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A protective cross against the plague, given the approbation of the Council of Trent
+ O Cross of Christ, save me.
Z. May zeal for your house free me.
+ The Cross conquers; the Cross reigns; the Cross rules; by the sign of the Cross free me, O Lord, from this plague.
Z. May zeal for your house free me.
+ The Cross conquers; the Cross reigns; the Cross rules; by the sign of the Cross free me, O Lord, from this plague.
D. God, my God, drive this plague away from me, and from this place, and free me.
I. In your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit, my heart, and my body.
A. Before heaven and earth God was; and God is able to liberate me from his plague.
I. In your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit, my heart, and my body.
A. Before heaven and earth God was; and God is able to liberate me from his plague.
+ The Cross of Christ will expel the plague from this place and from my body.
B. It is good to wait for the help of God in silence, that he may drive away this plague from me.
B. It is good to wait for the help of God in silence, that he may drive away this plague from me.
I. I will incline my heart to performing your just deeds, and I will not be confounded, for I have called upon you.
Z. I had zeal on occasion of the wicked; seeing the peace of sinners, I have hoped in you.
Z. I had zeal on occasion of the wicked; seeing the peace of sinners, I have hoped in you.
+ The Cross of Christ puts demons to flight; corrupt air; and drives away the plague.
S. I am your Salvation, says the Lord; cry out to me, and I will hear you, and I will liberate you from this plague.
S. I am your Salvation, says the Lord; cry out to me, and I will hear you, and I will liberate you from this plague.
A. Abyss calls to abyss, and you have expelled demons by your voice; liberate me from this plague.
B. Blessed the man who hopes in the Lord, and does not look upon vanities, and false extravagances.
B. Blessed the man who hopes in the Lord, and does not look upon vanities, and false extravagances.
+ May the Cross of Christ, which was once the cause of scandal and indignity, and is now in glory and nobility, be for my salvation, and expel from this place the demon, and corrupt air, and plague from my body.
Z. May zeal for the honor of God convert me before I die, and in your name, save me from this plague.
+ May sign of the Cross free the People of God, and those who trust in him, from the plague.
+ May sign of the Cross free the People of God, and those who trust in him, from the plague.
H. Will this foolish people return to the Lord? Make good on your vows, offering a sacrifice of praise and faith to him, because he is able to liberate this place and me, from this plague; for whoever trusts in him will not be confounded.
G. If I will not praise you, let me tongue stick to my throat and to my jaws; free those who hope in you; in you I trust; liberate me and this place, O God, from this plague, for your name has been invoked in prayer.
F. At your death, O Lord, darkness fell over the whole earth; my God, render the power of the devil tenuous and dim, for it is for this that you have come, O Son of the living God: so that you might destroy the works of the devil...
...with your power, drive out from this place and from me, your servant, this plague; and may the corrupt air depart from me into the outer darkness.
+ Defend us, O Cross of Christ, and expel from this place the plague, and free your servant from this plague, you who are kind, and merciful, and of many mercies, and true.
B. Blessed is he who does not look upon vanities, and false extravagances; on the day of evil the Lord will free him; Lord, I have trusted in you; free me from this plague.
F. God has become my refuge; because I have trusted in you, free me from this plague.
F. God has become my refuge; because I have trusted in you, free me from this plague.
R. Look upon me, O Lord my God, Adonai, from the holy seat of your Majesty, and have mercy on me, and because of your mercy, free me from this plague.
S. You are my Salvation: heal me, and I will be healed; save me, and I will be saved.
S. You are my Salvation: heal me, and I will be healed; save me, and I will be saved.
< end >
Some further information on this cross: "When a severe plague was raging in the city of Trent in 1546, it is reported that the fathers of the Council of Trent devoutly wore certain characters arranged in the form of a cross collected by S. Zacharias, ancient Bishop of Jerusalem.
"In fact, they found that wearing and venerating these characters as signs of various devout ancient and spontaneous prayers to ward off the evil of contagion (as described by their explanation), was an advantageous remedy against the plague.
"These characters were written down on parchment in ancient times by the sainted bishop, and then found in the Monastery of Frailes in Spain, and placed in veneration with an admirable effect by devout people, who paid tribute to them, brought them back, and said the prayers."
(I have my academic doubts about the origin of this cross or its prayers being from the 7th century, but the connection to the Council of Trent seems entirely credible.)
Some full-color depictions, undated, but probably from the 17th or 18th centuries. https://twitter.com/frajds/status/1237477095908966402
