HYMNUS
VEXILLA REGIS PRODEUNT
Venantius Fortunatus (530-609)
The Reliquary of the True Cross at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem
THE BANNERS OF THE KING ADVANCE,
the mystery of the Cross agleam,
whose flesh, the author of all flesh,
now hangs upon a sinner’s beam.
Whose injuries, and more the wound
of fearsome lance with whetted point,
to cleanse us of our guiltiness
pours streams of blood to us anoint.
It is fulfilled, what was foretold
by David in his song’s refrain:
how nations all, in time would see
God from an arbor come to reign.
O tree of glory shining bright,
in royal purple richly sheathed;
O chosen wood, the fitting place
to which the holy limbs were cleaved.
Blesséd are you upon whose arms
the ransom of the world did weigh;
his body placed upon your scales
to bear from hell its human prey.
All hail the Cross, our only hope
herein this doleful Passiontide;
raise justice for your holy ones,
and with we sinners please abide.
Blest Trinity, salvation’s spring;
praises, all souls to you outpour,
Who by the Cross’ mystery,
us save and cherish evermore.
Amen.