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Mass of the Presanctified
Part III -
Adoration of the Cross
After the solemn collects,
the celebrant and ministers [or servers], bowing to the altar, go back to the
sedilia by the shortest way: the celebrant takes off his cope, the ministers
the dalmatic and tunicle: the solemn adoration of the Cross then begins.
A large Cross is used whose
figure is covered by a purple veil which can be easily removed.
The Cross is first brought
from the sacristy to the middle of the sanctuary, while all stand. It is
carried in this way: the celebrant and the subdeacon stay at their bench,
standing; the deacon goes to the sacristy with the acolytes [or servers] and
from there he brings the Cross in procession to the church. The acolytes [or
servers] go first, then the deacon with the Cross, walking between two more
acolytes [or servers] who carry lighted candles.
When they reach the
sanctuary, the celebrant and subdeacon go to meet them, and the celebrant
receives the Cross in the middle, in front of the altar.
[The celebrant goes to the
sacristy with the servers and from there brings in the Cross, as above.]
The holy Cross is then
unveiled in this way:
The celebrant, holding the
Cross, with deacon and subdeacon [first and second servers] on either side, and
two acolytes [servers] with lighted candles, goes to the Epistle side on the
floor-level, stands facing the people, and uncovers the top of the Cross a
little. The MC holds the book; the celebrant intones alone, at a law pitch,
Ecce lignum Crucis, and the sacred ministers sing it with him as far as
Venite, adoremus, which is sung by the schola and the people.
Ecce
lignum Crucis, in quo salus mundi pependit.
The
choir answers:
Venite, adoremus.
When
the choir sings these words, all kneel, except the celebrant and the acolytes.
The priest then advances to the front corner, and uncovers, the right arm,
elevating the Crucifix a little, he sings on a higher tone than before:
Ecce lignum ...
The choir answers,
while all kneel:
Venite, adoremus.
Then at the middle of the altar the Celebrant uncovers the
whole Cross, and, lifting it up, begins still higher, the ministers and choir
continuing as before:
Ecce lignum ...
The choir answers, while all kneel:
Venite,
adoremus. |
Behold
the wood of the Cross, on which hung the Savior of the world.
The choir answers:
Come, let us adore.
When the choir sings these words, all kneel,
except the celebrant and the acolytes. The priest then advances to the front
corner, and uncovers, the right arm, elevating the Crucifix a little, he sings
on a higher tone than before:
Behold the wood...
The choir answers, while all kneel:
Come, let us
adore.
Then at the middle of the altar the
Celebrant uncovers the whole Cross, and, lifting it up, begins still higher,
the ministers and choir continuing as before:
Behold the wood...
The choir answers, while all kneel:
Come, let us adore. |
Two assistants take the
unveiled Cross to the center of the sanctuary, where they stand facing the
people and supporting the Cross upright by the arms; the acolytes place their
candles at either side of the Cross and themselves kneel down facing the Cross
throughout the Adoration that follows. The Celebrant and his Ministers and
assistants take off their shoes, and each in turn approaches, genuflecting
thrice, and kisses the feet of the Crucifix.
The Cross, still supported
by the two assistants and candles and acolytes, is then placed more
conveniently for the adoration of the faithful; these should form a procession
past the Cross, and after one simple genuflection devoutly kiss the feet of the
Crucified.
Meanwhile two choirs should be singing the Impropéria
(Reproaches): |
Two assistants take the
unveiled Cross to the center of the sanctuary, where they stand facing the
people and supporting the Cross upright by the arms; the acolytes place their
candles at either side of the Cross and themselves kneel down facing the Cross
throughout the Adoration that follows. The Celebrant and his Ministers and
assistants take off their shoes, and each in turn approaches, genuflecting
thrice, and kisses the feet of the Crucifix.
The Cross, still supported
by the two assistants and candles and acolytes, is then placed more
conveniently for the adoration of the faithful; these should form a procession
past the Cross, and after one simple genuflection devoutly kiss the feet of the
Crucified.
Meanwhile two choirs should be singing the Impropéria
(Reproaches): |
| Popule
meus, quid feci tibi? Aut in quo contristavi te? Responde mihi. V. Quia eduxi te de terra Ægypti: parasti
Crucem Salvatori tuo. |
O my people, what have I done to thee? or wherein have
I afflicted thee? Answer me. V. Because I
led thee out of the land of Egypt, thou hast prepared a cross for thy Savior.
|
The two choirs then
sing alternately:
Hagios o Theos.
Sanctus Deus.
Hagios
Ischyros.
Sanctus Fortis.
Hagios Athanatos, eleison hymas.
Sanctus
Immortalis, miserere nobis. |
The two choirs then
sing alternately:
O holy God!
O holy God!
O holy
strong One!
O holy strong One!
O holy immortal One, have mercy
upon us.
