York Hours of the Cross

(translation from original Middle English)

Matins (before dawn)

Lord Jesus Christ, I pray you hear my voice,
For Thy sweet mother’s sake, who is Queen of Heaven;
For the wisdom of Thy father, the God of righteousness.
God and Man, at morning tide, taken He is,
Forsaken by His friends and abandoned -
Betrayed to the Jews and damned without cause.
Lord, for that same pain Thou suffered at morning tide,
Never let my soul on Doomsday be forlorn.

Prime (6 a.m.)

At Prime led was Jesus unto Pilate;
They bound Him as a thief, and sore Him smote;
Of false witness they accused Him many ways,
They spat in Jesus’ face, the light of  Heaven’s gate.
Lord, for that same shame Thou suffered at Prime,
Let my soul never come unready to Doomsday.

Tierce (9 a.m.)

At the hour of Tierce they began to cry and call out,
For mockery they clad Him in a purple robe,
They set on His head a crown of thorns,
And caused him to carry on His bare back the Cross to the place of execution.
Lord, for that same shame Thou suffered in that place,
Shrive me of deadly sin, Thou giver of grace.

Sext (noon)

At the time of midday they raised him on the Cross
Between two thieves who had spilt men’s blood;
For the pain of terrible thirst they gave Him acrid drink,
Bitter gall [missing in MS]; He wanted nothing of food.
Lord, for that same shame that was done to Thy Body,
Shield me from my evil foes, the world, fiends and the flesh.

Nones (3 p.m.)

At the hour of None Jesus cried out;
He commended his soul to His Father.
A knight smote Him to the heart, he had no mercy;

http://gointotheworld.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/crucifixion-icon07.jpg

The sun began to darken to mark when Jesus died.
Lord, out of Thy side ran a full fair flood,
As clear as well water, our ransom by Thy blood.


Evensong (sunset)

At the time of evensong they took Him from the cross
His might was in His Godhead, so gracious and good,
The medicine of His pains, the shedding of His blood,
Be nourishing to us, our spiritual food.
Lord, for that same shame that was done to You,
Let my soul never by deadly sin be slain.

Compline (before retiring)

At the hour of compline, they laid Him in the grave,
The noble body of Jesus, which shall save mankind:
With spices he was buried, Holy Writ to fulfill,
Think we sadly on His death, that shall save us from Hell.



O blessed Christ, I offer to Thee
With meek devotion these canonical hours:
For us Thou has suffered all those pains;
Thy grievous agony for the same reason;
So by the remembrance of Thy Passion,
Make me, according to my purpose,
Partaker of Thy crown and endless glory.