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The Office of the Passion GOOD FRIDAY Prayers and Meditations

A Devotional for those desiring to make the Good Friday journey with

our Lord Jesus Christ

The Symbols of Christ’s Passion and Death

Compiled by

Fr. Kevin L. LaMarre, O.S.B.

A monk-priest of Our Lady of Seven Sorrows Priory

Raymond, Maine, USA

2.

Introduction

Good Friday is the most profoundly solemn day in the Church year. It is the day in which our

Lord Jesus Christ paid the ultimate debt of love for us all with His life. It’s a day which

Christians observe with special and prayerful attention, usually in church if it’s possible.

The pace and events of these ‘modern’ times makes it difficult, if not impossible, for some to

attend the church of their choice on this day. They long to walk with our Lord in His Way of

Sorrows . . . but how? This devotional has been prepared as one possible remedy. Good Friday

has been divided up into “hours of prayer” or, offices as they are known in monasteries. Just

follow the time-table as presented and you, too can observe this day in a prayerful and

contemplative manner, in your own way, and as your circumstances permit…just like

contemplative religious do.

If this booklet draws even one soul closer in their relationship with our Blessed Lord on this

great “Day of Days” . . . it’s purpose has been served.

I am indebted to Sr. Mary-Francis, O.S.B. for her patient work in proof-reading this rather

hurried work.

Fr. Prior Kevin L. LaMarre, O.S.B.

Our Lady of Seven Sorrows Priory

Raymond, Maine, USA.

26 March A.D. 2018 – Monday in Holy Week

The Order of Offices in the Office of the Passion:

Maundy Thursday- Compline I: 9:00 p.m. . .Jesus prays in the Garden of Gethsemane and is

arrested.

Good Friday Vigils: Midnight – 4:00 a.m… .Jesus is brought before Caiaphas and the Jewish

Sanhedrin for trial.

Good Friday Lauds: Sunrise (approx.... 6:00 a.m.) . . . Peter’s denial and cockcrow.

Good Friday Terce: 9:00 a.m. . . . . . Trial before Pilate & Scourging. The road to Calvary.

Good Friday Sext: Noon . . . . . . . .Jesus is Crucified and His 3 hour agony on the Cross begins.

Good Friday None: 3:00 p.m. . . . . Jesus Dies on the Cross. Veneration of Christ crucified.

Good Friday Vespers: Sundown (approx. 6:00 p.m.) . . . Burial in the Garden tomb.

Good Friday Compline II: 9:00 p.m. . . . . . . Jesus in death’s repose in the garden tomb.

3.

Office of

Compline I OF THE PASSION The office of Compline is the final liturgical office of the day. It is said or sung before retiring for the peace of

slumber. This would not be so for our Lord, for at this hour, the drama of His Passion begins. He will see no rest

until He is laid in the garden tomb.

Christ Praying in the Garden

V. We adore Thee O Christ, and we bless (+) thee.

R. Because by thy holy Cross, thou hast redeemed the world.

Antiphon: Christ, for us became obedient. Even unto death upon the Cross.

Psalm 142

I cried unto the Lord with my voice; with my voice unto the Lord did I make my supplication.

I poured out my complaint before him; I shewed before him my trouble.

When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then thou knewest my path.

In the way wherein I walked have they privily laid a snare for me.

I looked on my right hand and beheld, but there was no man that would know me;

refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul.

I cried unto thee, O Lord: I said, Thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living.

Attend to my cry; for I am brought very low: deliver me from my persecutors; for they are

stronger than I.

4.

Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise thy Name: the righteous shall compass me about;

for thou shalt deal bountifully with me.

Ant. Christ, for us became obedient. Even unto death upon the Cross.

Reading: (St. Matthew; Ch. 26, Vs. 36):

Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye

here while I go and pray yonder.

Meditation:

Our Lord didn’t pour out His complaints and laments to His Disciples in the Garden, but told

them to His Heavenly Father. How different would the spirit of our whole lives be, if we, like

Him, refrained from complaining to others and went straight to God with all our cares. How

sweetly would He bend down from Heaven to hear us! With what love would He bestow upon us

to heal our sorrows and comfort our souls!

The Kyrie

Lord have mercy upon us

Christ have mercy upon us

Lord Have mercy upon us.

The Pater Noster

Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name.

Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done. On earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. Amen.

Orison

Look down we beseech Thee O Lord, upon this thy household, for which our Lord Jesus Christ

did not hesitate to be delivered into the hands of wicked men, and to suffer the torment of the

Cross. Who liveth and reigneth with thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.

Amen.

Conclusion of the Office

All praise, honor, and glory be unto thee, Lord Jesus (+) Christ. In the most Holy Sacrament of

the Eucharist. Amen.

5.

Office of

VIGILS OF THE PASSION The office of Vigils is said or sung in the dead of the night any time between midnight and 4 a.m. This is done in

keeping with the admonition to watch and keep holy vigil, for we know not when the Master will come. On the night

of our Lord’s arrest and sham trial before the Sanhedrin, only one Apostle kept vigil while our Lord was being

subjected to interrogations and beatings by men who used the cover of the darkness of night to their advantage.

Let us keep Vigil with our Lord with earnest prayer.

Christ before Caiaphas - 1633

Painting by Matthias Stomer

V. We adore Thee O Christ, and we bless (+) thee.

R. Because by Thy Holy Cross, thou hast redeemed the world.

Antiphon: Ps. 119(1): Blessed are the undefiled in the way: who walk in the Law of the Lord.

Psalm 2:

Why do the heathen so furiously rage together? And why do the people imagine a vain thing?

The kings of the earth stand up, and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord, and against

His Annointed:

Let us break their bonds asunder, and cast away their cords from us.

He that dwelleth in heaven shall laugh them to scorn: the Lord shall have them in derision.

6.

Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure.

Yet I have set my King upon my holy hill of Sion.

I will rehearse the decree ; the Lord hath said unto me, Thou art my son, this day have I begotten

Thee.

Desire of me, and I shall give thee the nations for thine inheritance, and the utmost parts of

Earth for thy possession.

Thou shalt bruise them with a rod of iron, and break them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.

Be wise now therefore, O ye kings; be instructed, ye that are judges of the earth.

Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice unto him with reverence.

Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and so ye perish from the right way, if his wrath be kindled,

Yea, but a little.

Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.

Psalm 51:

Have mercy upon me, O God, after thy great goodness: according to the multitude of thy

mercies do away mine offences.

Wash me thoroughly from my wickedness and cleanse me from my sin.

For I acknowledge my faults, and my sin is ever before me.

Against thee only have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight; that thou mightest be justified

in thy saying, and clear when thou shalt judge.

Behold, I was shapen in wickedness, and sin hath my mother conceived me.

