R I T U A L E R O M A N U M

BENEDICTIONES PROPRIÆ

nonnullorum Ordinum Regularium

seu Congregationum religiosarum

a Sacerdotibus

Apostolicum indultum habentibus adhibendæ

* * *

T H E R O M A N R I T U A L

PARTICULAR BLESSINGS

of some Regular Orders

or Religious Congregations

To Be Applied by Priests

Having an Apostolic Indult

_______________________

1

RITUS ERIGENDI STATIONES VIÆ CRUCIS

Proprius Ordinis Minorum

Sacerdos, superpelliceo et stola violacei coloris indutus, uno saltem Clerico adhibito, qui ei opportuno tempore porrigere possit vasculum aquæ benedictæ cum aspersorio, et thuribulum cum incensi navicula, ascendit Altare, ibique stans brevi sermone super præstantia et utilitate pii exercitii Viæ Crucis populum alloquitur. Deinde genuflexus in infimo gradu intonat sequentem Hymnum, quem chorus prosequitur:

Hymnus

Veni, Creátor Spíritus,

Mentes tuórum vísita,

Imple supérna grátia,

Quæ tu creásti péctora.

Qui díceris Paráclitus,

Altíssimi donum Dei,

Fons vivus, ignis, cáritas,

Et spiritális únctio.

Tu septifórmis múnere,

Dígitus Patérnæ déxteræ,

Tu rite promíssum Patris,

Sermóne ditans gúttura.

Accénde lumen sénsibus,

Infúnde amórem córdibus,

Infírma nostri córporis

Virtúte firmans pérpeti.

Hostem repéllas lóngius,

Pacémque dones prótinus:

Ductóre sic te prævio

Vitémus omne nóxium.

Per te sciámus da Patrem,

Noscámus atque Fílium:

Teque utriúsque Spíritum

Credámus omni témpore.

Deo Patri sit glória,

Et Fílio, qui a mórtuis

Surréxit, ac Paráclito,

In sæculórum sæcula. Amen.

Hymno finito, Sacerdos dicit:

V. Emítte Spíritum tuum, et creabúntur.

R. Et renovábis fáciem terræ.

Orémus. Oratio

Deus, qui corda fidélium Sancti Spíritus illustratióne docuísti: da nobis in eódem Spíritu recta sápere, et de ejus semper consolatióne gaudére.

Defénde, quæsumus, Dómine, beáta María semper Vírgine intercedénte, istum (-am) ab omni adversitáte pópulum (vel famíliam): et toto corde tibi prostrátum (-am), ab hóstium propítius tuére cleménter insídiis.

Actiónes nostras, quæsumus, Dómine, aspirándo præveni, et adjuvándo proséquere: ut cuncta nostra orátio et operátio a te semper incípiat, et per te cœpta finiátur. Per Dóminum nostrum Jesum Christum Fílium tuum: Qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti Deus, per ómnia sæcula sæculórum. R. Amen.

Deinde fit benedictio tabularum pictarum seu imaginum Stationum, si adsint.

V. Adjutórium nostrum in nómine Dómini.

R. Qui fecit cælum et terram.

V. Dóminus vobíscum.

R. Et cum spíritu tuo.

Orémus. Oratio

Omnípotens sempitérne Deus, qui Sanctórum tuórum imágines sculpi aut pingi non réprobas, ut, quóties illas óculis córporis intuémur, tóties eórum actus et sanctitátem ad imitándum memóriæ óculis meditémur: has, quæsumus, imágines, in honórem et memóriam unigéniti Fílii tui Dómini nostri Jesu Christi adaptátas, bene + dícere, et sancti + ficáre dignéris; et præsta; ut, quicúmque coram illis unigénitum Fílium tuum supplíciter cólere et honoráre studúerit, illíus méritis et obténtu, a te grátiam in præsénti, et ætérnam glóriam obtíneat in futúrum. Per eúmdem Christum Dóminum nostrum. R. Amen.

