In Exaltatione Sanctæ CrucisExaltation of the Holy Cross

℣ O Lord, ✠ open my lips.

℟ And my mouth shall proclaim your praise.

℣ O God, ✠ come to my assistance.

℟ Lord, make haste to help me.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Spirit.

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, * world without end. Amen.

Alleluia.

Ant. Christ the King, exalted for us upon the Cross, * Come, let us adore.

Ant. Christ the King, exalted for us upon the Cross, * Come, let us adore.

Come, let us exult in the Lord. Let us shout joyfully to God, our Savior. Let us anticipate his presence with confession, and let us sing joyfully to him with psalms.

Ant. Christ the King, exalted for us upon the Cross, * Come, let us adore.

For the Lord is a great God and a great King over all gods. For the Lord will not drive away his people. For in his hand are all the limits of the earth, and he beholds the heights of the mountains.

Ant. Come, let us adore.

For the sea is his, and he made it, and his hands established the dry land. (kneel) Come, let us adore and fall prostrate before God, and let us weep before the Lord who made us. For he is the Lord our God, and we are his people and the sheep of his pasture.

Ant. Christ the King, exalted for us upon the Cross, * Come, let us adore.

If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts: as in the provocation, according to the day of temptation in the wilderness, where your fathers tempted me; they tested and saw my works.

Ant. Come, let us adore.

For forty years, I was near to that generation, and I said: These have always strayed in heart. But they have not known my ways. To them I swore in my wrath: They shall not enter into my rest.

Ant. Christ the King, exalted for us upon the Cross, * Come, let us adore.

℣ Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Spirit.

℟ As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, * world without end. Amen.

Ant. Come, let us adore.

Ant. Christ the King, exalted for us upon the Cross, * Come, let us adore.

Sing, my tongue, the laurels

Of the glorious contest,

And above the trophy of the Cross

Proclaim a noble triumph:

How the Redeemer of the world

Vanquished as an immolated Victim.

The Creator, grieving for the deceit

Of the first-formed father,

When in the deadly bite of the harmful fruit

He fell to destruction,

Then himself marked out the tree,

To undo the harm of the tree.

The order of our salvation

Had demanded this work,

That the craft of the manifold deceiver

Might be deceived by craft,

And that a remedy might come

From where the foe had done the harm.

When therefore the fullness

Of sacred time had come,

The Son was sent from the citadel of the Father,

Creator of the world,

And coming forth clothed in flesh

From a virginal womb.

The infant cries, enclosed

In the narrow manger:

The Virgin Mother binds

His limbs wrapped in swaddling clothes:

And girds with tight bands

The hands and feet of God.

To the Trinity be glory

Everlasting, as is meet;

Equal to the Father, equal

To the Son, and Paraclete:

Trinal Unity, whose praises

All created things repeat.

Amen.

Nocturn I

Ant. The noble wood * is exalted, the faith of Christ shines bright, while the Cross is venerated by all.

Psalm 1 [1]

1:1 Blessed is the man who has not followed the counsel of the impious, † and has not remained in the way of sinners, * and has not sat in the chair of pestilence.

1:2 But his will is with the law of the Lord, * and he will meditate on his law, day and night.

1:3a And he will be like a tree that has been planted beside running waters, * which will provide its fruit in its time,

1:3b and its leaf will not fall away, * and all things whatsoever that he does will prosper.

1:4 Not so the impious, not so. * For they are like the dust that the wind casts away from the face of the earth.

1:5 Therefore, the impious will not rise again in judgment, * nor sinners in the council of the just.

1:6 For the Lord knows the way of the just. * And the path of the impious will pass away.

℣ Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Spirit.

℟ As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, * world without end. Amen.

Ant. The noble wood is exalted, the faith of Christ shines bright, while the Cross is venerated by all.

Ant. The Holy Cross * is lifted up by all kings, the royal scepter is raised, upon which the Savior triumphed.

Psalm 2 [2]

2:1 Why have the Gentiles been seething, * and why have the people been pondering nonsense?

