Easter: The Strife is O'er

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

The strife is o'er, the battle done,
the victory of life is won;
the song of triumph has begun.
Alleluia!

The powers of death have done their worst,
but Christ their legions hath dispersed:
let shout of holy joy outburst.
Alleluia!

The three sad days are quickly sped,
he rises glorious from the dead:
all glory to our risen Head!
Alleluia!

He closed the yawning gates of hell,
the bars from heaven's high portals fell;
let hymns of praise his triumphs tell!
Alleluia!

Lord! by the stripes which wounded thee,
from death's dread sting thy servants free,
that we may live and sing to thee.
Alleluia!

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

Words: Symphonia Sirenum Selectarum, 1695;
trans. Francis Pott (1832-1909)

Music here.

Good Friday: Vexilla regis prodeunt

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 true prophetic song of old,
amidst the nations, God, saith he,
hath reigned and triumphed 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.

Blest tree, whose chosen branches bore
the wealth that did the world restore,
the price of humankind to pay,
and spoil the spoiler of his prey.

Upon its arms, like balance true,
he weighed the price for sinners due,
the price which none but he could pay,
and spoiled the spoiler of his prey.

O cross, our one reliance, hail!
Still may thy power with us avail
to give new virtue 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.

Words: Venantius Fortunatus, 569;
trans. John Mason Neale, 1851.
Midi available at Oremus or Cyberhymnal.

Maundy Thursday--Tristis est anima mea

Tristis est anima mea usque ad mortem.
Sustinete hic et vigilate mecum.
Nunc videbitis turbam quae circumdabit me.
Vos fugam capietis, et ego vadam immolari pro vobis.

My soul is sorrowful, even unto death.
Stay here, and watch with me.
Now you shall see the mob that will surround me.
You shall take flight, and I shall go to be sacrificed for you.

--Matins responsory for Maundy Thursday
Here is the motet setting by Orlandus Lassus (midi).

Palm Sunday--Love Unknown

My song is love unknown,
my Savior's love to me,
love to the loveless shown
that they might lovely be.
O who am I
that for my sake
my Lord should take
frail flesh and die?

He came from his blest throne
salvation to bestow,
but men made strange, and none
the longed-for Christ would know.
But O my friend,
my friend indeed,
who at my need,
his life did spend.

Sometimes they strew his way,
and his strong praises sing,
resounding all the day
hosannas to their King.
Then "Crucify!"
is all their breath,
and for his death
they thirst and cry.

Why, what hath my Lord done?
What makes this rage and spite?
He made the lame to run,
he gave the blind their sight.
Sweet injuries!
Yet they at these
themselves displease,
and 'gainst him rise.

They rise, and needs will have
my dear Lord made away;
a murderer they save,
the Prince of Life they slay.
Yet steadfast he
to suffering goes,
that he his foes
from thence might free.

Here might I stay and sing,
no story so divine:
never was love, dear King,
never was grief like thine.
This is my friend,
in whose sweet praise
I all my days
could gladly spend.

Words: Samuel Crossman (1624-1683), 1664

Music is here--by John Ireland.

Prayer of the Society of the Holy Cross

We should glory in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, for he is our salvation, our life, and our resurrection; through him we are saved and made free.

Let us pray.

Father, your Son showed the depth of his love when, for our sake, he opened his arms on the Cross; and he has commanded us to love one another. Keep the brothers of the Society of the Holy Cross united in love and in faith. Through the saving power of the Cross + impressed inwardly upon our lives and revealed outwardly in our work, may other come to know your love and your truth; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

We should glory . . .

--Society of the Holy Cross