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). It was used for Vespers during Passiontide in the Sarum Breviary. Starting from the verse “Impleta Sunt” it was sung to the end as the hymn for Vespers I on the Feast of the Invention (Finding) of the Holy Cross (May 3) and the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross (Sept. 14) in the Sarum Breviary as well. In the Ambrosian Breviary, it is used for Vespers II of Palm Sunday, Vespers & Lauds on Monday to Wednesday of Holy Week, Lauds on Holy Thursday and Vespers I & II and Lauds on the feasts of The Finding of the Holy Cross (May 3) and The Elevation of the Holy Cross (September 14).

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.
Meter: 88.88

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 is the text of the hymn as it appears in the Sarum Breviary:

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 diræ lanceæ,
Ut nos lavaret crimine,
Manavit unda sanguine.

+Impleta sunt quæ concinit*
David fidelis 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 est 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.+

*The spells this word “cecinit.”
**The 1531 Folio edition spells this word “Precium” and the Hymnale Secundum Usum Insignis Ac Praeclarae Ecclesiae Sarisburiensis (1850) renders this line:
“Sæcli pependit pretium”
***The 1531 Folio edition spells this word “iusticiam.”

+The section marked by these signs was what was sung for Vespers I on the Feast of the Invention of the Holy Cross.

This is the text of the hymn as it appears in the Ambrosian Breviary:

Vexilla Regis prodeunt,
Fulget Crucis mysterium,
Qua vita mortem pertulit,
Et morte vitam redidit.

Figunt cruenti Numinis
Clavi manus, vestigia;
Redemptionis gratia
Hic immolatur hostia.

Post vulneratus impiæ
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,
Tulitque prædam Tartari.

O Crux ave, spes unica,
[Hoc passionis tempore; (during Holy Week)]
[Paschale quæ fers gaudium, (on the Finding of the Holy Cross (May 3))]
[In hac triumphi gloria, (on the Exaltation of the Holy Cross (Sept. 14))]
Piis adauge gratiam,
Reisque dele crimina.

Te, summa cæli Trinitas,
Collaudet omnis spiritus;
Quos per Crucis mysterium
Salvas, tuere iugiter. Amen.

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

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