2:2 The kings of the earth have stood up, and the leaders have joined together as one, * against the Lord and against his Christ:

2:3 “Let us shatter their chains * and cast their yoke away from us.”

2:4 He who dwells in heaven will ridicule them, * and the Lord will mock them.

2:5 Then will he speak to them in his anger * and trouble them with his fury.

2:6 Yet I have been appointed king by him over Zion, his holy mountain, * preaching his decree.

2:7 The Lord has said to me: * You are my son, this day have I begotten you.

2:8 Ask of me and I will give to you: the Gentiles for your inheritance, * and the ends of the earth for your possession.

2:9 You will rule them with an iron rod, * and you will shatter them like a potter’s vessel.

2:10 And now, O kings, understand. * Receive instruction, you who judge the earth.

2:11 Serve the Lord in fear, * and exult in him with trembling.

2:12 Embrace discipline, lest at any time the Lord might become angry, * and you would perish from the right way.

2:13 When his wrath soon flares up, * blessed are all those who trust in him.

℣ Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Spirit.

℟ As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, * world without end. Amen.

Ant. The Holy Cross is lifted up by all kings, the royal scepter is raised, upon which the Savior triumphed.

Ant. O venerable Cross, * who brought salvation to the wretched, with what praises shall I proclaim you, since you have prepared for us a heavenly life.

Psalm 3 [3]

3:2 Lord, why have those who trouble me been multiplied? * Many rise up against me.

3:3 Many say to my soul, * “There is no salvation for him in his God.”

3:4 But you, Lord, are my supporter, * my glory, and the one who raises up my head.

3:5 I have cried out to the Lord with my voice, * and he has heard me from his holy mountain.

3:6 I have slept, and I have fallen asleep. * But I awakened because the Lord has sustained me.

3:7 I will not fear the thousands of people surrounding me. * Rise up, Lord. Save me, my God.

3:8 For you have struck all those who oppose me without cause. * You have broken the teeth of sinners.

3:9 Salvation is of the Lord, * and your blessing is upon your people.

℣ Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Spirit.

℟ As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, * world without end. Amen.

Ant. O venerable Cross, who brought salvation to the wretched, with what praises shall I proclaim you, since you have prepared for us a heavenly life.

℣ This sign of the Cross shall be in the sky.

℟ When the Lord shall come to judge.

The Our Father is said silently as far as And lead us not into temptation:

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name: thy kingdom come: thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread: and forgive us our trespasses, as we also forgive those who trespass against us:

℣ And lead us not into temptation:

℟ But deliver us from evil.

Absolution. Hear the prayers of your servants, Lord Jesus Christ, and have mercy on us: You who live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit for ever and ever.

℟ Amen.

℣ Grant a blessing, O Lord.

Benediction. May the eternal Father bless us with his everlasting blessing.

℟ Amen.

Lesson 1

From the book of Numbers.

Num 21:1-3

1 And when king Arad the Canaanite, who was living toward the south, had heard this, namely, that Israel had arrived by the way of spies, he fought against them and, being victorious, took captives from them.

2 But Israel, obliging himself by a vow to the Lord, said: "If you deliver this people into my hand, I will wipe away their cities."

3 And the Lord heard the prayers of Israel, and he delivered the Canaanite, who they put to death, overthrowing his cities. And they called the name of that place Hormah, that is, Anathema.

℣ But you, O Lord, have mercy on us.

℟ Thanks be to God.

℟ The holy Church venerates this glorious day, on which the wood of triumph is revealed:

* On which our Redeemer, breaking the bonds of death, overcame the cunning serpent.

℣ Hanging upon the wood, the Word of the Father found the path of our salvation.

℟ On which our Redeemer, breaking the bonds of death, overcame the cunning serpent.

℣ Grant a blessing, O Lord.

Benediction. May the Only Begotten Son of God be pleased to bless and assist us.

℟ Amen.

Lesson 2

Num 21:4-6

4 Then they set out from mount Hor, by the way that leads to the Red Sea, to circle around the land of Edom. And the people began to tire of their journey and hardships.

