Let Us Pray.
Vouchsafe, O Almighty and most merciful Creator, Redeemer and Sanctifier, to have compassion, not only on us, but also on all such as shall present the foregoing petitions to the throne of thy mercy, in commemoration of thy sacred life and most bitter passion. We beseech thee also, for thine own dear sake, that thou wouldst grant to us, our friends and benefactors, and to all those for whom we intend or are bound to pray, the pardon of all past offences, and preservation from future failings; that loving thee, serving thee, and obeying thee, with the utmost fervour, fidelity and perseverance, during the remainder of our earthly pilgrimage, we may be at length admitted to the eternal enjoyment of thy beatific presence in thy heavenly paradise. Amen.
May the blessing of Almighty God, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost, descend upon us, and dwell with us for evermore. Amen.
The Prayers Of St. Bridget.
To Be Said In Honour Of The Sacred Wounds Of Our Blessed Saviour.
1. O most sweet Lord Jesus Christ, eternal sweetness of those who love thee, joy above any desire, firm hope of the hopeless, solace of the sorrowful, and most merciful lover of all penitent sinners; who hast said, thy delight is to be with the sons of men, for the love of whom thou didst assume human nature in the fulness of time. Remember, most sweet Lord Jesus, all those sharp sorrows which then pierced thy sacred soul, from the first instant of thy incarnation, until the time of thy solitary passion, pre-ordained from all eternity. Remember, O most amiable Saviour, all those bitter anguishes thou didst suffer, when at thy last supper thou didst wash the feet of thy disciples, didst feed them with the sacred banquet of thy precious body and blood, and most sweetly comforting them, didst foretell them thy ensuing passion; after which, going to Mount Olivet, thou saidst, "My soul is sorrowful unto death." Remember, I beseech thee, O most sweet Saviour, that bitter grief and anguish which thy sacred soul did suffer, when praying three several times to thy heavenly Father, thou didst sweat water and blood; thou wert betrayed by thy own disciple, apprehended by thy chosen people, accused by false witnesses, unjustly judged by three judges, and in thy elected city, in the paschal solemnity, in the flourishing age of thy youth, wrongfully condemned, bound, beaten, spurned, spit upon, despoiled of thy garments, and clothed with others in scorn; wert blind-folded, buffeted, spit upon again, bound naked to a pillar, most cruelly scourged, crowned with thorns, struck with a reed, and afflicted with innumerable other torments, pains, and injuries. O my Lord Jesus, by the memory and merit of all those bitter pains and anguishes before thy last expiration on the cross, vouchsafe to grant me before my death, true contrition, entire confession, a flowing fountain of tears, full satisfaction, and a plenary remission of all my sins. Amen.
O most gracious Lord Jesus, be propitious to me a sinner. Pater Noster. Ave Maria.
2. O most sweet Lord Jesus, true liberty of angels, and paradise of delights, remember, I beseech thee, that grief and sorrow which thou didst suffer when thy cruel enemies, like fierce lions, with furious and dreadful looks, compassing thee round about, did tear off thy hair, spit upon thy sacred face, scratched, beat, buffeted thee, and with all manner of unheard-of-injuries, outrages, and torments, didst most cruelly and basely blaspheme, scorn, and affront thee. O most sweet Lord Jesus, by all those most barbarous and inhuman outrages which thou didst suffer, vouchsafe to deliver me from all my enemies, visible and invisible; that, protected under the shadow of thy wings, I may safely arrive at the port of eternal glory. Amen.
O most gracious Lord Jesus Christ, be propitious to me a sinner. Pater Noster. Ave Maria.