Daily Reading for September 14 • Holy Cross Day

Lofty Tree, bend down your branches
To embrace your sacred load:
Oh, relax the native tension
Of that all too rigid wood;
Gently, gently bear the members
Of your dying King and God.

Tree which solely was found worthy
Earth’s great Victim to sustain,
Harbor from the raging tempest,
Ark, that saved the world again,
Tree with sacred Blood anointed
Of the Lamb for sinners slain.

Honor, blessing everlasting
To the immortal Deity:
To the Father, Son and Spirit
Equal praises ever be:
Glory through the earth and heaven
To Trinity in Unity. Amen.

Adapted from The Short Breviary, quoted in The Divine Hours: Prayers for Summertime by Phyllis Tickle (New York: Doubleday, 2000).