5 And speaking against God and Moses, they said: "Why did you lead us away from Egypt, so as to die in the wilderness? Bread is lacking; there are no waters. Our soul is now nauseous over this very light food."

6 For this reason, the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people.

℣ But you, O Lord, have mercy on us.

℟ Thanks be to God.

℟ Faithful Cross, among all trees the one noble tree: no forest brings forth its like, in leaf, in flower, in fruit:

* Sweet the wood, sweet the nails, sweet the weight it bore.

℣ Above all the trees of the cedars you alone are more exalted.

℟ Sweet the wood, sweet the nails, sweet the weight it bore.

℣ Grant a blessing, O Lord.

Benediction. May the grace of the Holy Spirit enlighten our minds and hearts.

℟ Amen.

Lesson 3

Num 21:6-9

6 At their wounds and the deaths of very many,

7 And so they went to Moses, and they said: "We have sinned, because we have spoken against the Lord and against you. Pray, so that he may take away these serpents from us." And Moses prayed for the people.

8 And the Lord said to him: "Make a bronze serpent, and place it as a sign. Whoever, having been struck, gazes upon it, shall live."

9 Therefore, Moses made a bronze serpent, and he placed it as a sign. When those who had been struck gazed upon it, they were healed.

℣ But you, O Lord, have mercy on us.

℟ Thanks be to God.

℟ This is the most worthy tree, planted in the midst of paradise,

* On which the author of salvation by his own death overcame the death of all.

℣ The Cross, radiant with surpassing beauty, which the Emperor Heraclius recovered with longing heart.

℟ On which the author of salvation by his own death overcame the death of all.

℣ Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Spirit.

℟ On which the author of salvation by his own death overcame the death of all.

Nocturn II

Ant. O victory of the Cross * and wondrous sign, in the heavenly court grant us to win the triumph.

Psalm 4 [4]

4:2a When I called upon him, the God of my justice heeded me. * In tribulation, you have enlarged me.

4:2b Have mercy on me, * and heed my prayer.

4:3 Sons of men, how long will you be dull in heart, * why do you love vanity, and seek falsehood?

4:4 And know this: the Lord has made wondrous his holy one. * The Lord will heed me when I cry out to him.

4:5 Be angry, and do not be willing to sin. † The things that you say in your hearts: * be sorry for them on your beds.

4:6 Offer the sacrifice of justice, † and hope in the Lord. * Many say, “Who reveals to us what is good?”

4:7 The light of your countenance, Lord, has been sealed upon us. * You have given joy to my heart.

4:8 By the fruit of their grain, wine, and oil, * they have been multiplied.

4:9 At once in peace, * I will sleep and I will rest.

4:10 For you, O Lord, alone in hope * have established me.

℣ Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Spirit.

℟ As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, * world without end. Amen.

Ant. O victory of the Cross and wondrous sign, in the heavenly court grant us to win the triumph.

Ant. The punishment of dire death * is condemned, while Christ, upon the Cross, destroyed the bonds of our sins.

Psalm 10 [5]

10:2 I trust in the Lord. † How can you say to my soul, * “Flee to the mountain, like a sparrow”?

10:3 For behold, the sinners have bent their bow. † They have prepared their arrows in the quiver, * so as to shoot arrows in the dark at the upright of heart.

10:4 For they have destroyed the things that you have completed. * But what has the just one done?

10:5a The Lord is in his holy temple. * The Lord’s throne is in heaven.

10:5b His eyes look upon the poor. * His eyelids question the sons of men.

10:6 The Lord questions the just and the impious. * Yet he who loves iniquity, hates his own soul.

10:7 He will rain down snares upon sinners. * Fire and brimstone and windstorms will be the portion of their cup.

10:8 For the Lord is just, and he has loved justice. * His countenance has beheld equity.

℣ Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Spirit.

℟ As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, * world without end. Amen.

Ant. The punishment of dire death is condemned, while Christ, upon the Cross, destroyed the bonds of our sins.