But lo, thou requirest truth in the inward parts, and shalt make me to understand wisdom

secretly.

Thou shalt purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; thou shalt wash me, and I shall be

whiter than snow.

Thou shalt make me hear of joy and gladness, that the bones which thou hast broken may

rejoice.

Turn thy face from my sins, and put out all my misdeeds.

Make me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.

Cast me not away from thy presence, and take not thy Holy Spirit from me.

O give me the comfort of thy help again, and stablish me with thy free Spirit.

Then shall I teach thy ways unto the wicked, and sinners shall be converted unto thee.

Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, thou that are the God of my health ; and my tongue

shall sing of thy righteousness.

Thou shalt open my lips, O Lord, and my mouth shall show thy praise.

For thou desirest no sacrifice, else I would give it thee; but thou delightest not in burnt-

offerings.

The sacrifice of God is a troubled spirit: a broken and contrite heart, O God, shalt thou not

despise.

O be favorable and gracious unto Sion; build thou the walls of Jerusalem.

Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifice of righteousness, with the burnt-offerings and

oblations; then shall they offer young bullocks upon thine altar.

7.

Ant. Blessed are the undefiled in the way; who walk in the Law of the Lord.

Reading: St. Mark; Ch. 14; Vss. 55-64:

And the chief priests and all the council sought for witness against Jesus to put him to

death; and found none. For many bare false witness against him, but their witness agreed not

together. And there arose certain, and bare false witness against him saying, We heard him say “I

will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another made

without hands.” But neither did their witness agree together. And the high priest stood up in the

midst, and asked Jesus saying, Answerest thou nothing? What is it which these witnesses against

thee? But he held his peace, and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him, and said

unto him, Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed? And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the

Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven. Then the

high priest rent his clothes, and saith, What need we any further witnesses? . . . And they all

condemned him to be guilty of death.

Meditation:

When our Lord was brought before the High Priest and council there were many that

bore false witness against our Lord. However, the Gospel account tells us that none of the

accusations “jibed” or corroborated (to use a legal term) with one another. We should never

attempt to justify ourselves as Christians before the world. There are many who object to aspects

of our faith that they think is ‘exclusive’ and ‘judgmental’ . . . and yet, they are doing the same.

We sometimes want to explain things to them, in order to justify our beliefs and/or practices. The

problem is, that if we prove them wrong on one point, they will bring up many other false things

against us, or hurl insults, or hang derogatory labels on us. Satan is never at a loss for a lie, and

for his purposes, the bigger the lie the better. Let us not be ashamed to be followers of Jesus

Christ but declare boldly for the truth. To be a real Christian is to suffer along with Christ. Jesus

assures us: “In the world ye shall have tribulation: Be of good cheer, for I have overcome the

world.” (St. John; Chap. 16, Vs. 34 ).

The Kyrie

Lord, Have mercy upon us

Christ, have mercy upon us

Lord, have mercy upon us.

The Pater Noster

Our Father, Who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name.

Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.



8.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

Orisons

O LORD JESUS CHRIST, who, bound and alone, didst proclaim the Messiah before the

High Priest and elders of thy people: make plain, we beseech thee, the perpetual truth amid the

transient show; and open our ears to hear, our eyes to perceive, and our hearts to know, that thou

with the Father and the Holy Ghost art one and only eternal and glorious God, world without

end. Amen.

KEEP us, O Lord, God, from hasty excuse when the semblance of a fault is charged upon us;

that rather we may be silent with thy holy and unreprovable Son, who when he was reviled,

reviled not again ; and when he suffered, threatened not ; but committed himself to thee, the only

righteous and true judge ; with whom he liveth and reigneth in the unity of the Holy ghost, one

God, now and evermore. Amen.

O LORD GOD, Who by thine divine mercy hast called us to be Christians, servants of the

Crucified, signed with His Cross: enable us, for the love which He bore unto us, to choose the

good and refuse the evil, swerving neither to the right hand nor to the left, under the standard and

in the strength of the same our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.


V: We wait for thy loving-kindness, O God,

R: In the midst of thy temple.

V: Thou hast charged.

R: That we should diligently keep thy commandments.

V: May your Divine (+) Assistance remain with us always. Amen.

________________________________________________________________________

9.

Office of

Lauds of the Passion The Office of Lauds is usually said or sung at sunrise . . . approximately 6:00 a.m. Its name is derived from the

Latin “Laudate” – joyful praise. On Good Friday morning there was little to merit praise . . . or was there? In this

Part of our Lord’s Passion lies an allegory; mankind is represented by the Jewish high Council and the hangers-on

outside the temple, as well as Peter, who had denied our Lord. In the pre-dawn twilight however, a rooster crows

loudly. Mqnkind might have denied and rejected God’s Son, but His creation in nature still proclaimed His

Greatness and glory. Perhaps they already knew something men didn’t. This is the only office in which we will lend

any modicum of “laudate” on this Day of Days.

Peter’s Denial and the Crowing of the Rooster c. 1865 Painting by Carl Heinrich Bloch

V: We adore thee, O Christ and we bless (+) thee.

R: Because by thy Holy Cross thou hast redeemed the world.

Antiphon:

God spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all.

10.

Psalm 117

O Praise the Lord, all ye nations: praise him all ye people.

For his merciful kindness is great toward us: and the truth of the Lord endureth forever.

Praise ye the Lord.

Psalm 19

The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth forth his handy-work.

Day by day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge,

There is no speech no language, where their voice is not heard.

Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world.

In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun

Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a

Race.

His going forth is from the end of the heavens, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is

Nothing hid from the heat thereof.

The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making

Wise the simple.

The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure,

Enlightening the eyes.

The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever: the judgements of the Lord are true and

Righteous altogether.

More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the

Honeycomb.

Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.

Who can understand his errors? Cleanse thou me from secret faults.

Keep back thy servant from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me:

Then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent. From the great transgression.

Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, O Lord, be acceptable in thy sight,

O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.

Psalm 36

The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart, that there is no fear of God before his

eyes.

For he flattereth himself in his own eyes, until his iniquity be found to be hateful.

The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit: he hath left off to be wise, and to do good.

He deviseth mischief upon his bed; he setteth himself in a way that is not good; he

Abboreth not evil.

Thy mercy O Lord, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds.

Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; thy judgements are a great deep: O Lord,

Thou preservest man and beast.

How excellent is thy loving-kindness, O God! Therefore the children of men put their trust

Under the shadow of thy wings.

11.

They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make them

Drink of the river of thy pleasures.

For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.

O continue thy loving-kindness unto them that know thee; and thy righteousness to the upright

of heart.

Let not the foot of pride come against me, and let not the hand of the wicked remove me.

There are the workers of iniquity fallen: they are cast down, and shall not be able to rise.

