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Only In Print: The Old Rugged Cross

Songs and Hymns About the Crucifixion

Most people recognize these as the opening lines of the popular hymn, “The Old Rugged Cross” which was written by George Bennard in 1912 and has since been recorded by hundreds of Christian artists across almost every genre of music.

While the Good Friday hymns about the Crucifixion are more solemn and thought-provoking than the jubilant songs we hear on Easter, they serve to remind us of …


The rest of this article can be found exclusively in the April 9 printed version of The Tablet. You can buy it at church for $1, or you can receive future editions of the paper in your mailbox at a discounted rate by subscribing here. Thank you for supporting Catholic journalism.