LISTEN to a Beautiful "O crux ave, spes unica" by Palestrina which was Written in Honor of the True Cross of Christ

O crux ave, spes unica is a section from Vexilla Regis which was written by Venantius Fortunatus (530-609) and is considered one of the greatest hymns of the liturgy. Fortunatus wrote it in honor of the arrival of a large relic of the True Cross which had been sent to Queen Radegunda by the Emperor Justin II and his Empress Sophia. Queen Radegunda had retired to a convent she had built near Poitiers and was seeking out relics for the church there. To help celebrate the arrival of the relic, the Queen asked Fortunatus to write a hymn for the procession of the relic to the church. The composer is Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina.

     

Latin Lyrics: O Crux ave, spes unica, hoc Passionis tempore! [viz. in hac triumphi gloria!] piis adauge gratiam, reisque dele crimina. 

English Translation: Hail Cross, of hopes the most sublime! In the mournful Passion-time; [viz. on this triumphant day] grant to the just increase of grace, and every sinner's crimes efface. 

Text Source: https://www.cpdl.org/wiki/index.php/Vexilla_Regis