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GOOD FRIDAY
III
The Adoration of the Cross.
At the end of the prayers, the
priest removes his chasuble. Then turning towards the
congregation, at the foot of the altar,
on the Epistle side, he uncovers the upper portion of the veiled
cross and intones :
Ecce lignum crucis.
Behold the wood of the cross.
The ministers continue with him :
In quo salus mundi pependit. On which hung the Savior of the world.
The choir respond, while all, except the celebrant, kneel :
R. Venite, adoremus.
R. Come, let us adore.
The celebrant then goes to the
Epistle side of the altar, uncovers
the right arm of the cross, and elevating it, sings in a louder tone :
Ecce lignum crucis. Again all kneel, continuing as above. Then
at the middle of the altar, the celebrant uncovers the whole of
the crucifix, repeating on a higher note still Ecce lignum crucis,
the ministers and choir continuing as before.
The priest removing his shoes,
proceeds to adore the cross,
kneeling three times before kissing it. After which he withdraws
and resumes his shoes and chasuble. Then the minister first and the other
clergy, and afterwards
the laity, advancing two and two,
kneel and adore the cross. Meantime all or some of the following
Reproaches and Verses are sung according to the length of time the ceremony
takes, while the
priest, sitting, recites them with his
ministers.
The Reproaches.
Two choirs sing the following verses :
I.
O my people what have I done to thee?
Or in what
have I grieved thee? Answer me.
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