pain.
Lo, here I fall, my Savior!
'Tis I deserve Thy place;
Look on me with Thy favor,
Vouchsafe to me Thy grace.
What language shall I borrow
To thank Thee, dearest friend,
For this Thy dying sorrow,
Thy pity without end?
O make me Thine forever,
And should I fainting be,
Lord, let me never, never
Outlive my love for Thee.
In Fernando Ortega’s song “O Sacred Head Now Wounded,” the lyrics speak about the suffering and sacrifice of Jesus Christ. The singer describes Jesus’ head as wounded, weighed down with grief and shame, and surrounded by thorns, which serve as His only crown. The image of the sacred head is described as pale with anguish, sore abuse, and scorn, once bright as the morning, but now languishing. The second stanza speaks about Jesus’ suffering as a sacrifice for sinners, bearing the deadly pain and transgression of all. The singer acknowledges their unworthiness and asks for Jesus’ grace and favor, falling before Him. The final stanza seeks to express gratitude to Jesus for His dying sorrow and endless pity, asking to be made His forever and to never outlive love for Him.
Line by Line Meaning
O sacred Head, now wounded,
The head of Christ is now injured and bleeding
With grief and shame weighed down,
Christ is burdened with sadness and humiliation
Now scornfully surrounded
People are mocking Christ and treating him unkindly
With thorns, Thine only crown
Christ's crown is made of thorns, a symbol of his suffering
How pale thou art with anguish,
Christ's face is now pale and full of agony
with sore abuse and scorn!
Christ is being mistreated and ridiculed
How doth Thy visage languish
Christ's once bright and joyful face is now weak and hopeless
which once was bright as morn!
Christ's face was once as bright and hopeful as the morning light
What Thou, my Lord, hast suffered,
Christ suffered for sinners' benefit
T'was all for sinners' gain;
Christ's suffering was for the good of humanity
Mine, mine was the transgression,
The fault is mine, I am responsible for the sin
But Thine the deadly pain.
Christ is the one who experienced the excruciating pain
Lo, here I fall, my Savior!
I am falling before my savior
'Tis I deserve Thy place;
I deserve to be in Christ's place
Look on me with Thy favor,
Christ, please be merciful and forgiving towards me
Vouchsafe to me Thy grace.
Allow me to receive your mercy and grace
What language shall I borrow
What words can I use
To thank Thee, dearest friend,
To express gratitude towards you, my closest friend
For this Thy dying sorrow,
For your pain and suffering during your death
Thy pity without end?
Your infinite mercy and compassion?
O make me Thine forever,
Make me yours forever
And should I fainting be,
In the event that I am weak and lifeless
Lord, let me never, never
Please do not let me
Outlive my love for Thee.
Live a life without love for you.
Writer(s): Lee Marcum, Sheila Walsh, Travis Cottrell, Bill Wolaver Copyright: Word Music LLC
Contributed by Mackenzie O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@nancyfoix2197
1. O sacred Head, now wounded,
with grief and shame weighed down,
now scornfully surrounded
with thorns, thine only crown:
how pale thou art with anguish,
with sore abuse and scorn!
How does that visage languish
which once was bright as morn!
2. What thou, my Lord, has suffered
was all for sinners' gain;
mine, mine was the transgression,
but thine the deadly pain.
Lo, here I fall, my Savior!
'Tis I deserve thy place;
look on me with thy favor,
vouchsafe to me thy grace.
3. What language shall I borrow
to thank thee, dearest friend,
for this thy dying sorrow,
thy pity without end?
O make me thine forever;
and should I fainting be,
Lord, let me never, never
outlive my love for thee.
@janetaldridgesullivan840
What language shall I borrow
To thank Thee, dearest Friend,
For this, Thy dying sorrow,
Thy pity without end?
Oh, make me thine forever!
And should I fainting be,
Lord, let me never, never,
Outlive my love for Thee.
so incredibly beautiful and evocative in many ways . . .
@jessicaallen5288
I like the music done for this hymn, however the lyrics I have in the my book of prayers and I saw in the church book is the probably the original version: St Bernard of Clairvaux (O Sacred Head, surrounded
by crown of piercing thorn!
O bleeding Head, so wounded,
reviled and put to scorn!
Our sins have marred the glory
of Thy most Holy Face,
yet angel hosts adore Thee
and tremble as they gaze) First verse from the original
(I wish you could repeat this work with the original lyrics; they are touching and much more helpful)
@thespabarn
This is an Old hymn. Literally been around for centuries. It was based on a Latin poem dating back to the middle ages. The Latin poem had seven stanzas and addressed various areas of the crucified body (head, hands, face, pierced side, feet, heart, breast and knees). Paul Gerhardt (1607-1676) translated the entire Latin poem into German. And built the hymn out of one of the last stanzas of the Latin poem. The hymn was first translated into English in 1752
@narniagirl1420
Thank you for the hi a tory lesson! I am always struck by how Father keeps alive the pearls of one generation and seed to it they are preserved far, Far, FAR down the ancestral line of believers. In fact, I believe when we get to heaven there will be many songs we can reminisce about and trade stories with someone from the first century about songs that helped us (the Psalms); or we could be visiting with someone from the Middle Ages, or the Renaissance or the 1700's (Amazing Grace) or 1800's (Fanny Crosby's songs). Growing up in the Methodist church I saw a few hymns in the hymbook that dated back to the year 100 A.D., another was dated 300 A.D.
What an amazing time we will have getting to know the saints from different eras - even different epochs: the world of the pre- and post-Flood; post Tower of Babel; the kingdoms of Nebuchadnezzer, etc. What a history lesson we will get on how God worked through history to bring mankind to himself!!!
@CalJennings
The music was written by J. S. Bach.
@xyberfunk
“And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.”
Matthew 16:18 NKJV
@leeciaann
Fernando's rendition of this hymn has blessed my worship devotional time and prayer time for many years. The words bring us back to the crucifixion and the staggering willingness for the Lamb of God to give himself for the sinners of the world. The hymn is sung with such reverence purity & humility ...perfectly suited to this world changing event.
@4wdr
May this be a day of remembrance not just for today but everyday! Allow us to be humbled. 🙏
@brightstar7987
This song makes me cry. I feel so humble. THANK YOU HOLY SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST!💝💟
@veronicaehrlich919
I am thankful that Jesus sacrificed himself for us . Thank you Lord for Love, Mercy, and Grace. All Praise and honor belongs to you alone.
@gordonrea4573
How wonderful to hear such a beautiful rendition of a mediaeval hymn. The lyrics still pierce the heart and soul, and bring such glory to Jesus. Thank you!
@therandomroadnottaken8372
We can only say "Lord remember me when you are in your Kingdom". This song is soul piercing.