O holy immortal One, have mercy upon us. |
Two cantors:
Quia eduxi te per desertum
quadraginta annis, et manna cibavi te, et introduxi in terram satis optimam:
parasti Crucem Salvatori tuo. |
Two
cantors:
Because I led thee
out through the desert forty years: and fed thee with manna, and brought thee
into a land exceeding good, thou hast prepared a Cross for thy Savior.
|
| Alternately the two
choirs repeat as before: Hagios o Theos… |
Alternately the two
choirs repeat as before: O holy God! |
Two cantors:
Quid ultra debui facere tibi, et non
feci? Ego quidem plantavi te vineam meam speciosissimam: et tu facta es mihi
nimis amara: aceto namque sitim meam potasti: et lancea perforasti latus
Salvatori tuo. |
Two
cantors:
What more ought I to
have done for thee, that I have not done? I planted thee, indeed, My most
beautiful vineyard: and thou hast become exceeding bitter to Me: for in My
thirst thou gavest Me vinegar to drink: and with a lance thou hast pierced the
side of Thy Savior. |
| Alternately the two
choirs repeat as before: Hagios o Theos… |
Alternately the two
choirs repeat as before: O holy God! |
The verses of the
following reproaches are sung alternately by two cantors of each choir. The
choirs respond after each verse: Pópule meus... as far as the
verse Quia.
Ego
propter te flagellavi Ægyptum cum primogenitis suis: et tu me flagellatum
tradidisti.
R. Popule meus, quid feci
tibi? Aut in quo contristavi te? Responde mihi.
V. Ego te eduxi de Ægypto, demerso Pharaone in
Mare Rubrum: et tu me tradidisti principibus sacerdotum.
R. Popule meus,…
V. Ego ante te aperui mare: et tu aperuisti lancea
latus meum.
R. Popule meus,…
V. Ego ante te præivi in columna
nubis: et tu me duxisti ad prætorium Pilati.
R. Popule meus,…
V. Ego te pavi manna per desertum: et tu me
cecidisti alapis et flagellis.
R.
Popule meus,…
V. Ego te potavi
aqua salutis de petra: et tu me potasti felle et aceto.
R. Popule meus,…
V. Ego propter te Chananæorum reges percussi:
et tu percussisti arundine caput meum.
R. Popule meus,…
V. Ego dedi tibi sceptrum regale: et tu dedisti
capiti meo spineam coronam.
R. Popule
meus,…
V. Ego te exaltavi magna
virtute: et tu me suspendisti in patibulo Crucis.
R. Popule meus,… |
The verses of the
following reproaches are sung alternately by two cantors of each choir. The
choirs respond after each verse: Pópule meus... as far as the
verse Quia.
For
thy sake I scourged Egypt with its first-born: and thou hast scourged Me and
delivered me up.
R. O my people, what
have I done to thee? or wherein have I afflicted thee? Answer me.
V. I led thee out of Egypt having drowned Pharao in
the Red Sea: and thou hast delivered Me to the chief priests.
R. O my people...
V. I opened the sea before thee: and thou with a
spear hast opened My side.
R. O my
people...
V. I went before thee in a
pillar of cloud: and thou hast led Me to the judgment hall of Pilate.
R. O my people...
V. I fed thee with manna in the desert; and thou
hast beaten Me with blows and scourges.
R. O my people...
V. I gave thee the water of salvation from the rock
to drink: and thou hast given Me gall and vinegar.
R. O my people...
V. For thy sake I struck the kings of the
Chanaanites: and thou hast struck My head with a reed.
R. O my people...
V. I gave thee a royal scepter: and thou hast given
to My head a crown of thorns.
R. O my
people...
V. I exalted thee with great
strength: and thou hast hanged Me on the gibbet of the Cross.
R. O my people... |
The following anthem is
then sung:
Crucem tuam
adoramus, Domine: et sanctam resurrectionem tuam laudamus et glorificamus: ecce
enim propter lignum venit gaudium in universo mundo. - (Ps. 66: 2) Deus
misereatur nostri, et benedicat nobis: illuminet vultum suum super nos, et
misereatur nostri. - V. Crucem tuam
adoramus,… |
The following anthem is
then sung:
We adore Thy Cross,
O Lord: and we praise and glorify Thy holy Resurrection: for behold by the wood
of the Cross joy has come into the whole world. - (Ps. 66: 2). May God have
mercy on us, and bless us: may He cause the light of His countenance to shine
upon us, and have mercy on us. - V. We
adore Thy Cross.. |
Afterwards the hymn
Pange, lingua, gloriósi laúream…, is sung in the
following manner with the Crux fidélis…:
Crux fidelis,
inter
omnes Arbor una nobilis:
Nulla silva talem profert,
Fronde, flore,
germine:
Dulce lignum, dulces clavos,
Dulce pondus sustinet.
