September 14-The Exaltation of the Holy Cross

(The Gospel Reading in the Extraordinary Form)

JOHN 12:31-36

At that time, Jesus said to the crowds of the Jews: "Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out; and I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself (But he said this, indicating by what kind of death by which he was to die)."

So the crowd answered him, "We have heard out of the Law that the Christ remains forever; and how can you say, 'The Son of Man must be lifted up?' Who is this Son of Man?"

Therefore Jesus said to them, "For a little while longer, the light is among you. Walk while you have the light, so that darkness may not overtake you; and he that walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light."

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CRUX FIDELIS, the second part of the PANGE LINGUA
(by Venantius Fortunatus)
Used on Good Friday during the Adoration of the Cross and in the Liturgy of the Hours during Holy Week and on feasts of the Cross

Faithful Cross!
above all other,
one and only noble Tree!
None in foliage, none in blossom,
none in fruit thy peers may be;
sweetest wood and sweetest iron!
Sweetest Weight is hung on thee!

Lofty tree, bend down thy branches,
to embrace thy sacred load;
oh, relax the native tension
of that all too rigid wood;
gently, gently bear the members
of thy dying King and God.

Tree, which solely wast found worthy
the world's Victim to sustain.
harbor from the raging tempest!
ark, that saved the world again!
Tree, with sacred blood anointed
of the Lamb for sinners slain.