Ant. The King is exalted * into the heavens, while the noble trophy of the Cross is adored by all Christians throughout the ages.

Psalm 20 [6]

20:2 In your strength, Lord, the king will rejoice, * and over your salvation, he will exult exceedingly.

20:3 You have granted him the desire of his heart, * and you have not cheated him of the wish of his lips.

20:4 For you have gone ahead of him with blessings of sweetness. * You have placed a crown of precious stones on his head.

20:5 He petitioned you for life, * and you have granted him length of days, forever and ever.

20:6 Great is his glory in your salvation. * Glory and great adornment, you will lay upon him.

20:7 For you will give him as a blessing forever and ever. * You will make him rejoice with gladness in your presence.

20:8 Because the king hopes in the Lord, * and in the mercy of the Most High, he will not be disturbed.

20:9 May your hand be found by all your enemies. * May your right hand discover all those who hate you.

20:10 You will make them like an oven of fire, in the time of your presence. * The Lord will trouble them in his wrath, and fire will devour them.

20:11 You will destroy their fruit from the earth * and their offspring from the sons of men.

20:12 For they have turned evils upon you; * they have devised plans, which they have not been able to accomplish.

20:13 For you will make them turn their back; * with your remnants, you will prepare their countenance.

20:14 Be exalted, Lord, by your own power. * We will sing and play music of your mighty deeds.

℣ Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Spirit.

℟ As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, * world without end. Amen.

Ant. The King is exalted into the heavens, while the noble trophy of the Cross is adored by all Christians throughout the ages.

℣ We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you.

℟ Because by your Cross you have redeemed the world.

The Our Father is said silently as far as And lead us not into temptation:

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name: thy kingdom come: thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread: and forgive us our trespasses, as we also forgive those who trespass against us:

℣ And lead us not into temptation:

℟ But deliver us from evil.

Absolution. May his loving kindness and mercy assist us, he who lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit for ever and ever.

℟ Amen.

℣ Grant a blessing, O Lord.

Benediction. May God the almighty Father be gracious and merciful to us.

℟ Amen.

Lesson 4

Chosroes, King of the Persians, in the last days of the reign of Phocas, having seized Egypt and Africa, and having captured Jerusalem and slaughtered many thousands of Christians there, carried off into Persia the Cross of Christ the Lord, which Helen had placed on Mount Calvary. Accordingly Heraclius, who had succeeded Phocas, afflicted by many troubles and calamities of war, was seeking peace; which he could not obtain from Chosroes, insolent with his victories, not even on unjust terms. Therefore, in extreme peril, he exercised himself with unceasing fasts and prayers and implored God's help with great earnestness; and, warned by him, having assembled an army, he engaged the enemy, and overcame three generals of Chosroes with their three armies.

℣ But you, O Lord, have mercy on us.

℟ Thanks be to God.

℟ But we ought to glory in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, in whom is our salvation, life, and resurrection:

* By whom we are saved and set free.

℣ Your Cross we adore, O Lord, and we call to mind your glorious Passion.

℟ By whom we are saved and set free.

℣ Grant a blessing, O Lord.

Benediction. May Christ grant us the joys of eternal life.

℟ Amen.

Lesson 5

Broken by these disasters, Chosroes, while making ready to cross the Tigris in flight, designates his son Medarses as co-ruler of the kingdom. But when Siroes, the elder son of Chosroes, bore this insult with great bitterness, he plotted the death of both father and brother; and he brought death to both of them a little later, dragging them back from their flight, and secured the kingdom from Heraclius upon receiving certain conditions, the first of which was that he should restore the Cross of Christ the Lord. Therefore the Cross, fourteen years after it had come into the power of the Persians, was recovered. Returning to Jerusalem, Heraclius carried it with solemn celebration upon his own shoulders back to the mountain where the Savior had carried it.

℣ But you, O Lord, have mercy on us.

℟ Thanks be to God.

℟ While the sacred pledge is exalted from heaven, the faith of Christ is strengthened:

* Divine wonders are present, prefigured first in the staff of Moses.

