This is a particularly splendid song for the Tridium by Dan Schutte that has been the backbone of our celebrations for some years now. I think it works extremely well. You can read a blurb and hear samples here. You can buy the sheet music at OCP.
The instrumental link back to the beginning of each verse is meant to vary, but that is really a bit much so we just use the first link all the time and that simplifies things a lot.
You can hear a small group sing it here and an organ version here.
Holy Thursday
1. Let us ever glory in the cross of Christ,
our salvation and our hope.
Let us bow in homage to the Lord of Life,
who was broken to make us whole.
There is no greater love, as blessed as this:
to lay down one’s life for a friend.
Let us ever glory in the cross of Christ
and the triumph of God’s great love.2. Let us make our journey to the cross of Christ,
who surrendered glory and grace
to become a servant of the great and small,
that all people may know God’s face.
Though his birth was divine, he knelt as a slave,
to wash common dust from our feet.
Let us ever glory in the cross of Christ
and the triumph of God’s great love.3. Let us tell the story of the cross of Christ
as we share this heavenly feast.
We become one body in the blood of Christ,
from the great to the very least.
When we eat of this bread, and drink of this cup,
we honor the death of the Lord.
Let us ever glory in the cross of Christ
and the triumph of God’s great love.4. Let us stand together at the cross of Christ
where we see God’s boundless love.
We are saints and sinners who are joined
by faith here on earth and heav’n above.
Neither woman nor man, not servant or free,
but one in the eyes of the Lord.
Let us ever glory in the cross of Christ
and the triumph of God’s great love.Good Friday
1. Let us ever glory in the cross of Christ
who redeems us with his blood.
Let us tell the story of the cross of Christ
and the pow’r of his saving love.
Like a lamb he was slain;
he carried our shame,
to show us the mercy of God.
Let us ever glory in the cross of Christ
and the triumph of God’s great love.2. Let us bring our burdens to the cross of Christ
who has known our sorrow and tears.
In the great compassion of the heart of Christ,
God has walked in our hopes and fears.
He was mocked and betrayed,
deserted by friends,
and banished to die among thieves.
Let us ever glory in the cross of Christ
and the triumph of God’s great love.3. Let us kneel in homage at the cross of Christ
where we see God’s human face.
We behold the Maker of the sun and stars
as he hangs on the throne of grace.
As we share in his pain,
his sorrow and shame,
our hearts will be tested in fire.
Let us ever glory in the cross of Christ
and the triumph of God’s great love.Easter
1. Let us ever Glory in the cross of Christ,
our salvation and our hope.
Let us bow in homage to the Lord of Life,
who was broken to make us whole.
There is no greater love, as blessed as this:
to lay down one’s life for a friend.
Let us ever glory in the cross of Christ
and the triumph of God’s great love.2. Let us ever glory in the cross of Christ
who is risen from the grave.
He will come in glory to receive our hearts
at the dawn of the lasting day.
For the trumpet will sound,
the dead shall be raised,
and death shall defeat us no more.
Let us ever glory in the cross of Christ
and the triumph of God’s great love.3. Let us raise our voices to the cross of Christ
where the earth and heaven unite.
God has wed creation on the tree of hope
where the darkness becomes our light.
Let us join in the dance of heaven and earth,
give thanks for the goodness of God.
Let us ever glory in the cross of Christ
and the triumph of God’s great love.
© Daniel Schutte 2000.