Antiphon:

God spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all.

Reading: St. Luke: Chap. 22, Vss. 54-62:

Then they took Him, and led him, and brought him into the high priest’s house. And

Peter followed afar off. And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall, and were set

down together, Peter sat down among them. But a certain maid beheld him as they sat by the fire,

and earnestly looked upon him, and said, This man was also with him. And he denied him

saying, Woman, I know him not. And after a little while another saw him, and said, Thou art also

of them. And Peter said, Man, I am not. And in about the space of one hour after another

confidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth, this fellow also was with him: for he is a Galilean. And

Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock

crew. And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord,

how he said unto him, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And Peter went out, and

wept bitterly.

Meditation:

Consider what Peter was doing when he denied the Lord. He was warming himself

by the fire, making himself comfortable amidst our Lord’s enemies. If we seek comfort only in

the companionship of the world, and look to others for sympathy and affirmation, rather than to

Almighty God, our lives will be a constant denial of Him. Whenever this temptation should

come, let us think of Jesus before the High Priest and his court, smitten and bleeding; and let us

think of Peter enjoying the genial warmth of the enemies’ shelter, and denying his Master with

oaths and even curses. The simple crowing of the rooster brought Peter back to reality as he

remembered the words His Master had said to him earlier. Will it take the crowing of a rooster

to remind us what Jesus says to us about ourselves?

the Kyrie

Lord, have mercy upon us

Christ, have mercy upon us.

Lord, have mercy upon us.

12.

The Pater Noster

Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name.





The Orisons

O LORD JESUS CHRIST, Son of the living God whose disciples forsook and forswore thee,

so that alone in thy pains thou didst redeem us: Give faith to the lonely and the beset, that they

may know the Friend who never departeth; nor, abiding, faileth to bless; who art with the Father,

and the Holy Ghost, one Saviour, one God, world without end. Amen.

O LORD JESUS CHRIST, look upon us with those eyes of thine wherewith thou didst look

upon Peter in the hall, That with Peter, we may repent and, by thy same love, be forgiven.

O Lord Jesus Christ, turn thy face from our sins, but turn it not from us,

For thine endless mercies’ sake. Amen

JESUS our Lord and our God, who gavest thy cheek to the smiters, and for our sake wast filled

with reproach: Grant us to learn of thee who art meek and lowly of heart, and after the example

of thy sufferings, to be patient in bearing our own; for thy holy Name’s sake. Amen


V: When my soul shall be in trouble, O Lord.

R: Thou wilt be mindful of thy mercy.

V: May Your Divine Assistance be with us always.

R: And with our Christian brethren, the sick and dying, and all who seek you. Amen.

13.

Office of

Terce of the Passion The Office of Terce takes place around the third hour of the day…approximately 9:00 a.m. Around this time on

Good Friday, Our Lord’s Passion takes a decisive turn. He is brought before the Roman governor of Judea. The

governor holds the power of life and death in this land, not the Sanhedrin, for the governor represents Caesar

himself. Pilate is not a strong man, and the scribes and priests of the temple will sway him. They will use his status

as Caesar’s representative against him, for they are masters of deception. They fool everyone… but Christ.

Ecce Homo – Behold the Man – 1871

By Antonio Ciseri

V: We adore thee O Christ, and we bless (+) thee.


Antiphon:

My spirit is in anguish within me: my heart within me is troubled.

Psalm 43

Give sentence with me, O God, and defend my cause against the ungodly people; O deliver

me from the deceitful and wicked man.

For thou art the God of my strength; why hast thou put me from thee? And why go I so

heavily, while the enemy oppresseth me?

14.

O send out thy light and thy truth, that they may lead me, and bring me unto thy holy hill, and

to thy dwelling-place.

And that I may go unto the altar of God, even unto the God of my joy and gladness; and upon

the harp will I give thanks unto thee, O God, my God.

Why art thou so heavy, O my soul? And why art thou so disquieted within me?

O put thy trust in God; for I will yet give him thanks, which is the help of my countenance, and

my God.

Psalm 13

How long wilt thou forget me, O Lord; forever? How long wilt thou hide thy face from

me?

How long shall I seek counsel in my soul, and be so vexed in my heart? How long shall my

enemy triumph over me?

Consider, and hear me, O Lord my God; lighten mine eyes, that I may sleep not in death;

Lest mine enemy say, I have prevailed against him: for if I be cast down, they that trouble me

Will rejoice at it.

But my trust is in thy mercy. And my heart is joyful in thy salvation.

I will sing of the Lord, because he hath dealt so lovingly with me: yea, I will praise the Name

of the Lord Most Highest.

Antiphon:

My spirit is in anguish within me; my heart within me is troubled.

Reading & Meditation:

Here in our Office of the Passion we will blend both Reading and Meditation by following our Lord more

intimately in the Way of the Cross. Beautiful pictures will assist us in our meditating upon our Lord’s

Passion as it becomes more violent, and in some ways, tender and personal. This is not usually a part of

the daily Office format. . . but this isn’t just any day. It’s the day that changed the world forever.

15.

Reading: St. Mark; Chap. 15; Vss. 1 – 15:

And straightway in the morning the chief priests held a consultation with the elders

and scribes and the whole council, and bound Jesus, and carried him away, and delivered him to

Pilate. . . And the chief priests accused him of many things: but he answered nothing. And Pilate

asked him saying, Answerest thou nothing? Behold how many things they witness against thee.

But Jesus answered nothing; so that Pilate marveled. . . And they all condemmed him to be guilty

of death. When Pilate therefore heard that saying, and wishing to content the people, he brought

Jesus forth, and sat down in the judgement seat, and delivered Jesus, when he had been scourged

to be crucified.

Meditation:

Our Lord’s silence was not one of contempt, but rather of mercy. He had openly

taught in the temple and His own people had rejected Him. There would have been no kindness

in speaking further, for the greater their knowledge the greater their condemnation. We can never

without supreme peril to our souls, hear God’s Word carelessly. It would be better to never have

heard the Gospel than to have heard it and cast it away. Sometimes we long to hear His voice. He

seems not to speak. At such times let us examine ourselves to see whether it be that we can’t hear

because of our past unfaithfulness.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Reading: St. John: Chap. 19; Vss. 6, 15 & 17:

When the chief priests therefore and the officers saw him, they cried out, saying,

Crucify him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Take ye him and crucify him: for I find no fault

16.

in him . . . Then he delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified, And they took Jesus,

and led him away. And he bearing his cross went forth.

