Vexilla Regis Prodeunt

This hymn is used for Vespers in Passiontide in the Extraordinary Form (Roman Breviary). It is also used for Lauds on the Feast of the Christ the King and Vespers on the Feasts of the Invention of the Holy Cross and the Exaltation of the Holy Cross in the Roman Breviary. It was used for Vespers in Passiontide in the Paris Breviary (1736).

Vexilla Regis prodeunt;
Fulget Crucis mysterium,
Quo carne carnis conditor
Suspensus est patibulo.

Confixa clavis viscera
Tendens manus, vestigia,
Redemptionis gratia
Hic immolata est hostia.

Quo vulneratus insuper
Mucrone diro lanceæ,
Ut nos lavaret crimine,
Manavit unda et sanguine.

Impleta sunt quæ concinit
David fideli carmine,
Dicendo nationibus:
Regnavit a ligno Deus.

Arbor decora et fulgida,
Ornata Regis purpura,
Electa digno stipite
Tam sancta membra tangere.

Beata, cuius brachiis
Pretium pependit sæculi:
Statera facta corporis,
Prædam tulitque tartari.

Fundis aroma cortice,
Vincis sapore nectare,
Iucunda fructu fertili
Plaudis triumpho nobili.

Salve, ara, salve, victima,
De passionis gloria,
Qua vita mortem pertulit
Et morte vitam reddidit.

O Crux ave, spes unica,
Hoc Passionis tempore!During Holy Week
In hac triumphi gloria!On the Feast of The Exaltation of the Holy Cross
Piis adauge gratiam,
Reisque dele crimina.

Te, fons salutis Trinitas,
Collaudet omnis spiritus:
Quos per Crucis mysterium
Salvas, fove per sæcula. Amen.

Words:St. Venantius Fortunatus, 569.
Tune: “Vexilla Regis” proper Sarum melody.
Alternate Tune: “Agincourt” traditional English tune, 15th Century.

This slightly altered text of this hymn was used in the Paris Breviary:

Vexilla Regis prodeunt;
Fulget Crucis mysterium,
Quo carne carnis conditor
Suspensus est patibulo.

Quo vulneratus insuper
Mucrone diro lanceæ,
Ut nos lavaret crimine,
Manavit unda et sanguine.

Impleta sunt quæ concinit
David fidelis carmine,
Dicens: In nationibus:
Regnavit a ligno Deus.

Arbor decora et fulgida,
Ornata Regis purpura,
Electa digno stipite
Tam sancta membra tangere.

Beata, cuius brachiis
Sæcli pependit pretium :
Statera facta corporis,
Prædamque tulit tartari.

O Crux ave, spes unica,
Hoc Passionis tempore,
Auge piis iustitiam,
Reisque dona veniam.

Te, summa Deus Trinitas,
Collaudet omnis spiritus:
Quos per Crucis mysterium
Salvas, rege per sæcula. Amen.

This text has been translated into English as the following:
Forth Comes the Standard of the King 
The Royal Banners Forward Go

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