℣ At the touch of the Cross the dead rise again, and the great works of God are revealed.

℟ Divine wonders are present, prefigured first in the staff of Moses.

℣ Grant a blessing, O Lord.

Benediction. May God kindle the fire of his love in our hearts.

℟ Amen.

Lesson 6

This deed was commended by an illustrious miracle. For Heraclius, adorned as he was with gold and jewels, was compelled to halt at the gate that leads toward the hill of Calvary. For the more he tried to advance, the more he seemed to be held back. While both Heraclius himself and all the others were astonished at this, Zacharias, Bishop of Jerusalem, said: Beware, O Emperor, lest in that triumphal adornment you imitate too little the poverty and humility of Jesus Christ in carrying the Cross. Then Heraclius, having thrown aside his magnificent garments, removed his shoes, and clothed himself in a plain garment, easily completed the rest of the way and set the Cross in that same place on Calvary from which it had been carried off by the Persians. And so the solemnity of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, which was celebrated annually on this day, began to be held with greater distinction, on account of the memory of the fact that it was there restored by Heraclius where it had first been raised up for the Savior.

℣ But you, O Lord, have mercy on us.

℟ Thanks be to God.

℟ This sign of the Cross shall be in the sky, when the Lord comes to judge:

* Then the hidden things of our hearts shall be made manifest.

℣ When the Son of Man shall sit upon the throne of his majesty, and shall begin to judge the world through fire.

℟ Then the hidden things of our hearts shall be made manifest.

℣ Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Spirit.

℟ Then the hidden things of our hearts shall be made manifest.

Nocturn III

Ant. We adore you, O Christ, * and we bless you, because by your Cross you have redeemed the world.

Psalm 95 [7]

95:1 Sing to the Lord a new song. * Sing to the Lord, all the earth.

95:2 Sing to the Lord and bless his name. * Announce his salvation from day to day.

95:3 Announce his glory among the Gentiles, * his miracles among all peoples.

95:4 For the Lord is great and greatly to be praised. * He is terrible, beyond all gods.

95:5 For all the gods of the Gentiles are demons, * but the Lord made the heavens.

95:6 Confession and beauty are in his sight. * Sanctity and magnificence are in his sanctuary.

95:7 Bring to the Lord, you families of the nations, bring to the Lord glory and honor. * Bring to the Lord glory for his name.

95:8 Lift up sacrifices, and enter into his courts. * Adore the Lord in his holy court.

95:9 Let the entire earth be shaken before his face. * Say among the Gentiles: The Lord has reigned.

95:10 For he has even corrected the whole world, which will not be shaken. * He will judge the peoples with fairness.

95:11 Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth exult; let the sea and all its fullness be moved. * The fields and all the things that are in them will be glad.

95:12 Then all the trees of the forest will rejoice before the face of the Lord: for he arrives. * For he arrives to judge the earth.

95:13 He will judge the whole world with fairness * and the peoples with his truth.

℣ Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Spirit.

℟ As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, * world without end. Amen.

Ant. We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you, because by your Cross you have redeemed the world.

Ant. By the wood * we were made slaves, and by the holy Cross we have been set free; the fruit of a tree led us astray, the Son of God has redeemed us, alleluia.

Psalm 96 [8]

96:1 The Lord has reigned, let the earth exult. * Let the many islands rejoice.

96:2 Clouds and mist are all around him. * Justice and judgment are the establishment of his throne.

96:3 A fire will precede him, * and it will enflame his enemies all around.

96:4 His lightnings have enlightened the whole world. * The earth saw, and it was shaken.

96:5 The mountains flowed like wax before the face of the Lord, * before the face of the Lord of all the earth.

96:6 The heavens announced his justice, * and all peoples saw his glory.

96:7 May all those who adore graven images be confounded, * along with those who glory in their false images.

96:7 All you his Angels: Adore him. * Zion heard, and was glad.

96:8 And the daughters of Judah exulted * because of your judgments, O Lord.

