# Verified against Divinum Officium (Monastic Tridentinum 1617), Vespers
# live query, 2026-05-03 -- own proper hymn ("Vexílla Regis pródeunt,"
# one of the most widely known Latin hymns for the Holy Cross). See
# lauds-capitulum-finding-of-the-holy-cross.yml's header.
id: vespers-hymn-finding-of-the-holy-cross
text:
  la: >-
    Vexílla Regis pródeunt:

    Fulget Crucis mystérium,

    Quo carne carnis Cónditor

    Suspénsus est patíbulo.


    Quo vulnerátus ínsuper

    Mucróne diro lánceæ,

    Ut nos laváret crímine,

    Manávit unda et sánguine.


    Impléta sunt quæ cóncinit

    David fidéli cármine,

    Dicens: In natiónibus

    Regnávit a ligno Deus.


    Arbor decóra et fúlgida,

    Ornáta Regis púrpura,

    Elécta digno stípite

    Tam sancta membra tángere.


    Beáta, cujus bráchiis

    Sæcli pepéndit prétium,

    Statéra facta córporis,

    Prædámque tulit tártari.


    O Crux, ave, spes única,

    In hoc Pascháli gáudio

    Auge piis justítiam,

    Reísque dona véniam.


    Te summa, Deus, Trínitas,

    Colláudet omnis spíritus:

    Quos per Crucis mystérium

    Salvas, rege per sǽcula. Amen.
  en: >-
    Abroad the regal banners fly,

    Now shines the cross's mystery;

    Upon it Life did death endure,

    And yet by death did life procure.


    Who, wounded with a direful spear,

    Did, purposely to wash us clear

    From stain of sin, pour out a flood

    Of precious water mixed with blood.


    That which the prophet-king of old

    Hath in mysterious verse foretold,

    Is now accomplished, whilst we see

    God ruling nations from a tree.


    O lovely and refulgent tree,

    Adorned with purpled majesty;

    Culled from a worthy stock, to bear

    Those limbs which sanctified were.


    Blest tree, whose happy branches bore

    The wealth that did the world restore;

    The beam that did that body weigh

    Which raised up hell's expected prey.


    O Cross, our one reliance, hail!

    Thou joy of Eastertide, avail

    To give fresh merit to the saint,

    And pardon to the penitent.


    Blest Trinity, salvation's spring,

    May every soul thy praises sing;

    To those thou grantest conquest by

    The holy cross, rewards apply. Amen.
status:
  la: verified
  en: verified