Ojos Claros Serenos is a Spanish song, the plea of a weak sinner inspired by the precedent of St. Peter in the courtyard where he denied Our Lord. There, St. Peter, who had sworn
that he would sooner die than betray Our Lord, denied that he knew Him
three times
at the insinuation of a mere servant woman.
At the moment of the third denial when the cock crowed for the third time, St. Peter suddenly remembered the words of Our Lord, Who had predicted his betrayal. He looked
out and saw his captive Master from across the courtyard. Their eyes met, and Our Lord's gaze, so renowned for candor and mildness, was now filled with censure and disappointment. Seeing that the Our Lord's gaze had turned to ire against him, he was stricken with shame and remorse, and was converted.
Following St. Peter's example, the sinner prays to Our Lord not to despise him
because of his shameful betrayal, but to look at him in his sorrow and shame with less ire than that which He showed toward St. Peter.
Ojos Claros Serenos is a song composed by the 16th century Spaniard Fr. Francisco Guerrero. This 1967 recording is performed by the TFP choir.
Spanish Lyrics:
Ojos claros, serenos,
Ojos claros, serenos,
Que a Vuestro Apostol Pedro han ofendido,
Mirad y reparad lo que he perdido.
Si atado fuertemente,
Quereis sufrir por mi, ser azotado,
No me mireis airado,
Porque no parezcas menos clemente.
Pues lloro, pues lloro amargamente,
Volved ojos serenos;
Si pues moris por mi, miradme al menos.
Si pues moris por mi, miradme al menos.
Si pues moris por mi, miradme al menos.
Miradme al menos...
English Translation:
O clear, serene eyes,
O clear, serene eyes,
That wounded Your Apostle Peter,
Look and repair what I have lost.
SinceYou, so strongly tied,
Want to suffer for me, to be scourged,
Do not look at me with ire,
So that You do not look less clement.
Because I weep, I bitterly weep,
Turn Your serene gaze on me,
Since You die for me, at least look at me.
Since You die for me, at least look at me.
Since You die for me, at least look at me.
At least look at me...