96:9 For you are the Most High Lord over all the earth. * You are greatly exalted above all gods.

96:10 You who love the Lord: hate evil. * The Lord watches over the souls of his holy ones. He will free them from the hand of the sinner.

96:11 The light has risen for the just, * and joy for the upright of heart.

96:12 Rejoice in the Lord, you just ones, * and confess to the remembrance of his holiness.

℣ Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Spirit.

℟ As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, * world without end. Amen.

Ant. By the wood we were made slaves, and by the holy Cross we have been set free; the fruit of a tree led us astray, the Son of God has redeemed us, alleluia.

Ant. Savior of the world, * save us; you who have redeemed us by your Cross and your blood, help us, we beseech you, O our God.

Psalm 97 [9]

97:1 Sing to the Lord a new song, * for he has performed wonders.

97:1 His right hand has accomplished salvation for him, * with his holy arm.

97:2 The Lord has made known his salvation. * He has revealed his justice in the sight of the nations.

97:3 He has remembered his mercy * and his truth toward the house of Israel.

97:3 All the ends of the earth have seen * the salvation of our God.

97:4 Sing joyfully to God, all the earth. * Sing and exult, and sing psalms.

97:5 Sing psalms to the Lord with stringed instruments, with the harp and the sound of a psalm, * with hammered trumpets and the sound of the horn.

97:6 Make a joyful noise before the Lord our king. * Let the sea be moved and all its fullness, the whole world and all who dwell in it.

97:8 The rivers will clap their hands, the mountains will exult together, before the presence of the Lord. * For he comes to judge the earth.

97:9 He will judge the whole world with justice, * and the peoples with fairness.

℣ Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Spirit.

℟ As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, * world without end. Amen.

Ant. Savior of the world, save us; you who have redeemed us by your Cross and your blood, help us, we beseech you, O our God.

℣ Let all the earth adore you and sing praise to you.

℟ Let them sing a psalm to your name, O Lord.

The Our Father is said silently as far as And lead us not into temptation:

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name: thy kingdom come: thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread: and forgive us our trespasses, as we also forgive those who trespass against us:

℣ And lead us not into temptation:

℟ But deliver us from evil.

Absolution. May the almighty and merciful Lord absolve us from the bonds of our sins.

℟ Amen.

℣ Grant a blessing, O Lord.

Benediction. May the evangelical reading be our salvation and protection.

℟ Amen.

Lesson 7

A Reading from the holy Gospel according to John

Ioannes 12:31-36

At that time: Jesus said to the crowds of the Jews: Now is the judgment of the world; now will the prince of this world be cast out. And so forth.

A Homily of Saint Leo, Pope

Sermon 8 on the Passion of the Lord, after the middle

When Christ is exalted, dearest ones, through the Cross, let not only that sight present itself to the eye of the mind which was before the eyes of the ungodly, to whom it was said by Moses: And your life shall hang before your eyes, and you shall fear night and day, and shall not trust in your life. For these could think of nothing in the crucified Lord but their own crime, having a fear not of the kind by which true faith is justified, but by which an iniquitous conscience is tormented. But our understanding, illumined by the Spirit of truth, let it receive with a pure and free heart the glory of the Cross, shining out over heaven and earth; and let it see with the interior gaze what sort of thing it is that the Lord, when he spoke of the imminence of his Passion, said: Now is the judgment of the world; now will the prince of this world be cast out. And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all things to myself.

℣ But you, O Lord, have mercy on us.

℟ Thanks be to God.

℟ Sweet the wood, sweet the nails, sweet the burden it sustained:

* It alone was worthy to bear the price of this age.

℣ This sign of the Cross shall be in the heavens when the Lord comes to judge.

℟ It alone was worthy to bear the price of this age.

℣ Grant a blessing, O Lord.

Benediction. May the divine assistance remain always with us.

℟ Amen.

