THE ADORATION OF THE HOLY CROSS 14. After the solemn collects, the celebrant and ministers [or servers], bowing to the altar, go back to the sedilia by the shortest way : the celebrant takes off his cope, the ministers the dalmatic and tunicle : the solemn adoration of the Cross then begins.
A large Cross is used whose figure is covered by a purple veil which can be easily removed.
15. The Cross is first brought from the sacristy to the middle of the sanctuary, while all stand. It is carried in this way : the celebrant and the subdeacon stay at their bench, standing; the deacon goes to the sacristy with the acolytes [or servers] and from there he brings the Cross in procession to the church. The acolytes [or servers] go first, then the deacon with the Cross, walking between two more acolytes [or servers] who carry lighted candles.
When they reach the sanctuary, the celebrant and subdeacon go to meet them, and the celebrant receives the Cross in the middle, in front of the altar.
[15a. The celebrant goes to the sacristy with the servers and from there brings in the Cross, as above].
16. The holy Cross is then unveiled in this way :
The celebrant, holding the Cross, with deacon and subdeacon [first and second servers] on either side, and two acolytes [servers] with lighted candles, goes to the Epistle side on floor-level, stands facing the people, and uncovers the top of the cross a little. An acolyte [server] holds the book; the celebrant intones alone, at a low pitch, Ecce lignum Crúcis, and the sacred ministers sing it with him as far as Venite, adoremus, which is sung by the schola and all the people, standing.
[In the simple rite, the celebrant alone sings or reads the antiphon as far as Venite, adoremus, which is sung by all]
After the antiphon, all, except the celebrant with the Cross and the candle bearers, kneel and adore in silence for a few moments.
The celebrant then goes to the middle of the altar and uncovers the Cross completely [without completely taking away the cover]. He raises it, and in a higher key sings again Ecce lígnum Crúcis. The others join in the singing and kneel down, as before.
The celebrant then goes to the middle of the altar and uncovers the Cross completely [completely removing the cover]; he then raises it, and in a still higher key sings again Ecce lígnum Crúcis. The others then join in the singing and kneel down, as before.
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17. After its unveiling the solemn adoration of the Cross takes place in this way : the unveiled Cross is given by the celebrant to two acolytes [or servers] who stand on the predella in the middle of the altar facing the people; they hold it on each side by the arms so that the foot of the Cross rests on the steps.
Meanwhile the two other acolytes [or servers] who held the lighted candles place them on each side of the Cross on the predella, and they kneel there on each side of the predella facing the Cross.
Having given the Cross to the acolytes [servers], the celebrant with the ministers [servers], comes down from the altar, genuflects to the Cross, and goes to the sedilia.
The adoration of the Cross then begins as follows : first the celebrant comes alone, then the sacred ministers, then the clergy and lastly the servers. If it can be done conveniently, they all take their shoes off, and they approach the Cross one after the other : after a simple genuflexion made three times, they kiss the feet of the crucifix.
18. When the celebrant, ministers, clergy and servers have completed their adoration of the Cross, it is carried to the communion-rail by the two acolytes [or two servers] accompanied by the two other acolytes with lighted candles. It is held there in the same way as indicated above so that the faithful can come past the Cross as it were in procession, the men first and then the women. They devoutly kiss the feet of the crucifix after making a simple genuflexion.
If the adoration of the Cross cannot be carried through without difficulty and hindrance to good order and devotion, it may be modified as follows : when the clergy, or the servers, have finished their adoration the celebrant takes the Cross from the servers; standing at the top of the altar steps, and first briefly exhorting the people to adore the holy Cross, he holds it up, offering it for their adoration, for a few moments,
19. While the adoration of the Cross is taking place, the schola (dividec into two choirs) sings the Reproaches and other chants, while the celebrant sacred ministers, servers and all who have returned from the adoration of the Cross sit and listen.
The singing is continued for as long as the adoration continues. It always ends with the doxology Sempiterna sit beatae Trinitati glória from the hymn Pange, lingua, gloriosi lauream certaminis, (Liber Usualis p. 745. ver 1962)
The Reproaches Everything is sung as indicated in various books of Gregorian chant, or as below. I Two Cantors sing the following in the middle of the Choir :
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Alternate version of the above by Thomas Luis da Victoria.
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II The following Reproaches as sung in turn by the cantors. After each Reproach, the two choirs together answer Popule meus. as at above, as far as the V. Quia
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III Both choirs then sing the following Antiphon :
The Antiphon Crúcem túam is repeated.
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IV Crux fidelis. is then sung and the hymn Pange, lingua, gloriosi. After the first stanza of the hymn, V. Crux fidelis. is repeated as far as Dulce lignum; after the second stanza, Dulce lignum, as follows.
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