Christus factus est

General information

This text, from Philippians 2:8-9, is used both as a gradual and, during the triduum, as an antiphon in place of the responsory.

In the modern Graduale Romanum, this text is the Gradual for Passion (Palm) Sunday and The Exaltation of the Holy Cross (September 14). In the extraordinary or ‘Tridentine’ rite, this text is the gradual for the Mass of Maundy Thursday, as well as for the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross.

It also provides the antiphon for the Benedictus at the office of Lauds and Vespers on Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday: on Holy Saturday the text is used in full, on Good Friday ending at the word crucis, and on Maundy Thursday ending at usque ad mortem.

Settings by composers

Anonymous Gregorian chant Archivo del Infante Francisco de Paula, c.1850 SATB Felice Anerio SATB or AATB (specified as gradual) Giovanni Matteo Asola TTB (full text) SATB (full) Juan Bautista Comes SATB Anton Bruckner 3 settings WAB 9 SATB, part of Mass for Maundy Thursday WAB 10 SSAATTBB with 3 trombones & unison violins WAB 11 SATB, with minor divisi (gradual) Pompeo Cannicciari SATB (full) João de Deus Castro Lobo SATB, antifona para 5 feria (Good Friday version, with orchestra) Michael J. Drake, Jr. SSATB Johann Ernst Eberlin SATB (full)

Carlotta Ferrari SATB (text in Latin and English) Hernando Franco SATB (full) Mariano Garau SATB José Maurício Nunes Garcia "Para 4ta, 5ta & 6ta" (c minor) (with endings for all Holy Week offices) SATB & organ "para Quinta Feira Sancta" (in D) SATB 2 fl. 2 tr. strings org. "Gradual para 5a feira santa" g minor SATB 2 violins & bc Jacob Handl SATB, ATTB or SSAA Johann Michael Haydn a 4 Miguel Arnaudas Larrodé SATB Emerico Lobo de Mesquita (SATB & Organ, Good Friday text) Giuseppe Pitoni SATB Josef Rheinberger SATB Antonio Soler (up to "usque ad mortem") SATB bc Martín de Villanueva SATB Pietro Yon SATB Niccolo Zingarelli SATB

Other settings possibly not included in the manual list above

• Alberto Barea — Missae de mysterio Santae Crucis
• Andrea Basili — Christus factus est a Minor
• Andrea Basili — Christus factus est F Major
• Francisco López Capillas — Christus factus est
• Thomas Crecquillon — Christus factus est pro nobis obediens
• Adrian Cuello — Christus factus est
• Vicente Goicoechea Errasti — Christus factus est
• Angelina Figus — Christus factus est
• Mariano Garau — Christus factus est II
• Derrick Gerarde — Christus factus est pro nobis
• João Baptista Lehmann — Christus factus est

Text and translations

Latin text Christus factus est pro nobis obediens usque ad mortem, mortem autem crucis. Versus vel Responsorius Propter quod et Deus exaltavit illum et dedit illi nomen, quod est super omne nomen. English translation Christ became obedient for us unto death, even to the death, death on the cross. Verse (or Respond, in the case of the Holy Saturday antiphon) Therefore God exalted Him and gave Him a name which is above all names. Spanish translation Cristo se hizo obediente por nosotros hasta la muerte, muerte en la cruz. Portuguese translation Cristo fez-se obediente por nós até sua morte, morte na cruz. German translation Christus ist für uns gehorsam geworden bis zum Tode, ja bis zum Tode am Kreuze. Responsum Darum hat Gott ihn erhöht und ihm einen Namen gegeben, der über alle Namen ist.

French translation Le Christ s'est fait pour nous obéissant juqu'à la mort, et à la mort de la croix. Répons C'est pourquoi Dieu l'a exalté, et lui a donné le Nom qui est au-dessus de tout nom. Danish translation Kristus blev os lydig ind til døden, ja døden på et kors. Resp. Derfor har Gud højt ophøjet ham og givet ham navnet over alle navne. Korean translation 그리스도는 죽기까지 순종하셨으니, 곧 십자가에 죽기까지 하셨습니다. Resp. 그러므로 하나님께서는 그를 지극히 높이시고, 모든 이름 위에 뛰어난 이름을 그에게 주셨습니다.