Crux fidelis
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General Information
Crux Fidelis is part of a larger work by Saint Venantius Honorius Clementianus Fortunatus (c530-c609) entitled: Pange Lingua
(Sing, my Tongue). He wrote it for a procession that brought a part of the true Cross to Queen Radegunda in 570. This hymn is 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.
Original text and translations
Latin text
Crux fidelis, inter omnes arbor una nobilis:
nulla silva talem profert,
fronde, flore, germine.
Dulce lignum,
Dulces clavos,
dulce pondus sustinet.
English translation
Faithful cross,
above all other,
the one noble tree.
None in foliage, nor in blossom,
nor in fruit offers more:
sweetest wood and sweetest iron,
sweetest weight is hung on thee!