V. Pange, lingua, gloriosi
Lauream certaminis,
Et super Crucis trophæo
Dic triumphum
nobilem:
Qualiter Redemptor orbis
Immolatus vicerit.
R. Crux fidelis,…
V. De parentis
protoplasti
Fraude Factor condolens,
Quando pomi noxalis
In necem
morsu ruit:
Ipse lignum tunc notavit,
Damna ligni ut solveret.
R. Dulce…
V. Hoc opus nostræ salutis
Ordo
depoposcerat:
Multiformis proditoris
Ars ut artem falleret:
Et
medelam ferret inde,
Hostis unde læserat.
R. Crux fidelis,…
V. Quando venit ergo sacri
Plenitudo temporis,
Missus est ab arce Patris
Natus, orbis Conditor,
Atque ventre
virginali
Carne amictus prodiit.
R. Dulce…
V. Vagit infans inter arcta
Conditus
præsepia:
Membra pannis involuta
Virgo Mater alligat:
Et Dei
manus pedesque
Stricta cingit fascia.
R. Crux fidelis,…
V. Lustra sex qui jam peregit,
Tempus implens
corporis,
Sponte libera Redemptor
Passioni deditus,
Agnus in Crucis
levatur
Immolandus stipite.
R.
Dulce…
V. Fella potus ecce
languet:
Spina, clavi, lancea,
Mite corpus perforarunt,
Unda manat
et cruor:
Terra, pontus, astra, mundus,
Quo lavantur flumine!
R. Crux fidelis,…
V. Flecte ramos, arbor alta,
Tensa laxa viscera,
Et rigor lentescat ille,
Quem dedit nativitas:
Et supeni membra Regis
Tende miti stipite.
R. Dulce…
V. Sola digna tu fuisti
Ferre mundi victimam:
Atque portum præparare
Arca mundo naufrago:
Quam sacer cruor
perunxit,
Fusus Agni corpore.
R. Crux fidelis,…
The conclusion is never omitted.
V. Sempiterna sit beatæ
Trinitati gloria:
Æqua Patri Filioque;
Par decus Paraclito:
Unius Trinique
nomen
Laudet universitas. Amen.
R. Dulce… |
Afterwards the hymn
Pange, lingua, gloriósi laúream…, is sung in the
following manner with the Crux fidélis…:
Faithful Cross! above all
other,
One and only noble Tree!
None in foliage, none in blossom,
None in fruit thy peer may be;
Sweetest Wood, and sweetest iron,
Sweetest Weight is hung on thee.
V. Sing, my tongue, the glorious battle!
With
completed victory rife!
And above the Cross's trophy
Tell the triumph
of the strife:
How the world's Redeemer conquer'd
By the offering of
His life.
R. Faithful Cross...
V. God, his Maker, sorely grieving,
That the first-made Adam fell,
When he ate the fruit of sorrow,
Whose reward was death and hell,
Noted then this Wood, the ruin,
Of
the ancient wood to quell.
R. Sweetest
Wood...
V. For this work of our
salvation.
Needs must have its order so,
And the manifold deceiver's
Art by art would overthrow,
And from thence would bring the healing,
Whence the insult of the foe.
R. Faithful Cross...
V. Wherefore when the appointed fullness
Of the
holy time was come,
He was sent who maketh all things
From th' eternal
Father's home,
And proceeded, God Incarnate,
Offspring of the Virgin's
womb.
R. Sweetest Wood...
V. Weeps the Infant in the
manger
That in Bethlehem's stable stands:
And His Limbs the Virgin
Mother
Doth compose in swaddling bands,
Meetly thus in linen folding
Of her God the feet and hands.
R. Faithful Cross...
V. Thirty years among us dwelling,
His appointed
time fulfilled,
Born for this, He meets His Passion,
For that this He
freely willed:
On the Cross the Lamb is lifted,
Where His life-blood
shall be spilled.
R. Sweetest Wood...
V. He endured the nails, the
spitting,
Vinegar, and spear, and reed;
From that holy Body broken
Blood and water forth proceed:
Earth, and stars, and sky, and ocean,
By that flood from stain are freed.
R. Faithful Cross...
V. Bend thy boughs, O Tree of glory!,
Thy
relaxing sinews bend;
For awhile the ancient rigor,
That thy birth
bestowed, suspend:
And the King of heavenly beauty
On thy bosom gently
tend!
R. Sweetest Wood...
V. Thou alone wast counted
worthy
This world's ransom to uphold;
For a shipwrecked race preparing
Harbor, like the Ark of old;
With the sacred Blood anointed
From
the smitten Lamb that rolled.
R.
Faithful Cross...
The conclusion is never
omitted.
V. To the Trinity be
glory
Everlasting, as is meet:
Equal to the Father, equal
To the
Son, and Paraclete:
Trinal Unity, whose praises
All created things
repeat. Amen.
R. Sweetest Wood...
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Copyright (c) 2001, Opus Mariae Mediatricis
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