Crux fidelis

                                                                                    Schola Sanctae Scholasticae and St. Cecilia's Abbey, UK


                                 Refrain:

Crux fidelis refrain 1 JPEG


     Faithful Cross the Saints rely on,        
     Noble tree beyond compare!          
     Never was there such a scion,      
     Never leaf or flower so rare.                *  
   Sweet the timber, sweet the iron,  
     Sweet the burden that they bear!  


Crux fidelis verse 1 JPEG
Crux fidelis refrain Crux to germine JPEG

                                                                                                          

1.  Sing, my tongue, in exultation            
     Of our banner and device!            
     Make a solemn proclamation                  
     Of a triumph and its price:              
     How the Saviour of creation 
     Conquered by his sacrifice!  
(Refrain)          

 

Crux fidelis verse 2 JPEG
Crux fidelis refrain Dulce JPEG

                                                                                                            


2.  For, when Adam first offended,  
     Eating that forbidden fruit,                
     Not all hopes of glory ended            
     With the serpent at the root:          
     Broken nature would be mended        
     By a second tree and shoot.  (
Refrain)


Crux fidelis verse 3 JPEG
Crux fidelis refrain Crux to germine JPEG


 3.  Thus the tempter was outwitted    
      By a wisdom deeper still:          
      Remedy and ailment fitted,          
      Means to cure and means to kill;    
      That the world might be acquitted,  
      Christ would do his Father’s will. 
      (Refrain)


Crux fidelis verse 4 JPEG
Crux fidelis refrain Dulce JPEG


4.   So the Father, out of pity            
      For our self-inflicted doom,            
      Sent him from the heavenly city    
      When the holy time had come:        
      He, the Son and the Almighty,      
      Took our flesh in Mary’s womb.     
      (Refrain)    


Crux fidelis verse 5 JPEG
Crux fidelis refrain Crux to germine JPEG


5.  Hear a tiny baby crying,              
     Founder of the seas and strands;    
     See his virgin Mother tying            
     Cloth around his feet and hands;      
     Find him in a manger lying          
     Tightly wrapped in swaddling-bands!
   
 (Refrain)  


Crux fidelis verse 6 JPEG
Crux fidelis refrain Dulce JPEG


6.  So he came, the long-expected,        
     Not in glory, not to reign;                    
     Only born to be rejected,            
     Choosing hunger, toil and pain,            
     Till the
scaffold was erected                
     And the Paschal Lamb was slain.
     
(Refrain)  


Crux fidelis verse 7 JPEG
Crux fidelis refrain Crux to germine JPEG


7.  No disgrace was too abhorrent:  
     Nailed and mocked and parched he died;  
     Blood and water, double warrant,      
     Issue from his wounded side,        
     Washing in a mighty torrent              
     Earth and stars and oceantide.  
(Refrain)


Crux fidelis verse 8 JPEG
Crux fidelis refrain Dulce JPEG


8.  Lofty timber, smooth your roughness, 
     Flex your boughs for blossoming;        
     Let your fibers lose their toughness, 
     Gently let your tendrils cling;                
     Lay aside your native gruffness,        
     Clasp the body of your King!  
(Refrain)


Crux fidelis verse 9 JPEG
Crux fidelis refrain Crux to germine JPEG


9.  Noblest tree of all created,          
     Richly jeweled and embossed:              
     Post by Lamb’s blood consecrated;    
     Spar that saves the tempest-tossed;  
     Scaffold-beam which, elevated,      
     Carries what the world has cost!
   
 (Refrain)


                            [The following conclusion is never to be omitted:]

Crux fidelis verse 10 JPEG


10.  Wisdom, power, and adoration To the blessed Trinity  
       For redemption and salvation Through the Paschal Mystery, 
       Now, in every generation, And for all eternity. Amen.


Hymn for Good Friday

Suggested use:  Hymn for Good Friday


Note:  Music from the Parish Book of Chant (CMAA, 2012, page 267) and used with permission from The Church Music Association of America. Book can be purchased at amazon.com  and is also available by download from http://media.musicasacra.com/pdf/pbc-web.pdf


© Schola Sanctae Scholasticae 2014