Meditation:

“He bearing his cross went forth” the Scriptural account tells us. There was not one

word of protest from those sacred lips! Not even one effort made to escape the cruel burden that

was about to be placed upon him in his already weakened state. At that moment He saw through

all the centuries to come, the millions whom His Father would call to bear the cross, and they

could not bear it unless He bore it before them. How do we struggle to avoid our crosses? What

ingratitude do we show to Him, and how weak an example do we set before others who might

take courage from us in enduring their own trials!

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Reading: Isaiah: Chap. 53; Vss. 4-7:

Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him

stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was

bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we

are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and

the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he

opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep dumb before her

shearers, so he opened not his mouth.

17.

Meditation:

Up the long rough cobblestoned road toils our Saviour bearing the heavy load of the

Cross. He makes no reply to the jeers and curses of the crowd, who a few days earlier had

welcomed Him as their King. He didn’t ‘deliver as advertised’, to put it into modern parlance,

and so fickle humans rejected and despised him as false. Slowly his weary feet journey on, until

He staggers and falls beneath the crushing weight of the Cross and all the sin of the world. The

Devil and his minions in hell roar and cheer in horrible triumph as the Son of God falls down

upon the Way. The voices of the crowd re-echo the shouts of hell as the soldiers of the execution

party drag Jesus to His feet with no compassion. He bears without complaint the sins of the world;

before, then, now, and in the times to come. Are we, in our limited capacities, able to comprehend the

great meaning of this?

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Reading: Lamentations: Chap. 1; Vs.12:

Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by? Behold, and see if there be any sorrow like

unto my sorrow, which is done unto me, wherewith the Lord hath afflicted me in the day of his

fierce anger. From above hath he sent fire into my bones . . . he hath turned me back; he hath

made me desolate and faint all the day.

Meditation:

St. Alphonsus writes: “Consider the meeting of the Son and the Mother which took

place on this journey. Their looks became like so many arrows to wound those hearts which

loved each other so tenderly.” Jesus meeting His Mother Mary: even in the midst of His Passion,

He was not denied this one consolation. What grief and sorrow that passed between them, and

what love as well. We too, should seek the loving consolation of the Blessed Mother in our own

times of trial, sickness, and at our hour of death. His Mother is our Mother, and let us never

forget. Love knows no limits!

18.

Reading: St. Mark: Chap. 15; Vs. 21:

And they compelled one Simon a Cyrenian, who passed by coming out of the country,

the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear his cross.

Meditation:

In the Gospel account of St. Luke, we are told that Simon bore the cross “after

Jesus.” (St. Luke: Chap.23, Vs. 26.) Our Lord calls us daily to go along the Way of the Cross,

but He calls no soul to bear their cross alone. If the weight proves hard, surely that soul will find

comfort in the thought that Jesus is helping to bear the heaviest part. If the stones along the way

of our lives cut our feet, those very stones are also red with the Precious Blood, for Jesus goes

before us and shows us how our burden should be borne. He says to all: “Come unto me, all ye

that travail and are heavy laden, and I will refresh you.” (St. Matt. Chap. 11, Vs. 28).

19.

Reading: Isaiah: Chap, 53; Vs.3:

He hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we

should desire him.

Meditation:

Veronica doesn’t appear in any of the Gospel accounts of the Passion. Her name is

not mentioned even though the names of other women who accompanied Jesus do appear. It’s

possible therefore, that the name refers more to what the woman did. Tradition tells us, that on

the road to Calvary, a woman pushed her way through the crowd and the soldiers guarding Jesus,

and with a veil wiped the sweat and blood from the Lord’s face. That face remained imprinted on

the veil, a faithful reflection, a “true icon”. This would be the reason for the name Veronica

given to this woman. If this is so, then the name which evokes the memory of what this woman

did carries with it the deepest truth about her.

Acts of love do not pass away. Every act of goodness, understanding, of service, leaves on

people’s hearts and indelible imprint that makes us evermore like the One who “emptied Himself

and taking the form of a servant.” (Philippians; Chap.2 Vs. 7)

It’s what shapes our identity and gives us our true name.

St. Veronica with the Veil (1655-60) by Mattia Preti

In lieu of the Kyrie:

Holy (+) God, Holy (+) and Mighty, Holy (+) and Immortal

Have Mercy upon us

Pater Noster

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name.





20.

Ave Maria

Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with thee.

Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners.

Now, and at the hour of our death. Amen.

The Orisons

O KING of kings, who wast invested with thy royal dignity by bitter humbling and a crown of

thorns: train us to be faithful in the fellowship of thy sufferings, that we may follow thy triumph;

who livest and reignest with the Father and the Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

ALMIGHTY GOD, whose most dear Son went not up to joy, but first He suffered pain and

entered not into glory before he was crucified: Mercifully grant that we, walking in the way of

the Cross, may find it none other than the way of life and peace; through the same thy Son Jesus

Christ our Lord. Amen.

O LORD GOD, our heavenly Father, regard we beseech thee, with thine divine pity the pains

of all thy children; and grant that the Passion of our Lord and his infinite love may make fruitful

for good the tribulations of the innocent, the sufferings of the sick, and the sorrows of the

bereaved; through Him who suffered in our flesh and died for our sake, the same thy Son our

Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.


V: O Saviour of the world, who by thy Cross and Precious Blood hast redeemed us.

R: Save us and help us, we humbly beseech thee, O Lord.

______________________________________________________________________________

The Office of

Sext of the Passion Sext is the Office of the sixth hour of the day – Noon. It’s the time of day when the sun reaches its highest point or

zenith and begins its slow descent to the west. Holy Scripture tells us that our Lord’s crucifixion began around 9:00

a.m. (St. Mark; Ch. 15, Vs. 25), but we have split our journey with Him more evenly to better remain with him

through the passing of this day. This mid-day Office picks up with the Second fall of our Lord on His way to

Calvary.

V: We adore thee, O Christ, and we bless (+) thee.

R: Because by thy Cross thou hast redeemed the world.

21.

Antiphon:

Christ for our sake became obedient unto death, even the death of the Cross.

Psalm 38

Put me not to rebuke O Lord, in thine anger; neither chasten me in thy heavy displeasure.

For thine arrows stick fast in me, and thy hand presseth me sore.

There is no health in my flesh, because of thy displeasure; neither is there any rest in my

bones, by reason of my skin.

For my wickednesses are gone over my head, and are like a sore burden, too heavy for me to

bear.

My wounds stink, and are corrupt, through my foolishness.

I am brought into so great trouble and misery, that I go mourning all the day long.

For my loins are filled with a sore disease, and there is no whole part of my body.

I am feeble and sore smitten; I have roared for the very disquietness of my heart.

Lord, thou knowest all my desire; and my groaning is not hid from thee.

My heart panteth, my strength hath faileth me, and the sight of mine eyes is gone from me.

My lovers and my neighbors did stand looking upon my trouble, and my kinsmen stood afar

off.