Lesson 8

O admirable power of the Cross! O ineffable glory of the Passion, in which stand the tribunal of the Lord, the judgment of the world, and the power of the Crucified! For you have drawn all things to yourself, O Lord; and when you stretched out your hands all the day long to an unbelieving and contradicting people, the entire world came to confess your majesty. You have drawn all things to yourself, O Lord, when all the elements pronounced one judgment in abhorrence of the Jewish crime; when the lights of heaven were darkened and day turned into night, the earth too was shaken by unusual movements, and all creation refused to serve the impious. You have drawn all things to yourself, O Lord, because, when the veil of the temple was torn, the Holy of Holies withdrew from unworthy high priests, so that figure might be changed into truth, prophecy into manifestation, and the law into the Gospel.

℣ But you, O Lord, have mercy on us.

℟ Thanks be to God.

℟ As Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up:

* That everyone who believes in him may not perish, but may have eternal life.

℣ God did not send his Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through him.

℟ That everyone who believes in him may not perish, but may have eternal life.

℣ Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Spirit.

℟ That everyone who believes in him may not perish, but may have eternal life.

℣ Grant a blessing, O Lord.

Benediction. May the King of Angels lead us to the company of the citizens on high.

℟ Amen.

Lesson 9

You have drawn all things to yourself, O Lord, so that what was veiled in the one temple of Judea under shadowed figures might be celebrated by the devotion of all nations everywhere through the full and open Sacrament. For now the order of the Levites is more glorious, the dignity of the elders more ample, and the anointing of priests more sacred; because your Cross is the fountain of all blessings, the cause of all graces; through which strength is given to believers out of weakness, glory out of shame, life out of death. Now also, with the variety of carnal sacrifices having ceased, the one oblation of your Body and Blood fulfills all the different kinds of victims; for you are the true Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world; and in this way you bring to completion all the mysteries in yourself, so that just as there is one sacrifice for every victim, so there may be one kingdom from every nation.

℣ But you, O Lord, have mercy on us.

℟ Thanks be to God.

Te Deum

O God, we praise you; * O Lord, we acclaim you.

Eternal Father, * all the earth reveres you.

To you all the Angels, * the heavens and all the Powers of heaven:

To you the Cherubim and Seraphim * cry out in endless praise:

(A bow is made) Holy, Holy, Holy * Lord God of hosts;

Heaven and earth are filled * with the majesty of your glory.

The glorious choir of Apostles * sings to you,

the noble company of Prophets * praises you,

the white-robed army of Martyrs * glorifies you.

Holy Church throughout the earth * proclaims you,

the Father * of boundless majesty;

your true and only Son, * worthy of adoration;

and the Holy Spirit, * the Paraclete.

You, O Christ, * are the King of glory.

You are * the Father's everlasting Son.

(A bow is made) When you resolved to save the human race, * you did not spurn the Virgin's womb.

You overcame the sting of death * and opened the Kingdom of Heaven to those who put their faith in you.

You are seated at the right hand of God * in the glory of the Father.

We believe you are the Judge * who is to come.

(The following verse is said kneeling) And so we beg you, help your servants, * redeemed by your most precious blood.

Number them * among your Saints in eternal glory.

Save your people, Lord, * and bless your inheritance.

Shepherd them * and raise them to eternal life.

Day by day * we bless you,

(A bow is made, according to custom) and we praise your name * for endless ages evermore.

Be gracious, Lord, on this day, * and keep us from all sin.

Have mercy on us, O Lord, * have mercy.

May your mercy be upon us, Lord, * as we place our trust in you.

In you, O Lord, I rest my hope: * let me never be put to shame.

The rest is omitted unless Lauds is said separately.

℣ O Lord, hear my prayer.

℟ And let my cry come before you.

Let us pray.

O God, who gladden us today by the annual solemnity of the Exaltation of the holy Cross: grant, we pray, that we, who have come to know its mystery on earth, may merit the rewards of its redemption in heaven.

Through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.

℟ Amen.

℣ O Lord, hear my prayer.

℟ And let my cry come before you.

℣ Let us bless the Lord.

℟ Thanks be to God.

℣ May the souls of the faithful, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

℟ Amen.