September 14, 2025
Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross
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Entrance Hymn: Lift High the Cross (RS 981)
Lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim
till all the world adore his sacred name.
1. Come, Christians, follow where our Savior trod,
Our King victorious, Christ, the Son of God.
2. Led on their way by this triumphant sign,
The hosts of God in conquering ranks combine.
3. Each newborn servant of the Crucified
Bears on the brow the seal of him who died.
Text: 1 Corinthians 1:18; George W. Kitchin, 1827–1912, and Michael R. Newbolt, 1874–1956, alt.;
tr. by Dimas Planas-Belfort, 1934–1992, and Ángel Mattos, alt.
Tune: CRUCIFER, 10 10 with refrain; Sydney H. Nicholson, 1875–1947
© 1974, 1997, Hope Publishing Company
Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE License #A-727305.
Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE License #A-727305.
Scripture Readings (external link): Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross
Responsorial: Psalm 78
R: Do not forget the works of the Lord.
Preparation Hymn: Take Up Your Cross (RS 890)
1. Take up your cross, the Savior said,
If you would my disciple be;
Take up your cross with willing heart,
And humbly follow after me.
2. Take up your cross, let not its weight
Fill your weak spirit with alarm;
His strength shall bear your spirit up,
And brace your heart and nerve your arm.
3. Take up your cross, heed not the shame,
And let your foolish heart be still;
The Lord for you accepted death
Upon a cross, on Calv’ry’s hill.
4. Take up your cross, then, in his strength,
And calmly ev’ry danger brave:
It guides you to a better home
And leads to vict’ry o’er the grave.
5. Take up your cross, and follow Christ,
Nor think till death to lay it down;
For those who humbly bear the cross
One day will wear the glorious crown.
Text: Charles W. Everest, 1814-1877, alt.
Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE License #A-727305.
Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE License #A-727305.
Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE License #A-727305.
Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE License #A-727305.
Communion Hymn: The Cross of Jesus (RS 569)
Come, O God, renew your people,
We who long to see your face.
Strengthen hearts that have grown feeble;
Fill our lives with truth and grace.
Only you can win our freedom;
Only you can bring us peace.
Only in the cross of Jesus
Will the captives find release.
Deep within create a new heart;
Melt away the winter chill.
Help us now to make a new start,
Help us now to know your grace.
Washed in waters of forgiveness,
Cleansed in waters of new birth,
Lead us to the cross of Jesus,
Bringing life to all the earth.
In the darkness that surrounds us
We have lost you from our sight.
Even though your love has found us,
We embrace the powers of night.
Scatter now our deepest darkness.
Guide our hearts into the light.
Join us to the cross of Jesus.
Help us set our living right.
Call us forth to walk in justice.
Rescue us from sin and grave.
Through the power of your Spirit,
Breathe in us the breath that saves.
Strengthen us in our communion,
One in Word and cup and bread.
Here within the cross of Jesus,
All who hunger will be fed.
Text: Francis Patrick O’Brien, b. 1958 Tune: Francis Patrick O’Brien, b. 1958 © 1996, GIA Publications, Inc
Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE License #A-727305.
Concluding Hymn: Lift High the Cross (RS 981)
Lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim
till all the world adore his sacred name.
4. O Lord, once lifted on the glorious tree,
Your death has bought us life eternally.
5. So shall our song of triumph ever be:
Praise to the Crucified for victory!
Text: 1 Corinthians 1:18; George W. Kitchin, 1827–1912, and Michael R. Newbolt, 1874–1956, alt.;
tr. by Dimas Planas-Belfort, 1934–1992, and Ángel Mattos, alt.
Tune: CRUCIFER, 10 10 with refrain; Sydney H. Nicholson, 1875–1947
© 1974, 1997, Hope Publishing Company
Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE License #A-727305.
Alternate Hymn: O Sacred Head Surrounded (RS 435)
O Sacred Head surrounded
By crown of piercing thorn!
O bleeding Head, so wounded,
Reviled and put to scorn!
The pow’r of death comes o’er you,
The glow of life decays,
Yet angel hosts adore you,
And tremble as they gaze.
I see your strength and vigor
All fading in the strife,
And death with cruel rigor,
Bereaving you of life;
O agony and dying!
O love to sinners free!
Jesus, all grace supplying,
O turn your face on me.
In this, your bitter passion,
Good Shepherd, think of me
With your most sweet compassion,
Unworthy though I be:
Beneath your cross abiding
For ever would I rest,
In your dear love confiding,
And with your presence blest.
Text: Salve caput cruentatum; ascr. to Bernard of Clairvaux, 1091-1153; tr. by Henry Baker, 1821-1877
Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE License #A-727305.
Alternate Hymn: How Great Thou Art (RS 730)
O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder
Consider all the worlds Thy hands have made,
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy pow’r throughout the universe displayed!
Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee;
How great Thou art, how great Thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee;
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!
When thru the woods and forest glades I wander
And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees,
When I look down from lofty mountain grandeur
And hear the brook and feel the gentle breeze.
And when I think that God, His Son not sparing,
Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in
That on the cross, my burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died to take away my sin!
When Christ shall come with shout of acclamation
And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart!
Then I shall bow in humble adoration
And there proclaim, my God, how great Thou art!
Text: Stuart K. Hine, 1899-1989, © 1953, 1981, Manna Music, Inc.
Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE License #A-727305.