They also that sought after my life laid snares for me; and they that went about to do some evil

talked of wickedness, and imagined deceit all the day long.

As for me, I was like a deaf man, and heard not; and as one that is dumb, who doth not open

his mouth.

I became even as a man that heareth not, and as one that is dumb, who doth not open his

mouth.

I became even as a man that heareth not, and in whose mouth are no reproofs.

For in thee O Lord, have I put my trust; thou shalt answer for me, O Lord, my God.

I have required that they, even mine enemies, should not triumph over me; for when my foot

slipped, they rejoiced greatly against me.

But mine enemies live, and are mighty; and they that hate me wrongfully are many in number.

They also that reward evil for good against me; because I follow the thing that is good.

Forsake me not, O Lord my God; be not thou far from me.

Make haste to help me, O Lord God pf my salvation.

Antiphon:

Christ for our sake became obedient unto death, even the death of the Cross.

22.

Reading: Isaiah; Chap. 63, Vs. 9:

In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his

love and I his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old.

Meditation:

All kinds of people crowded along the Way of Sorrows, jeering blasphemously as

the Son of God passed by, now wearied unto death. But He was going forth to conquer Satan and

Death. The deepest humiliations, the sharpest pain we may ever have to endure will, if borne in

the right spirit, be the surest way to victory. When the time comes for us to walk our own way of

sorrows, burdened by our own cross, may we remember the road to Calvary, and endure with

patience, that we may be more of a conqueror, through Him Who loves to death and beyond.

______________________________________________________________________________

23.

Reading: St. Luke; Chap. 23, Vss. 27-30:

And there followed him a great company of people, and of women, which also

bewailed and lamented him. But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not

for me, but for yourselves, and for your children. For, behold, the days are coming, in the which

they shall say Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare and the breasts that never

gave milk. Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, cover us.

Meditation:

To the immortal glory of women it is recorded that while no man in all of Jerusalem,

not even even a disciple, was found to minister to Jesus, the women thronged the Way and

without fear, filled the air with their cries of sorrowing love. And yet to them He spoke no word

of consolation. Instead, he issues to them a warning of events to come, of which some may live

to see, but certainly their children, when the city is encircled and besieged, and destroyed by the

Roman army. Such is the trial of saints. The women follow the Way of the Cross and they

receive no word to cheer their straining hearts, but faith points on to the glory of eternal Easter.

They are content.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Reading: Psalm 37; Vss. 23 & 24:

The Lord ordereth a good man’s going, and maketh his way acceptable to himself.

Though he fall, he shall not be cast away; for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand.

Meditation:

Our Lord’s journey to Calvary was the marking of a path every Christian soul must

tread. If we find in our life no counterpart of any of those wonderful stations, then we are not

following Him. Suffering is the passport to glory. “We must through much tribulation enter into

24.

the Kingdom of God.” (Acts: Chap. 14, Vs. 22). Let us ask ourselves: Are we enduring our

crosses in the patient and loving spirit of our crucified Lord?

_____________________________________________________________________________

Reading: St. John; Chap. 19; Vss. 23 & 24:

Then the soldiers took his garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part and

also his coat: now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout. They said

therefore among themselves, Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, whose shall it be: that the

scripture might be fulfilled, which saith, They parted my raiment among them, and for my

vesture they did cast lots. These things therefore the soldiers did.

Meditation:

Clothing gives a person their dignity. His public stripping, makes Jesus a non-person, an

outcast…nothing. The moment of His stripping might remind us of the expulsion from paradise

in the Book of Genesis: God’s splendor has fallen away from man who now stands naked and

exposed, unclad and ashamed. And so, Jesus once more takes upon Himself the condition of

fallen mankind. Stripped of His garments, He reminds us that we have lost that “first garment”

that is God’s splendor. At the foot of the Cross the soldiers of the execution detail divide up his

paltry possessions, His clothes. The Evangelist describes the scene using the words from Psalm

22, Vs.19, by doing so they tell us the same thing that Jesus would tell His two disciples on the

way to Emmaus on Easter Evening: that everything takes place ‘according to the Scriptures.’

There are no coincidences. Everything that happens is contained in the word of God and

sustained by His divine plan. The Lord passes through all the stages and steps of man-kinds fall

from grace, yet, each of these steps, for all of its bitterness becomes a step towards our

redemption; that’s how Jesus finds and carries home His lost sheep.

______________________________________________________________________________

25.

Reading: St. Luke: Chap. 23, Vs. 33:

And when they were come to the place which is called Calvary, there they crucified him.

Meditation:

The top of Golgotha is reached at last. The soldiers have stripped Jesus and fling Him

onto the Cross which lies upon the ground. The crowd surges around to gloat upon the awful

scene. Better him than us they think. St. John and the Blessed Mother have followed. And for

now, cannot see Him, but they hear the ringing blows of the hammer as the nails are driven

through His flesh and His precious Blood begins to flow. Not even a murmur is heard from Him,

but His voice is lifted up in one cry of love: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they

do.” (St. Luke; Chap. 23, Vs. 34.) Bearing up the head of the cross on their long spears, the

soldiers let it drop with a sickening wrench into the hole prepared for it in the rock. Again, no cry

comes from our pierced Lord as the jarring impact of Cross into rock is felt. Our Lord begins the

long process of dying, but as He dies, He redeems the world of all its sin . . . before. . . then . . .

now . . . forever. We adore Thee O Christ!

______________________________________________________________________________

26.

Reading: St. Mark; Chap 15, Vss.22-28:

And they bring him unto the place called Golgotha, which is, being interpreted, The

place of a skull. And they gave him wine mingled with myrrh: but he received it not. And it was

the third hour and they crucified him. And the superscription of his accusation was written over,

THE KING OF THE JEWS. And with him they crucify two thieves; the one on his right hand,

and the other on his left. And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, And he was numbered with

the transgressors.

Meditation:

The soldiers had done their worst. The lowly Son of God hung dying, the uplifted

scorn of all; “and sitting down they watched Him there.” (St. Matt. Ch. 27, Vs. 36). How often

do we look upon our sins blinded by our folly to the true meaning of the result. With our sins we

crucify Him again and again, and with complacency receive the praise of our fellow humans for

what they call our worldly wisdom. What will we profit by if we gain the whole world and its

riches, but lose our souls in the process?

______________________________________________________________________________


Holy (+) God Holy (+) and Mighty Holy and (+) Immortal

Have mercy upon us.

Pater Noster



Give us this day Our daily bread.



Ave Maria

Hail Mary full of grace. The Lord is with thee.

Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.



27.

Orisons:

VOUCHSAFE, O LORD GOD, that, as we thy sons and daughters took upon the Saviour for

our sakes ready to die, we may mourn not for Him, Whose pains were our glory, but for

ourselves, whose shames are His wounds: and may repent unto thee, who with the same thy Son,

and the Holy Ghost art one God, holy and painful, for ever and ever. Amen.

