O cross, you are the glorious sign of victory.

Through your power may we share in the triumph of Christ Jesus. We adore You, O Christ, and praise You, Because by Your Holy Cross You have redeemed the world.
Through the sign of the Cross deliver us from our enemies, O our God

Hail, Holy Cross, My Strength

HAIL, O holy Cross, my strength. Hail, O adorable Cross, my praise and glory. Hail, O Cross, my help and refuge. Hail, O Cross, consolation of all the mournful. Hail, O Cross, my victory and hope. Hail, O Cross, my defense and my life. Hail, O Cross, my liberation and redemption. Hail, O Cross, my sign of salvation and bulwark against the enemy. May the Cross be for me always hope of my faith. May the Cross be for me resurrection in my death. May the Cross be for me triumph against demons. May the Cross be for me mother of my consolation. May the Cross be for me rest in my tribulations. May the Cross be for me support in my old age. May the Cross be for me healing in my illness. May the Cross be for me protection in my nudity. May the Cross be for me consolation in my life. May the Cross be for me solace in all my difficulties. May the Cross be for me balm in my tribulations.

Prayer Before a Crucifix

This prayer was composed by St. Francis of Assisi. He used to pray this prayer at the foot of the Crucifix at San Damiano. O MOST high, glorious God, illuminate the darkness of my heart. Grant me, O Lord, a correct faith, certain hope, and a perfect charity, sense and knowledge that I may carry out Thy Holy and true command. Amen.

Commemoration of the Cross

From the Liturgies for the Finding of the Cross and the Triumph of the Cross (Sept 14) HE bore the Holy Cross, who broke the power of hell; He was girded with power, He rose again the third day. Alleluia V. Tell ye among the nations, Alleluia. R. That the Lord hath reigned from the tree. Alleluia. Let us pray: O God, who didst will that Thy Son should undergo for us the shame of the Cross, that Thou mightest drive away from us the power of the enemy: grant unto us Thy servants to be made partakers of the grace of the resurrection. Through my Lord... R. Amen. V. The Lord be with you. R. And with thy spirit. V. Let us bless the Lord. R. Thanks be to God. V. May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. R. Amen. My Father ... (silently) V. May the Lord grant us His peace. R. And life everlasting. Amen.

By the Sign of the Cross

From the Roman Breviary. It recalls Phil. 3:18, "For many, as I have often told you and now tell you even in tears, conduct themselves as enemies of the cross of Christ. " BY the sign of the cross deliver us from my enemies, O my God. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

O God, Who for My Sake

Ancient prayer from the first millennium O GOD, who for my sake didst will Thy Son to undergo the torments of the Cross, that Thou mightest drive far from us the power of the enemy; grant unto us Thy servants that we may attain to the grace of His Resurrection. Through the same Christ my Lord. Amen.

On the Crucifix say: Eternal Father I offer You the cross of Our Lord Jesus Christ and all the other instruments of His Holy Passion, that You may put division in the camp of Your enemies; for as Your Beloved Son has said, "A kingdom divided against itself shall fall." On the next five beads say: 1) May God arise and let His enemies be scattered and let those who hate Him flee before His Face! 2) May the thrice Holy Name of God overthrow all their plans! 3) May the Holy Name of the Living God split them up by disagreements! 4) May the terrible Name of the God of Eternity stamp out all their godlessness! 5) Lord, I do not desire the death of the sinner, but that he be converted and live. "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do." On the medal say: the "Golden Arrow" prayer. On the thirty three white beads say: Arise, O Lord, and let Your enemies be scattered, and let those that hate You flee before Your Face.
thy Cross, and make the sign of the Cross [with the Cross] from the head to the foot of the bed, and likewise from side to side, while saying the Prayer to the Precious Cross: Let God arise and let His enemies be scattered, and let them that hate Him flee from before His face. As smoke vanisheth, so let them vanish; as wax melteth before the fire, so let the demons perish from the presence of them that love God and who sign themselves with the sign of the Cross and say in gladness: Rejoice, most precious and life-giving Cross of the Lord, for Thou drivest away the demons by the power of our Lord Jesus Christ Who was crucified on thee, Who went down to hades and trampled on the power of the devil, and ga.ve us thee, His precious Cross, for the driving away of every adversary. O most precious and life-giving Cross of the Lord, help me together with the holy Lady Virgin Theotokos, and with all the saints, unto the ages. Amen.

Our Father. Hail Mary. I believe. On the large beads (one antiphon per decade) 1. O mighty work of mercy! Death died when Life died on the Tree. Glory to Your Holy Cross, O Lord (+) 10x 2. Save us, O Christ our Saviour, by the virtue of the Cross: You who saved Peter perishing in the sea, have mercy upon us. Glory to Your Holy Cross, O Lord (+) 10x 3. Behold the Cross of the Lord, flee all you His enemies: the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, has prevailed. Glory to Your Holy Cross, O Lord (+) 10x 4. But as for us, it is proper that we glory in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Glory to Your Holy Cross, O Lord (+) 10x 5. By the Sign of the Cross, deliver us from our enemies, O Lord our God. Glory to Your Holy Cross, O Lord (+) 10x and then O Lord, save Your people and bless Your inheritance. Grant victory over their enemies to orthodox Christians, and protect Your people with Your Cross. O Cross, surpassing all the stars in splendour, exceedingly dear to all Christian people and world-renowned, holiest of earth's treaures: which alone was counted worthy to hold aloft the Price of our Redemption: sweet is your wood and sweet thine iron, but sweetest of all the Burden that hung on you! O that all who come this day to celebrate your praises may find in you salvation. O Tree of life, you surpass in greatness all the cedars of Lebanon, for on you the Life-Giver of this world was hung; on you, Christ was victorious in his death, and triumphant over all death for ever.

V. We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you. R. Because by your holy Cross you have redeemed the world.

O Christ our God Who was voluntarily lifted up on the Cross, grant Your mercies to Your new people named after you. Gladden with Your power orthodox Christians and give them victory over their enemies. May they have as an ally that invincible trophy, Your weapon of peace.