Tunc Sacerdos eas aspergit aqua benedicta, et incensat. In Oratorio privato omitti potest incensatio.

Postea Sacerdos benedicit quatuordecim Cruces, quæ ex ligno esse debent.

V. Adjutórium nostrum in nómine Dómini.

R. Qui fecit cælum et terram.

V. Dóminus vobíscum.

R. Et cum spíritu tuo.

Orémus. Oratio

Rogámus te, Dómine sancte, Pater omnípotens, ætérne Deus: ut dignéris bene + dícere hæc signa Crucis, ut sint remédia salutária géneri humáno; sint solíditas fídei, proféctus bonórum óperum, redémptio animárum; sint solámen, et protéctio, ac tutéla contra sæva jácula inimicórum. Per Christum Dóminum nostrum. R. Amen.

Orémus. Oratio

Béne + dic, Dómine Jesu Christe, has Cruces, quia per Crucem sanctam tuam eripuísti mundum a potestáte dæmonum, et superásti passióne tua suggestórem peccáti, qui gaudébat in prævaricatióne primi hóminis per ligni vétiti sumptiónem.

Tunc Sacerdos eas aspergens aqua benedicta, dicit:

Sanctificéntur hæc signa Crucis in nómine Pa + tris, et Fí + lii et Spíritus + Sancti: ut orántes, inclinantésque se propter Dóminum ante istas Cruces, invéniant córporis et ánimæ sanitátem. Per eúmdem Christum Dóminum nostrum. R. Amen.

Deinde, ubi fit processio, cantantur sequentes Hymni:

Hymnus

1. Vexílla Regis pródeunt,

Fulget Crucis mystérium,

Qua vita mortem pértulit,

Et morte vitam prótulit.

2. Quæ vulneráta lánceæ

Mucróne diro, críminum

Ut nos laváret sórdibus,

Manávit unda, et sánguine.

3. Impléta sunt, quæ cóncinit

David fidéli cármine,

Dicéndo natiónibus:

Regnávit a ligno Deus.

4. Arbor decóra et fúlgida,

Ornáta Regis púrpura,

Elécta digno stípite

Tam sancta membra tángere.

5. Beáta, cujus bráchiis

Prétium pepéndit sæculi,

Statéra facta córporis,

Tulítque prædam tártari.

6. O Crux, ave, spes única,

In hac triúmphi glória, *

Piis adáuge grátiam,

Reísque dele crímina.

7. Te, fons salútis, Trínitas,

Colláudet omnis spíritus:

Quibus Crucis victóriam

Largíris, adde præmium. Amen.

* Tempore Passionis dicitur: Hoc passiónis témpore. Tempore Paschali dicitur: Paschále quæ fers gáudium.

Hymnus

1. Stabat Mater dolorósa

Juxta Crucem lacrimósa,

Dum pendébat Fílius.

2. Cujus ánimam geméntem,

Contristátam et doléntem,

Pertransívit gládius.

3. O quam tristis et afflícta

Fuit illa benedícta

Mater Unigéniti!

4. Quæ mærébat, et dolébat,

Pia Mater, dum vidébat

Nati pœnas ínclyti.

5. Quis est homo, qui non fleret,

Matrem Christi si vidéret

In tanto supplício?

6. Quis non posset contristári,

Christi Matrem contemplári

Doléntem cum Fílio?

7. Pro peccátis suæ gentis

Vidit Jesum in torméntis,

Et flagéllis súbditum.

8. Vidit suum dulcem Natum

Moriéndo desolátum,

Dum emísit spíritum.

9. Eja Mater, fons amóris,

Me sentíre vim dolóris

Fac, ut tecum lúgeam.

10. Fac, ut árdeat cor meum

In amándo Christum Deum,

Ut sibi compláceam. Amen.

