Did you know that Rev. Michael Joncas (composer of "On Eagles Wings" and many other songs in our hymnal) has written and dedicated a song to Holy Cross Church? The name of the song is "Adoremus Te". It yokes a Taize-style refrain in Latin with verses from Isaac Watts hymn, "When I survey the wondrous cross"!

Michael, an acquaintance of Mary Boulton (our former music director), was actually asked to write a song for our Dedication Liturgy in 1994. Michael is a very busy person and was unable to complete the song at that time. In fact, every time she saw him, he would tell her that he was still working on it. In February 2000, to her surprise, she received it in the mail! The Adult Choir performed it at the Stations of the Cross, Palm Sunday, Good Friday, and most recently on the Feast of the Holy Cross, September 14th.

The text is as follows:
Refrain: Adoremus te, adoremus te, et benedicimus tibi; quia per sanctum, crucem tuam redemisti mundum.
Verse 1: When I survey the wondrous cross on which the prince of glory died, my richest gain I count but loss and pour contempt on all my pride.
Verse 2: Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast, save in the death of Christ, my God. The vein delights that charm me most, I sacrifice them to his blood.
Verse 3: See from his head, his hands, his feet, what grief and love flow mingling down; did e'er such love and sorrow meet, or thorns compose so rich a crown.
Verse 4: Were all the realm of nature mine that were present far too small; love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all.