Procession in honour of the True Cross of Our Lord

The Royal Banners forward go;
The Cross shines forth in mystic glow,
Where Life for sinners death endured,
And life by death for man procured.

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 flowed, and Blood.

Fulfilled is all that David told
In true Prophetic song of old;
„Amidst the nations, God,” said 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!

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.

Hail, Altar! Hail, O Victim, Thee
Decks now Thy Passion’s Victory;
Where Life for sinners death endured,
And life by death for man procured.

To thee, Eternal Three is One,
Let homage meet by all be done;
Whom by the Cross Thou dost restore.
Preserve and govern evermore. Amen.