V. Adorámus te, Christe, et benedícimus tibi.

R. Quia per sanctam Crucem tuam redemísti mundum.

Orémus. Oratio

Deus, qui nos ínclyta passióne Fílii tui per viam Crucis ad ætérnam glóriam perveníre docuísti: concéde propítius; ut quem piis ad Calváriæ locum sociámus afféctibus, in suis étiam triúmphis pérpetim subsequámur: Qui tecum vivit et regnat in sæcula sæculórum. R. Amen.

Sacerdos accedens ad locum primæ Stationis, osculatur Crucem et tabulam, easque, vel per se, vel per laicum decenti habitu indutum, collocat in loco ad id præparato; deinde legit meditationem et preces huic Stationi respondentes: quod et fiet in ceteris Stationibus. Quibus finitis cantatur

Hymnus

Te Deum laudámus: * te Dóminum confitémur.

Te ætérnum Patrem * omnis terra venerátur.

Tibi omnes Angeli, * tibi Cæli, et univérsæ Potestátes:

Tibi Chérubim et Séraphim * incessábili voce proclámant:

Sanctus, * Sanctus, * Sanctus * Dóminus Deus Sábaoth.

Pleni sunt cæli et terra * majestátis glóriæ tuæ.

Te gloriósus * Apostolórum chorus,

Te Prophetárum * laudábilis númerus,

Te Mártyrum candidátus * laudat exércitus.

Te per orbem terrárum * sancta confitétur Ecclésia,

Patrem * imménsæ majestátis;

Venerándum tuum verum * et únicum Fílium;

Sanctum quoque * Paráclitum Spíritum.

Tu Rex glóriæ, * Christe.

Tu Patris * sempitérnus es Fílius.

Tu, ad liberándum susceptúrus hóminem, * non horruísti Vírginis úterum.

Tu, devícto mortis acúleo, * aperuísti credéntibus regna cælórum.

Tu ad déxteram Dei sedes, * in glória Patris.

Judex créderis * esse ventúrus.

Te ergo quæsumus, tuis fámulis súbveni, * quos pretióso sánguine redemísti.

Ætérna fac cum sanctis tuis * in glória numerári.

Salvum fac pópulum tuum, Dómine, * et bénedic hereditáti tuæ.

Et rege eos, * et extólle illos usque in ætérnum.

Per síngulos dies * benedícimus te;

Et laudámus nomen tuum in sæculum, * et in sæculum sæculi.

Dignáre, Dómine, die isto * sine peccáto nos custodíre.

Miserére nostri, Dómine, * miserére nostri.

Fiat misericórdia tua, Dómine, super nos, * quemádmodum sperávimus in te.

In te, Dómine, sperávi: * non confúndar in ætérnum.

V. Benedicámus Patrem, et Fílium, cum Sancto Spíritu.

R. Laudémus, et superexaltémus eum in sæcula.

Orémus. Oratio

Deus, cujus misericórdiæ non est númerus, et bonitátis infinítus est thesáurus, piíssimæ majestáti tuæ pro collátis donis grátias ágimus: tuam semper cleméntiam exorántes; ut, qui peténtibus postuláta concédis, eósdem non déserens, ad præmia futúra dispónas. Per Christum Dóminum nostrum. R. Amen.

Tunc Sacerdos benedicit populum cum Cruce.

Affixio autem Crucium et tabularum Stationum fieri potest a quocumque privatim sine cæremoniis, etiam alio tempore sive post sive ante ipsarum benedictionem faciendam a Sacerdote in loco, in quo Stationes sunt erigendæ.

Formula ad fidem faciendam de erectione Viæ Crucis

Vigore facultatis mihi commissæ ego N. N. Viam Crucis cum adnexis Indulgentiis erexi in loco ut supra in precibus, juxta regulas a S. Indulgentiarum Congregatione die 10 Maji 1742 præscriptas. In quorum fidem testimonium hoc mea manu exaravi hac die, etc.

