Hymnus: Pange Lingua (Crux Fidelis)
Tempus Passionis - Hymnus ad Laudes (Auth. Venantius Fortunatus)
About This Prayer
Crux fidelis ('Faithful Cross') is from Venantius Fortunatus' Pange lingua gloriosi proelium certaminis, a 6th-century hymn for the veneration of the Cross. Sung at Lauds during Passiontide, it addresses the Cross directly: 'Bend thy boughs, O Tree of glory.' The hymn presents the Cross as the balance ('statera') weighing the world's ransom, combining tenderness and triumph in veneration of Christ's instrument of death.
Prayer Text
LATINE
Crux fidelis, inter omnes
Arbor una nobilis:
Silva talem nulla profert
Fronde, flore, germine:
Dulce ferrum, dulce lignum,
Dulce pondus sustinent.
Arbor una nobilis:
Silva talem nulla profert
Fronde, flore, germine:
Dulce ferrum, dulce lignum,
Dulce pondus sustinent.
Flecte ramos, arbor alta,
Tensa laxa viscera,
Et rigor lentescat ille,
Quem dedit nativitas;
Et superni membra Regis
Tende miti stipite.
Tensa laxa viscera,
Et rigor lentescat ille,
Quem dedit nativitas;
Et superni membra Regis
Tende miti stipite.
Sola digna tu fuisti
Ferre mundi victimam;
Atque portum praeparare
Arca mundo naufrago,
Quam sacer cruor perunxit,
Fusus Agni corpore.
Ferre mundi victimam;
Atque portum praeparare
Arca mundo naufrago,
Quam sacer cruor perunxit,
Fusus Agni corpore.
Sempiterna sit beatae
Trinitati gloria,
Aequa Patri, Filioque;
Par decus Paraclito:
Unius Trinique nomen
Laudet universitas. Amen.
Trinitati gloria,
Aequa Patri, Filioque;
Par decus Paraclito:
Unius Trinique nomen
Laudet universitas. Amen.
ENGLISH
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.
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.
Bend thy boughs, O Tree of glory,
Thy relaxing sinews bend:
For awhile the ancient rigour
That thy birth bestowed, suspend:
And the King of heavenly beauty
On thy bosom gently tend.
Thy relaxing sinews bend:
For awhile the ancient rigour
That thy birth bestowed, suspend:
And the King of heavenly beauty
On thy bosom gently tend.
Thou alone wast counted worthy
This world's ransom to sustain,
That a shipwrecked race for ever
Might a port of refuge gain:
With the sacred Blood anointed
Of the Lamb for sinners slain.
This world's ransom to sustain,
That a shipwrecked race for ever
Might a port of refuge gain:
With the sacred Blood anointed
Of the Lamb for sinners slain.
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.
Everlasting, as is meet:
Equal to the Father, equal
To the Son, and Paraclete:
Trinal Unity, whose praises
All created things repeat. Amen.
Liturgical Notes
NOTA
FONS
Breviarium Romanum (1962)
USUS
Tempus Passionis - Hymnus ad Laudes (Auth. Venantius Fortunatus)
HORA
Lauds
TEMPVS
passiontide
GENVS
Hymn