O LORD JESUS CHRIST, who was poor thy life long, and didst die naked upon the Cross :

Endow us with thy spirit of poverty as with a pearl of great price ; that dying to that which is

transitory and little worth, we may win eternal treasure, and possess all, who livest and reignest

with the Father in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen.

O LORD JESUS CHRIST, who wast silent when men nailed thee to the Cross, and by pain

didst triumph over pain: pour thy Spirit on thy servants who suffer, that in their quietness and

courage thou mayest triumph again, and redeem every sorrow: who livest and reignest in the

glory of the eternal Trinity, God, world without end. Amen.


V: O Saviour of the world, who by thy Cross and precious Blood hast redeemed us.


______________________________________________________________________________

28.

The Office of

None of the Passion The Office of the ninth hour is called None. On this day, at the ninth hour the attention of the whole world is

focused upon a hill in Judea where a Man slowly dies upon a Cross. The skies have become dark as night, and an

earthquake takes place as this Man gives up his Spirit to His Heavenly Father. This is the greatest moment in the

history of the world, for as life flows out of this Man upon the Cross, Jesus of Nazareth, the entire world is being

redeemed from its sins. The very gates of hell rock in terror. Satan, who has fancied himself as master of the world

has been defeated as he watches in terror the most Sacred Blood of Christ wash away the sins of the world.

V: We adore thee O Christ, and we bless (+) thee.


Antiphon:

When he had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished.

Psalm 22:

My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Why art thou so far from helping me, and from

the words my roaring?

O my God, I cry in the daytime, but thou hearest not; in the night season, and am not silent.

But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises Israel.

Our fathers trusted in thee, and were delivered: they trusted in thee and were not confounded.

But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.

All they that see me laugh to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying,

29.

He trusted on the Lord that he would deliver him, let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in

him.

But thou art he that took me out of the womb: thou didst make me hope when I was upon my

mother’s breasts.

I was cast upon thee from the womb: thou art my God from my mother’s belly.

Be not far from me; for trouble is near; for there is none to help.

I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted

in the midst of my bowels.

My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast

brought me into the dust of death.

For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have enclosed me: they pierced my

hands and feet.

I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me. They part my garments among them, and

cast lots for my vesture.

But be not thou far from me, O Lord: O my strength, haste thee to help me.

Deliver my soul from the sword; my darling from the power of the dog.

Save me from the lion’s mouth: for thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns.

I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.

Ye that fear the Lord, praise him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; and fear him, all ye the

seed of Israel.

For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; neither hath he hid his

face from him; but when he cried unto him, he heard.

My praise shall be of thee in the great congregation: I will pay my vows before them that fear

him.

The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the Lord that seek him; your heart shall

live forever.

All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the Lord: and all the kindreds of the

nations shall worship before thee.

For the kingdom is the Lord’s: and he is the governor among the nations.

All they that be fat upon earth shall eat and worship; all they that go down to the dust shall bow

Before him: and none can keep alive his own soul.

A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation.

They shall come and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he

hath done this.

Antiphon:

When he had received the vinegar, he said it is finished.

Reading: St. Luke; Chap 23, Vss. 44-46:

And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth

hour. And the Sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst. And when

30.

Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, he said’ Father into thy hands I commend my spirit: and

having said thus, he gave up the ghost.

Meditation:

The work His Father sent Him to do is now finished, and one thing remained – to

give His Spirit back to Him Who sent Him. No longer is it a cry of agony, but of gentle

resignation: “Father into Thy Hands I commend my Spirit.” If we, at the end of our lives

commend our spirits just as sweetly into the Hands of the Father, we must learn each day to give

ourselves and all we do to Him. Let us resolve to offer Him one by one the works of this day,

and every day hence, as they are performed. Any one which could be our last.


Holy (+) God Holy (+) Mighty Holy and (+) Immortal

Have mercy upon us.

The Veneration of the Cross

Christ on the Cross -1881

Carl Heinrich Bloch

Behold the wood of the Cross: On which hung the Saviour of the world.

Come, let us adore.

31.

The 15 Oes of St. Bridget Latin translation of 1670

A group of prayers to the Crucified Christ composed by English mystics of the Brigittine Order

in the early 15th century.

First Prayer

O JESUS CHRIST! Eternal Sweetness to those who love Thee, joy surpassing all joy and all

desire, Salvation and Hope of all sinners, Who hast proved that Thou hast no greater desire than

to be among men, even assuming human nature at the fullness of time for the love of men, recall

all the sufferings Thou hast endured from the instant of Thy conception, and especially during

Thy Passion, as it was decreed and ordained from all eternity in the Divine plan.

Remember the sadness and bitterness which Thou didst experience during the Last Supper with

Thy disciples, having washed their feet, Thou gavest them Thy Most Precious Body and Blood,

and while at the same time Thou didst sweetly console them, Thou didst foretell them Thy

coming Passion.

Remember all the fear, anguish and pain that Thou didst suffer in Thy delicate Body before

the Passion of Thy Crucifixion, when, after having prayed three times bathed in a sweat of blood,

Thou wast betrayed by Judas, Thy disciple, arrested by the chosen people, accused by false

witness, unjustly judged by three judges in the chosen city during the Pascal season and in the

flower of Thy youth, condemned, despoiled of Thy garments and clothed in strange garments,

beaten, Thy Face and Eyes veiled, buffeted with blows, tied to a pillar, scourged, crowned with

thorns, struck on the head with a reed, and wounded with innumerable other outrages.

O Lord God, I beseech Thee, in memory of all these pains and sufferings which Thou didst

endure before Thy Passion of the Cross, grant me before my death true contrition, a sincere and

entire Confession, worthy satisfaction, and the remission of all my sins. Amen.

Our Father. Hail Mary.

Second Prayer

O Jesus! Creator of Heaven and earth Whom nothing can encompass or limit, Thou Who dost

hold the earth in the palm of Thy hand, remember the very bitter pain Thou didst suffer when the

Jews nailed Thy Sacred Hands to the Cross with the first blunt nail, and perforated Thy delicate

Feet, and not finding Thee in a pitiable enough state to satisfy their rage, they enlarged Thy

Wounds, and added pain to pain and with indescribable cruelty stretched Thy Body on the Cross,

pulled Thee from all sides, thus dislocating all Thy Limbs.

32.

I beg of Thee, by the memory of Thy most sacred suffering on the Cross, to grant me the grace to

fear Thee and to love Thee. Amen.