N. N.

1

BLESSING AND ERECTING STATIONS OF THE CROSS

Formerly Reserved to the Order of Friars Minor

The priest who has this faculty vests in surplice and purple stole. He should be assisted by at least one cleric, who at the times designated hands him the aspersory and the thurible. First the priest goes up to the altar predella and addresses the people briefly on the excellence and value of the devotion of the Way of the Cross. After this he kneels on the lowest step of the altar and intones the Veni, Creator Spiritus, which is continued by the choir:

Hymn

Creator-spirit, all-divine,

Come, visit every soul of Thine,

And fill with Thy celestial flame

The hearts which Thou Thyself didst flame.

O gift of God, Thine is the sweet

Consoling name of Paraclete–

And spring of life and fire and love

And unction flowing from above.

The mystic sevenfold gifts are Thine,

Finger of God’s right hand divine;

The Father’s promise sent to teach

The tongue a rich and heavenly speech.

Kindle with fire brought from above

Each sense, and fill our hearts with love;

And grant our flesh, so weak and frail,

The strength of Thine which cannot fail.

Drive far away our deadly foe,

And grant us Thy true peace to know;

So we, led by Thy guidance still,

May safely pass through every ill.

To us, through Thee, the grace be shown

To know the Father and the Son;

And Spirit of Them both, may we

Forever rest our faith in Thee.

To Sire and Son be praises meet,

And to the Holy Paraclete;

And may Christ send us from above

That Holy Spirit’s gift of love. Amen.

When the hymn is finished he says:

V. Send forth your Spirit and all things shall be recreated.

R. And you shall renew the face of the earth.

Let us pray. Prayer

God, who instructed the hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit, guide us by your Spirit to desire only what is good and so always to find joy in His comfort.

Lord, we beg you to protect this people from every adversity, by the intercession of blessed Mary, ever a Virgin; and as they bow down fervently before you shield them by your benevolence from all wiles of the enemy.

We beg you, Lord, let a breath of your grace prompt our undertakings and guide them along their course, so that our least prayer and work may begin in you and end in you; through Christ our Lord. R. Amen.

Then if the paintings or images of the stations are right at hand (and not already hung in their place) the priest blesses them as follows:

V. Our help is in the name of the Lord.

R. Who made heaven and earth.

V. The Lord be with you.

R. And with thy spirit.

Let us pray. Prayer

Almighty everlasting God, who do not forbid us to carve or paint likenesses of your saints, in order that whenever we look at them with our bodily eyes we may call to mind their holy lives, and resolve to follow in their footsteps; may it please you to bless + and to hallow + these images, which have been made in memory and honor of your only-begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. And grant that all who in their presence pay devout homage to your only-begotten Son may by His merits and primacy obtain your grace in this life and everlasting glory in the life to come; through Christ our Lord. R. Amen.

The priest sprinkles them with holy water and incenses them. In a private oratory the incensation may be omitted.

Next the priest blesses the fourteen crosses which must be made of wood.

V. Our help is in the name of the Lord.

R. Who made heaven and earth.

V. The Lord be with you.

R. And with thy spirit.

Let us pray. Prayer

Holy Lord, almighty Father, everlasting God, we beg that it may please you to bless + these crosses, so that they may be saving helps to mankind. Let them be the support of faith, an encouragement to good works, the redemption of souls; and let them be consolation, protection, and shields against the cruel darts of the enemy; through Christ our Lord. R. Amen.

Let us pray. Prayer

Lord Jesus Christ, bless + these crosses, for by your holy cross you snatched the world from Satan's grasp, and overcame by your suffering the tempter to sin, who rejoiced in the first man's fall in eating of the forbidden tree. R. Amen.

Then the priest sprinkles them with holy water, saying:

May these crosses be hallowed, in the name of the Father, + and of the Son, + and of the Holy + Spirit; so that all who kneel in prayer before these crosses in our Lord's honor may have health in body and soul; through Christ our Lord. R. Amen.

