Christus factus est

General information

This text 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 Exultation 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 canticle 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

Felice Anerio (gradual) Giovanni Matteo Asola a 3 a 4 Anton Bruckner (gradual) Pompeo Cannicciari João de Deus Castro Lobo antifona para 5 feria (Good Friday version) Johann Ernst Eberlin

Hernando Franco Fabio Fresi José Maurício Nunes Garcia Gregorian chant Jacob Handl Emerico Lobo de Mesquita M. de Villanueva

Text and translations

Latin text Christus factus est pro nobis obediens usque ad mortem, mortem autem crucis. 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. Response 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.

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. 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.