INTROIT
Gal 6:14
But it behooves us to glory in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ: in Whom is our salvation, life, and resurrection: by Whom we are saved, and delivered.
Ps 66:2
May God have pity on us and bless us; may He let His face shine upon us; and may He have pity on us.
Glory Be to the Father…
But it behooves us to glory in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ: in Whom is our salvation, life, and resurrection: by Whom we are saved, and delivered.
COLLECT
O God, Who gladden us this day by the yearly feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, grant, we beseech You, that we who know on earth the mysteries of Christ may be found worthy to obtain in heaven the rewards of His redemption.
Through the same Christ our Lord…
EPISTLE
Lesson from the letter of St. Paul the Apostle to the Philippians
Phil 2:5-11
Brethren: Have this mind in you which was also in Christ Jesus, Who though He was by nature God, did not consider being equal to God a thing to be clung to, but emptied Himself, taking the nature of a slave and being made like unto men. And appearing in the form of man, He humbled Himself, becoming obedient to death, even to death on a cross. Therefore God also has exalted Him and has bestowed upon Him the name that is above every name, (here all genuflect) so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend of those in heaven, on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that the Lord Jesus Christ is in the glory of God the Father.
GRADUAL
Phil 2:8-9
Christ became obedient for us to death, even to death on a cross.
℣. Therefore God also has exalted Him, and has bestowed upon Him the name that is above every name. Alleluia, alleluia.
℣. Sweet the wood, sweet the nails, sweet the load that hangs on you: to bear up the King and Lord of heaven, you alone were worthy. Alleluia.
GOSPEL
Continuation ☩ of the Holy Gospel according to John
John 12:31-36
At that time, Jesus said to the multitudes of the Jews, Now is the judgment of the world; now will the prince of the world be cast out. And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all things to Myself. Now he said this signifying by what death He was to die. The crowd answered Him, We have heard from the Law that the Christ abides forever. And how can You say, ‘The son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this Son of Man? Jesus therefore said to them, Yet a little while the light is among you. Walk while you have the light, that darkness may not overtake you. He who walks in the darkness does not know where he goes. While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.
OFFERTORY
Through the sign of the Holy Cross protect Your people, O Lord, from the snares of all their enemies, that we may pay You a worthy service, and our sacrifice may be acceptable to You.
SECRET
We who are about to take as nourishment the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ our Lord, through Whom the Cross became a holy emblem, beseech You, O Lord, that just as we have the grace to honor it, so we may forever enjoy the salvation it has won for us.
Through the same Christ our Lord…
PREFACE
Holy Cross
It is truly meet and just, right and for our salvation, that we should at all times, and in all places, give thanks unto Thee, O holy Lord, Father almighty, everlasting God; Who didst establish the salvation of mankind on the tree of the Cross; that whence death came, thence also life might arise again, and that he, who overcame by the tree, by the tree also might be overcome: Through Christ our Lord. Through whom the Angels praise Thy Majesty, the Dominations worship it, the Powers stand in awe. The Heavens and the heavenly hosts together with the blessed Seraphim in triumphant chorus unite to celebrate it. Together with these we entreat Thee that Thou mayest bid our voices also to be admitted while we say with lowly praise:
COMMUNION
Through the sign of the Cross, deliver us from our enemies, O our God.
POSTCOMMUNION
Stand by us, O Lord our God, and protect by Your everlasting help those to whom You have given strength through Your sacrament.
Through our Lord…