Third Prayer

O Jesus! Heavenly Physician, raised aloft on the cross to heal our wounds with Thine,

remember the bruises which Thou didst suffer and the weakness of all Thy Members which were

distended to such a degree that never was there pain like unto Thine. From the crown of Thy

Head to the soles of Thy Feet there was not one spot on Thy Body that was sound, and yet,

forgetting all Thy sufferings, Thou didst not cease to pray to Thy Heavenly Father for Thy

enemies, saying: “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.”

Through this great Mercy, and in memory of this suffering, grant that the remembrance of Thy

Most Bitter Passion may effect in me a perfect contrition and the remission of all my sins. Amen.

Fourth Prayer

O Jesus! True liberty of angels, Paradise of delights, remember the horror and sadness which

Thou didst endure when Thy enemies, like furious lions, surrounded Thee, and tormented Thee

with insults, spits, blows, lacerations and other unheard-of-cruelties.

In mind of these punishments, spiteful words and harsh torments which Thine enemies

afflicted upon Thee, I beseech Thee. Lord Jesus Christ, to deliver me from all my enemies

visible and invisible, and to bring me under Thy protection to the perfection of eternal salvation.

Amen.


Fifth Prayer

O Jesus! Mirror of eternal splendor, be mindful of the sadness which Thou experienced when

Thou beheldst in the mirror of Thy clear majesty the predestination of those who would be saved

by the merits of Thy saving Passion and the great multitudes of reprobates who would be

damned for their sins. And be mindful of the depths of Thy great mercy which Thou hadst for us

lost and desperate sinners, and which Thou displayed to the good thief when Thou sadist to him:

“This day, thou shalt be with Me in Paradise.” I beg of Thee, of Sweet Jesus, that Thou wilt

show me mercy at the hour of my death. Amen.


33.

Sixth Prayer

O Jesus! Beloved and most desirable King, remember the grief Thou didst suffer, when naked

and miserable Thou didst hang upon the Cross, and when all Thy relatives and friends abandoned

Thee and Thou didst not find and consolation, except in Thy Beloved Mother, who didst remain

loyal to Thee during Thy agony and whom Thou didst entrust to Thy disciple when Thou saidst:

“Woman, behold Thy Son!”

I beg of Thee, O most sweet Jesus, by the sword of sorrows which pierced the soul of Thy holy

Mother, to have compassion on me in all my afflictions and tribulations, both corporal and

spiritual, and to grant me consolation in all my trials, and especially at the hour of my death.

Amen.


Seventh Prayer

O Jesus! Inexhaustible font of compassion, Who by a profound gesture of Love, said from the

Cross: “I thirst!” and suffered from the thirst for the salvation of the human race, I beseech Thee,

inflame in our hears the desire to tend toward perfection in all our acts; and to extinguish in us

the concupiscence of the flesh and the ardor of worldly desires. Amen.


Eighth Prayer

O Jesus! Sweetness of hearts, delight of the spirit, by the bitterness of vinegar and gall which

Thou didst taste for us, grant us the grace to receive worthily Thy Precious Body and Blood at

the hour of our death for the remedy and consolation of our souls. Amen.


Ninth Prayer

O Jesus! Royal virtue, joy of the mind, recall the anguish and sorrow Thou didst endure at the

approach of death, when filled with bitterness, insulted, and outraged by the Jews, Thou didst cry

out in a loud voice that Thou wert abandoned by Thy Father, saying, “My God, My God, why

hast Thou forsaken me?” By this anguish, I beg of Thee, not to abandon us in our anguish, O

Lord God. Amen.


34.

Tenth Prayer

O Jesus! Who art the beginning and end of all things, life and strength for all time, remember

that for our sakes Thou was plunged into the waters of Thy Passion from the soles of Thy Feet to

the crown of Thy Head.

In consideration of the length and breadth of Thy Wounds, teach me, who art drowned in sin,

to keep through pure love Thy Commandments, whose way is wide and easy for those who love

Thee. Amen.


Eleventh Prayer

O Jesus! Deep abyss of mercy, I beg of Thee, on account of the depths of Thy Wounds which

penetrated to the very marrow of Thy Bones and Thy being, draw me, who is immersed in sin,

out of my sins and to hide me in Thy Wounds away from the face of Thy wrath until Thy anger

shall have passed. Amen.


Twelfth Prayer

O Jesus! Mirror of Truth, symbol of unity, bond of Charity, remember the innumerable

multitude of wounds with which Thou was covered from head to foot, torn and reddened by the

spilling of Thy most holy Blood, how great the sorrows which Thou didst suffer in the virginal

Flesh for us! Sweetest Jesus, what more is there that Thou couldst have done for us which Thou

hast not done?

Inscribe, I beseech Thee, sweet Jesus, all Thy wounds upon my heart with Thy most precious

Blood so that I may read in them Thy sorrows and death and continually persevere in

thanksgiving until the end. Amen.


Thirteenth Prayer

O Jesus! Strong Lion, Immortal and Invincible King, remember the pain which Thou didst

endure when all Thy strength, both moral and physical, was entirely exhausted, Thou didst bow

Thy Head, saying: “It is done!”

Through this anguish and grief, I beg of Thee Lord Jesus, to have mercy on me at the hour of my

death when my mind will be greatly troubled and my soul will be in anguish. Amen.

Our Father. Hail Mary

35.

Fourteenth Prayer

O Jesus! Only begotten Son of the Father, splendor and figure of His Substance, remember the

commendation Thou didst make of Thy Spirit to Thy Father, saying: “Into Thy Hands, O Lord, I

commend My Spirit!” And with Thy Body all torn, Thy Heart Broken, and the depths of Thy

Mercy open to redeem us, Thou didst expire.

By this most precious death, I beg of Thee, King of Saints, comfort me and help me to resist

the devil, the world, flesh and blood, so that being dead to the world I may live for Thee alone. I

beg of Thee at the hour of my death to receive me, a pilgrim and an exile returning to Thee.

Amen.


Fifteenth Prayer

O Jesus! True and fruitful Vine! Be mindful of the overflowing and abundant outpouring of

Thy Blood which Thou didst pour forth copiously, like wine pressed from grapes, when upon the

wine press of the Cross Thou didst tread alone (Isa 63:3), and when Thy side was pierced with a

soldier’s lance, thou didst give us blood and water to drink which issued forth until there was not

left in Thy Body a single drop. Then at last, like a bundle of Myrrh lifted to the top of the Cross,

Thy delicate Flesh was destroyed, the very Substance of Thy Body withered, and the Marrow of

Thy Bones dried up.

Through Thy most bitter Passion and though the outpouring of Thy Precious Blood, I beg of

Thee, oh Sweet Jesus, to receive my soul in the agony of my death. Amen.



O Holy God,

O Holy Strong One.

O Holy Immortal One.

Have mercy upon us.

