The Vespers hymn for Passiontide - the time from the Sunday before Palm Sunday up to Holy Week. Some would cover all statues and crucifixes with purple cloth for this time, to be unveiled during the Sacred Triduum - crucifixes on Friday and the rest at the Gloria on Saturday night.

This is yet another hymn that suffered revisions under Pope Urban VIII. In A New Book of Old Hymns I followed the Urbanite text as in the Liber Usualis. Below I go back to the older text, though they are very similar.

Little Crossword of verses 1 and 6

Following the words by Venantius Fortunatus

Vexilla Regis prodeunt; fulget Crucis mysterium, quo carne carnis conditor suspensus est patibulo.

Vexilla Regis prodeunt; fulget Crucis mysterium, quo carne carnis conditor suspensus est patibulo.

Banners {of the King} {they go out} shines {of the Cross} mystery who flesh {of flesh} maker suspended is {from the fork-shaped yoke or gibbet for criminals}

Abroad the royal banners fly And bear the gleaming Cross on high That Cross whereon Life suffered death And gave us life with dying breath.

Quo vulneratus insuper mucrone diro lanceae, ut nos lavaret crimine, manavit unda et sanguine.

Quo vulneratus insuper mucrone diro lanceae, ut nos lavaret crimine, manavit unda et sanguine.

Who wounded above {sharp point} fearful {lance or spear} that we {he washes} {from crimes} {he has shed} {wave or flood} and blood

Who, wounded with a direful spear, did purposely to wash us clear from stain of sin, pour out a flood of precious water mixed with blood.

Impleta sunt quae concinit David fideli carmine, dicendo nationibus: regnavit a ligno Deus.

Impleta sunt quae concinit David fideli carmine, dicendo nationibus: regnavit a ligno Deus.

Fulfilled are what {sing together} David faithful song {saying} {to the nations} {he has ruled} from wood God

That which the prophet-king of old hath in mysterious verse foretold, is now accomplished, whilst we see God ruling the nations from a Tree.

O Crux ave, spes unica, hoc Passionis tempore! * piis adauge gratiam, reisque dele crimina.

O Crux ave, spes unica, hoc Passionis tempore! piis adauge gratiam, reisque dele crimina.

O Cross hail! hope only this {of Passion} time {for the loving} increase grace {and for the guilty} delete crimes

Hail Cross, of hopes the most sublime! Now, in the mournful Passion time; grant to the just increase of grace, and every sinner's crimes efface.