The Chaplet of the Holy Cross,

to be said on regular Rosary beads.

In response to the speech in Regensburg on September 12, 2006, Muslim reaction erupted on September 15 - The Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross! Among the reaction was the following quote from Mujahideen Shura Council, an umbrella group led by Iraq's branch of al Qaeda:
"We shall break the cross and spill the wine. ... God will (help) Muslims to conquer Rome. ... God enable us to slit their throats, and make their money and descendants the bounty of the mujahideen,"
Is there any doubt that Christianity must battle Islam in the spiritual realm?

Our Father. Hail Mary. I believe.

On the large beads (one antiphon per decade)

  1. O mighty work of mercy! Death then died when Life died on the Tree.
    Glory to Your 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 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, alleluia.
    Glory to Your 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 Cross, O Lord 10x
  5. By the Sign of the Cross, deliver us from our enemies, O Lord our God.
    Glory to Your 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.

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.



The 5 antiphons of the large beads are the 5 psalm antiphons of Lauds for the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross of the Roman Breviary. The responsory and the 2nd and 3rd prayers following are also taken from the Breviary. The first prayer is the Byzantine Troparion of the same feast, and the fourth prayer is the Byzantine Kontakion of the feast.

Copyright 2006, Louis Pizzuti
For Private Use Only
This may be freely copied and used, but not sold.