‘Vexilla Regis’ praises the Cross apart from Christ, then prays: ‘O cross, hail, only hope… grant pardon to the guilty’
The Passion hymn Vexilla Regis first praises the Cross as distinct from Christ, then prays to it as ‘only hope’ for justice and pardon.
Latin
XXII. In hymno qui incipit, Vexilla Regis prodeunt, & qui decantari solet Sabbato ante Passionem, & solennibus aliis diebus, ornatur primo Crux variis Elogiis quibus a Christo distinguitur, & vocatur Arbor decora & fulgida, Ornata regis purpura, Electa digno stipite tam sancta membra tangere, Beata cujus brachiis secli pependit pretium. Deinde haec ad eam oratio concipitur, O crux ave spes unica, hoc Passionis tempore, Auge piis justitiam, Reisque dona veniam.