As we commemorate Palm Sunday and anticipate celebrating the death and resurrection of Christ next weekend, these prayers written by faithful people throughout church history help to focus our hearts on the person and work of Christ.

Ride on, ride on in majesty! Hear all the tribes hosanna cry; O Savior meek, pursue Your road with palms and scattered garments strowed.

Ride on, ride on in majesty! In lowly pomp ride on to die, bow Your meek head to mortal pain, then take, O Christ, Your pow’r and reign.

Henry Hart Milman

You call us to a day of gladness, the one who came to us the King’s own Son. We go forth with palm branches to meet You, and angels join us with trumpets as we shout loud hosannas. Let all of creation rejoice; we are no longer silent. The Heavenly One has come to us, sitting humbly on a foal. Let every village, every city, praise His name with a happy shout. Even the lips of infants are singing: Blessed are You, the King who came! Amen.

Ephraim the Syrian

Jesus, heal us! Save us, Son of David, save us! Thou seest how blind we be—oh, give us the sight of faith! Thou seest how lame we be—oh, give us the strength of grace! And now, e’en now, Thou Son of David, purge out our selfishness, and come and live and reign in us as in Thy temple-palaces! And ere we leave this place, we cry again, “Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna. Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord.” We ask it, O Thou great King, for Thine own sake. Amen.

Charles Spurgeon

Praise Him who comes, and is to come! Hosanna to the Father’s mighty Son, here and in the highest. Praise Him who once humbled Himself in love to save our human race. Praise Him for His Father’s boundless grace! Who would not stop to see and wonder at how low Your love bent down? A donkey once carried You here on the earth. You, in Your might and holiness!

And in Your pity for us, You serve and bless our fallen race. This day is joy-filled for all creation. My glad soul will sing a song of praise, and wave branches of thanksgiving that were once just palm branches, thrown in front of You by children. Now we own Your hidden majesty, and we cry with those children: “Hosanna to the Son of David!” Amen.

Ephraim the Syrian

All glory, laud, and honor to Thee, Redeemer, King, to whom the lips of children made sweet hosannas ring. Thou art the King of Israel, Thou David’s Royal Son, Who in the Lord’s name comest, The King and Blessed One.

The company of Angels Is praising Thee on high, And we with all creation In chorus make reply. The people of the Hebrews With palms before Thee went; Our praise and prayers and anthems Before Thee we present.

Theodulf of Orléans

Hosanna to the Incarnate Word Who from the Father came Ascribe salvation to the Lord With blessings on His name.

Hosanna to the Son Of David, and of God, Who brought the news of pardon down, And bought it with His blood.

Isaac Watts

O father, most merciful, in the beginning You created us, and by the passion of Your only Son You created us anew. Work in us now, both to will and to do what pleases You. Since we are weak and can do no good thing by ourselves, grant us Your grace and heavenly blessing, that in whatever work we engage we may do all to Your honor and glory. Keep us from sin and empower us daily to do good works, that as long as we live in the body we may always perform service to You. Since You have given us pardon of all our sins, after our departure receive us to eternal life; through Him who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, for ever and ever. Amen.

Anselm of Canterbury