Contents

Horae Sanctae Crucis Hours of the Holy Cross

Filius

From a medieval Book of Hours: At matins bound, at Prime reviled Condemned to death at Terce, Nailed to the Cross at Sext. At None His blessed Side they pierced, They take Him down at Vesper-Tide, In the grave at Compline lay, Who henceforth bids His Church observe These sevenfold hours alway.

Ordinaria	Start of all the Hours
V. Per signum crucis de inimicis nostris. R. Libera nos Deus noster.	V. By the sign of the cross from our enemies. R. Our God deliver us.
V. Domine labia mea aperies. R. Et os meum annuntiabit laudem tuam.	V. Thou O Lord wilt open my lips. R. And my mouth shall declare Thy praise.
V. Deus in adiutorium meum intende. R. Domine ad adiuvandum me festina.	V. Incline unto my aid O God. R. O Lord make haste to help me.
V. Gloria Patri, et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto. R. Sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et semper, et in saecula saeculorum.	V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. R. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Ad Matutinum	At Matins, the start of the Day
Initium	Start
Hymnus: Patris sapientia, veritas divina, Deus homo captus est hora matutina: A notis discipulis cito derelictus: A Iudaeis traditus, venditus, et afflictus.	Hymn: The wisdom of the Father, and truth divine beside, God and man surprised was even at the morning tide: His known disciples left Him for to follow more: Sold and betrayed to the Jews they did afflict Him sore.
Ant: O crux venerabilis, quae salutem attulisti miseris, quibus te efferam praeconiis: quoniam vitam nobis caelitum praeparasti.	Ant: O venerable Cross, which hast brought salvation to wretches, by what praise shall I extol thee: for thou hast prepared unto us the heavenly life.
Conclusio	Conclusion
Ad Primam	At Prime, the first hour of the day
Initium	Start
Hymnus: Hora prima Dominum ducunt ad Pilatum, A falsis testibus multum accusatum, Colaphis percutiunt manibus ligatum, Vultum Dei conspuunt lumen caeli gratum.	Hymn: They our Lord to Pilate led at the hour of prime, And by witnesses full false accused much of crime, His hands tied they beat Him with fists in great dispite, They upon God's face do spit the heaven's grateful light.
Ant: O crucis victoria, et admirabile signum, in caelesti curia fac nos captare triumphum.	Ant: O victory of the Cross, and admirable sign, cause us to hold our triumph in the heavenly court.
Conclusio	Conclusion
Ad Tertiam	At Terce, the third hour of the day 9:00 am
Initium	Start
Hymnus: Crucifige clamitant hora tertiarum: Illusus induitur veste purpurarum: Caput eius pungitur corona spinarum. Crucem portat humeris ad locum poenarum.	Hymn: At the third hour of the day they crucify Him cry, In a purple robe clad Him more to mock thereby, Piteously His head was pricked with the crown of thorn, To the place of pain His cross was on His shoulders born.
Ant: Funestae mortis damnatur supplicium, dum Christus in cruce nostra destruxit vincula criminum.	Ant: The punishment of bloody death is condemned, whilst Christ upon the cross hath destroyed the bonds of our offenses.
Conclusio	Conclusion
Ad Sextam	At Sext, the sixth hour of the day, noon
Initium	Start
Hymnus: Hora sexta Iesus est cruci conclavatus, Et est cum latronibus pendens deputatus: Prae tormentis sitiens felle saturatus, Agnus crimen diluens sic ludificatus.	Hymn: To the Cross Christ nailed was the sixth hour of the day, And there hanging with two thieves reputed was as they: Thirsting by torments made with gall they seek to slake: Mocked was the Lamb while He our guilt on Him did take.
Ant: Per lignum servi facti sumus, et per sanctam crucem liberati sumus: fructus arboris seduxit nos, filius Dei redemit nos.	Ant: By a tree we were made bondsmen, and by the Holy Cross we are set free: the fruit of the tree seduced us, the Son of God redeemed us.
Conclusio	Conclusion