If there is a procession the following hymns are sung:

Hymn

1. Abroad the regal banners fly,

Now shines the cross's mystery;

Upon it Life did death endure,

And yet by death did life procure.

2. 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.

3. That which the prophet-king of old

Has in mysterious verse foretold,

Is now accomplished, while we see

God ruling nations from a tree.

4. O lovely and refulgent tree,

Adorned with purpled majesty;

Culled from a worthy stock to bear

Those limbs which sanctified were.

5. Blest tree, whose happy branches bore

The wealth that did the world restore;

The beam that did that body weigh

Which raised up hell's expected prey.

6. Hail, cross, of hopes the most sublime!

Now in this mournful passion time, *

Improve religious souls in grace.

The sins of criminals efface.

7. Blest Trinity, salvation's spring,

May every soul your praises sing;

To those you grant a conquest by

The holy cross, rewards apply. Amen.

* Outside of passiontime this line reads: Now in your glorious reign in time. In paschaltime it reads: Which bears the joys of paschaltime.

Hymn

1. At the cross her station keeping,

Stood the mournful Mother weeping,

Close to Jesus to the last.

2. Through her heart, His sorrows sharing,

All His bitter anguish bearing,

Now at length the sword had passed.

3. Oh, how sad and sore distressed

Was that Mother highly blest

Of the sole-begotten One.

4. Christ above in torment hangs;

She beneath beholds the pangs

Of her dying glorious Son.

5. Is there one who would not weep,

Whelmed in miseries so deep

Christ's dear Mother to behold?

6. Can the human heart refrain

From partaking in her pain,

In that Mother's pain untold?

7. Bruised, derided, cursed, defiled,

She beheld her tender child

All with bloody scourges rent.

8. For the sins of His own nation,

Saw Him hang in desolation,

Till his spirit forth He sent.

9. O you Mother, fount of love!

Touch my spirit from above,

Make my heart with yours accord.

10. Make me feel as you have felt,

Make my soul to glow and melt

With the love of Christ my Lord. Amen.

V. We adore you, Christ, and we bless you.

R. For by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

Let us pray. Prayer

God, who by the illustrious suffering of your Son taught us to arrive at everlasting glory by the way of the cross, grant that we, who devoutly unite ourselves with Him on Calvary, may reign triumphantly with Him in glory. We ask this of Him who lives and reigns with you forever and ever. R. Amen.

The priest goes to the place of the first station, where he kisses the cross and then hangs it in place, either himself or with the help of a layman who is properly clothed for this service. He then reads the meditation and prayers proper to this station; and the same is done at the other stations. After this the Te Deum is sung, along with its versicles and oration.

Hymn

We praise thee, O God: * we acknowledge thee to be the Lord.

All the earth doth worship thee, * the Father everlasting.

To thee all the Angels cry aloud, * the Heavens and all the Powers therein:

To thee the Cherubim and Seraphim * continually do cry.

Holy, Holy, Holy * Lord God of Hosts.

Heaven and earth are full * of the majesty of thy glory.

The glorious choir * of the Apostles praise thee.

The admirable company of the Prophets * praise thee.

The white-robed army of Martyrs * praise thee.

The holy Church throughout the world * doth acknowledge thee,

The Father * of infinite majesty,

Thy adorable, true, * and only Son,

And the Holy Spirit * the Comforter.

Thou art the King of glory, * O Christ.

Thou art the everlasting Son * of the Father.

Thou, when thou wouldst take human nature to deliver man, * didst not disdain the Virgin’s womb.

When thou hadst overcome the sting of death, * thou didst open to believers the kingdom of heaven.

Thou sittest at the right hand of God, * in the glory of the Father.

We believe that thou shalt come * to be our Judge.

We beseech thee, therefore, help thy servants, * whom thou hast redeemed with thy precious Blood.

Make them to be numbered with thy Saints * in glory everlasting.

O Lord, save thy people, * and bless thine inheritance.

Govern them, * and exalt them forever.