Vexilla Regis
The Royal Banners forward go;
The Cross shines forth in mystic glow;
Where He in flesh, our flesh who made,
Our sentence bore, our ransom paid.
Where deep for us the spear was dyed,
Life’s torrent rushing from His side,
To wash us in that precious flood
Where mingled water flowed and blood.
Fulfilled is all that David told
In the true prophetic song of old;
Amidst the nations God, saith he,
Hath reigned and triumphed from that Tree.
O Tree of Beauty! Tree of Light!
O Tree with royal purple dight!
Elect on whose triumphal breast
Those holy limbs should find their rest!
On whose dear arms, so widely flung,
The weight of this world’s ransom hung;
The price of humankind to pay,
And spoil the Spoiler of his prey.
O Cross, our one reliance, hail!
This holy Passiontide, avail
To give fresh merit to the saint,
And pardon to the penitent.
To Thee, eternal Three in One,
Let homage meet by all be done
Whom by the Cross Thou dost restore,
Preserve and govern evermore!
-Venentius Fortunatus (530 – 600)Translated from the Latin by John Mason Neale
For Reflection:
How have I seen the merits of Christ’s passion in my own life?