Ad Nonam	At Nones, the ninth hour of the day 3:00 pm
Initium	Start
Hymnus: Hora nona Dominus Iesus expiravit: Eli clamans spiritum patri commendavit: Latus eius lancea miles perforavit. Terra tunc contremuit, et sol obscuravit.	Hymn: Jesus Lord at the ninth hour His spirit forth did send: Crying Eli and His soul to Father did commend: With a lance a soldier did pierce through His tender side: The earth then trembled and the sun His shining light did hide.
Ant: O magnum pietatis opus: mors mortua tunc est, in ligno quando mortua vita fuit.	Ant: O great work of piety: Death then died when life was dead upon the cross.
Conclusio	Conclusion
Ad Vesperas	At Vespers, evening prayer 6:00 pm
Initium	Start
Hymnus: De cruce deponitur hora vespertina. Fortitudo latuit in mente divina. Talem mortem subiit vitae medicina: Heu corona gloriae iacuit supina.	Hymn: At the hour of eventide Christ from His cross was ta'en, In whose soul His fortitude did covertly remain. Such a death vouchsafed to take of life the medicine sound: Glory's crown alas the while lay groveling on the ground.
Ant: O crux benedicta, quae sola fuisti digna portare talentum mundi: dulce lignum, dulces clavos, dulcia ferens pondera: super omnia ligna cedrorum, tu sola excelsior: in qua mundi salus pependit, in qua Christus triumphavit, et mors mortem superavit in aeternum.	Ant: O Blessed Cross, which only wast worthy to bear the value of the world: sweet wood, sweet nails bearing sweet weights: thou only excedest in highness all the wood of Cedar: upon which the salvation of the world did hang: on which Christ did triumph, and death overcame death forever.
Conclusio	Conclusion
Ad Completorium	At Compline, night time prayer before sleep
Initium	Start
Hymnus: Hora completorii datur sepulturae Corpus Christi nobile, spes vitae futurae Conditur aromate: complentur scripturae: Iugi fit memoriae mors haec mihi curae.	Hymn: When as Compline was come was laid in His tomb, Christ His body precious the hope of life to come. Embalmed it was: scriptures thus accomplished we see: Still this death to have in mind my care O let it be
Ant: Salvator mundi salva nos, qui per crucem et sanguinem tuum redemisti nos, auxiliare nobis, te deprecamur Deus noster.	Ant: Save us O Savior of the world, which by Thy cross and blood hast redeemed us, help us we beseech Thee O our God.
Conclusio	Conclusion
Conclusio Horae	Conclusion of the above Hours
V. Adoramus te Christe, et benedicimus tibi. R. Quia per sanctam crucem tuam redemisti mundum.	V. We adore Thee O Christ, and we bless Thee. R. For by Thy holy Cross Thou hast redeemed the world.
Oremus: Domine Iesu Christe fili Dei vivi, pone passionem, crucem, et mortem tuam inter iudicium tuum et animam meam, nunc, et in hora mortis meae: et mihi largiri digneris gratiam et misericordiam: vivis et defunctis requiem et veniam: Ecclesiae tuae pacem et concordiam, et nobis peccatoribus vitam et gloriam sempiternam. Qui vivis et regnas cum Deo patre in unitate spiritus sancti Deus, per omnia saecula saeculorum. R. Amen.	Let us pray: O Lord Jesus Christ the Son of the living God, set Thy passion, cross, and death between Thy judgment and my soul, now, and in the hour of my death and vouchsafe to grant unto me grace and mercy: to the living and the dead rest and pardon: to Thy Church peace and concord, and to us sinners life and glory everlasting, who livest and reignest, God, with God the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit, world without end. R. Amen.
Commendatio	Commendation:
Has horas canonicas cum devotione, Tibi Christe recolo pia ratione: Ut qui pro me passus es amoris ardore, Sis mihi solatium, mortis in agone, Amen.	These hours canonical with devotion to Thee And with godly intention O Christ we address, In the fervor of Thy love that hast suffered for me, Comfortable be to me in bitter death's distress, Amen.

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