Holy Week Reflection with Canon Robin Gibbons - Monday

The Cross of Justin

Lectio: Vexilla Regis

As we begin Holy Week, moving onwards from Palm Sunday, it seems highly appropriate to reflect on an ancient processional hymn, which is one of the great treasures of the Latin liturgy, but has also been very successfully translated in English. This is the hymn, Vexilla Regis, which dates back to the 6th century.

Originally composed by the poet and bishop of Poitiers Venantius fortunatus (d. c. 610) it celebrates the mystery of Christ triumphant on the cross.The beautiful and haunting plainsong melody was often attributed to Fortunatus himself. In England the melody was strongly associated with the Sarum use and has been used in Roman Catholic liturgy for over 1,400 years, particularly during Passiontide particularly at Vespers in Holy Week.. The english translation has becomeone of our greatest hymns, particularly when sung with such tunes as the magnificent 'Gonflan Royal.

The circumstances of its composition are fascinating. The Byzantine Emperor Justin II sent to the Merovingian Queen Radegunda a relic of the true cross for her convent in Poitiers. Processions accompanied the envoys from Constantinople back to Poitiers with the relic, singing the Vexilla Regis for the first time on Nov. 19, 569.

As we process in our hearts and minds with the Lord Christ, perhaps on this Monday in Holy Week we might hold fast to the image of the crucified Lord discovered in the first few stanzas, but then meditate on the mystery of the life giving cross which forms the rest of the hymn.

Prayer

Let us remember as we journey through this week, all those many sisters and brothers of ours who will become full members of the Church through baptism at the great Vigil of Easter:

"Lord God, you created the human race and are the author of its renewal. Bless all your adopted children, and add these chosen ones to the harvest of your new covenant. As true children of the promise, may they rejoice in eternal life, won, not by the power of nature, but through the mystery of your grace". R. Amen. (Prayer over the elect RCIA)

Vexilla Regis Prodeunt

Vexilla Regis prodeunt,
Fulget Crucis mysterium,
Quo carne carnis conditor
Suspensus est patibulo.

Quo vulneratus insuper
Mucrone diro lanceae,
Ut nos lavaret crimine,
Manavit unda et sanguine.

Impleta sunt quae concinit
David fideli carmine,
Dicendo nationibus:
Regnavit a ligno Deus.

Arbor decora et fulgida,
Ornata Regis purpura,
Electa digno stipite
Tam sancta membra tangere.

Beata, cuius brachiis
Pretium pependit saeculi:
Statera facta corporis,
Praedam tulitque tartari.

O Crux ave, spes unica
Hoc Passionis tempore,
Piis adauge gratiam,
Reisque dele crimina.

Te, fons salutis Trinitas,
Collaudet omnis spiritus:
Quos per Crucis mysterium
Salvas, fove per saecula. Amen.

English text, translation by John Mason Neale

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 dy'd,
Life's torrent rushing from His side,
To wash us in that precious flood
Where mingled Water flow'd, and Blood.

Fulfill'd is all that David told
In true Prophetic song of old;
Amidst the nations God, saith he,
Hath reign'd and triumph'd from the 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 human kind 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.]