Orison:

O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, accept this prayer in that excellent love of Thine in

which Thou sustained all Thy wounds in Thy most hold Body and have mercy upon me, Thy

servant, upon all sinners, and upon all the faithful, whether living or dead. Grant mercy, grace,

remission and eternal life. Amen.

36.

Conclusion of the Office:

V: O Saviour of the world, who by thy Cross and Precious Blood hast redeemed us.


Office of

Vespers of the Passion Vespers, the Office of eventide. The sun has set or is setting, and the world begins to quiet down. On the holy hill of

Calvary, our Blessed Lord Jesus has expired. He has fulfilled this portion of His earthly mission. His followers know

that this is a day before the high holy day, and by Jewish law, must remove our departed Lord’s body from the

Cross. They have no time to ponder the events of the day. There will be time for that later. There is still much that

needs to be done. One of the disciples or followers must go to the governor to get permission to claim Jesus’s body.

A sense of urgency prevails.

Night Over Golgotha – 1869

Vasily Vereshchagin

V: We adore thee O Christ, and we bless (+) Thee.

R: Because by Thy Holy Cross Thou hast redeemed the world.

Antiphon:

Thou shalt not leave my soul in hell. Neither shalt thou suffer thy Holy One to see corruption.

37.

Psalm 44

Verses 9 - 16

Thou has cast off and put us to shame; and goest not forth with our enemies.

Thou makest us to turn back from the enemy: and they which hate us spoil for themselves.

Thou hast given us like sheep appointed for meat; and hast scattered us among the heathen.

Thou sellest thy people for naught, and dost not increase thy wealth by their price.

Thou makest us a reproach to our neighbors, a scorn and derision to them that are round about

us.

Thou makest us a byword among the heathen, a shaking of the head among the people.

My confusion is continually before me, and the shame of my face hath covered me.

For the voice of him that reproacheth and blasphemeth; by reason of the enemy and avenger.

Verses 21-26

Shall not God search this out? For he knoweth the secrets of the heart.

Yea, for thy sake are we killed all the day long; we are counted like sheep for the slaughter.

Awake, why sleepest thou O Lord? Arise, cast us not off forever.

Wherefore hidest thou thy face, and forgettest our affliction and our oppression?

For our soul is bowed down to the dust; our belly cleaveth unto the earth.

Arise for our help, and redeem us for thy mercies’ sake.

Antiphon:

Thou shalt not leave my soul in Hell. Neither shall thou suffer thy Holy One to see corruption.

Reading: St. John Chap. 19, Vss. 31 – 37:

The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain

upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day), besought Pilate that

their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. Then came the soldiers, and brake

the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him. But when they came to Jesus,

and saw he was dead already, they brake not his legs: But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced

his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water. And he that saw it bare record, and his

38.

record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe. For these things were

done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken. And again another

scripture saith, They shall look on him whom they pierced.

Meditation:

When we see our dear dead Lord Jesus Christ’s form hanging upon the cross, so white and

wasted, and realize that it was for us He suffered and died in this manner, then can we

understand the sinfulness of sin, and how we should detest especially those sins of our own

making? Can we also see how ungrateful, and how unloving even the smallest of our sins are?

Surely, “No greater love hath no man than to lay down his life for his friends.” (St. John; Chap.

15, Vs. 13). He laid down His life for all mankind . . . even His enemies, who strove so often

against His Spirit. He has done this for us, and now, “what reward shall I give unto the Lord for

all the benefits He hath done unto me?” (Psalm 116; Vs. 11) Can we do no less in return than to

give our lives up for Him? But, He doesn’t ask us to give ourselves up as He did in His

martyrdom, but only desires us to dedicate our lives to Him in our thoughts, words, and deeds of

love. This we can do . . . if we want to.

______________________________________________________________________________

Reading: St. John; Chap. 19, Vss. 38 – 42:

And after this Joseph of Aramathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the

Jews besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He

came therefore and took the body of Jesus. And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first

came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound

weight. Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the

manner of the Jews is to bury. Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and

in the garden a new sepulcher, wherein was never a man yet laid. There laid they Jesus therefore

because of the Jews’ preparation day; for the sepulchre was nigh at hand.

39.

Meditation:

What power lay in the death of our Lord to draw all mankind unto Him! Those who

in the days of His power and popularity were His disciples, “but secretly fear fear of the Jews,”

( St. John; Chap.19, Vs. 38), now went boldly to Pilate to claim His body, and therefore

identifying themselves to the Romans as Christ’s followers. Such is the power that comes from

humble resignation to God’s Will. We too, can posses this power, but we can only receive it by a

loving surrender of ourselves to the will of God. It begins with the dying of self, and then

abandonment to the Father.

Kyrie:



Lord have mercy upon us.

Pater Noster


Thy kingdom come, thy will de done, on earth as it is in heaven.



And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil Amen.

Ave Maria

Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with thee.

Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.



Orisons:

O LORD JESUS CHRIST, whose blessed body was tenderly taken down from the Cross, and

wrapt in fine and white linen: We pray thee, when our worldly affections have been done by thy

dying to death, to clothe us in the righteousness of thy saints: who livest and reignest with the

Father and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen.

ALMIGHTY GOD, whose servant St. Joseph of Arimathea went boldly to Pilate and besought

the body of Jesus: Grant us, according to thy Son’s own promise, to receive his most holy Body,

not unto burial and a tomb, but as the Living Bread that came down from heaven, and now

reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen.

40.

GATHER US, O Father of mercy, round the Body of thy dear Son, slain and still; that by such

proof and power of love we may be drawn into one living body of faith and praise, close to each

other, close to Him; who now liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, world

without end. Amen.

Conclusion of the Office:

V: O Saviour of the world, who by thy Cross and precious Blood hast redeemed us.

R: Save us, and help us, we humbly beseech thee O Lord.

Office of

Compline II of the Passion Compline, the final Office of this day, breaks the somber silence. Our Lord reposes in death in the newly hewn tomb

in the garden near Calvary. His followers, stricken with grief have departed to their homes and contemplate the

tumultuous events of the day, and will ponder as they lay on their beds, trying to recall just what He said about His

rising on the third day. Hope is in their hearts, but at this hour on this day, it’s difficult to hold on to.

V: We adore thee O Christ and we bless thee.


41.

Antiphon:

I will lay me down and in peace, take my rest.

Psalm 3:

Lord, how are they increased that trouble me, many are they that rise against me.

Many there be that say of my soul, there is no help for him in his God.

But thou, O Lord, art my defender; thou art my worship, and the lifter up of my head.

I did call upon the Lord with my voice, and he heard me out of the holy hill.

I laid me down and slept and rose up again; for the Lord sustained me.

I will not be afraid for ten thousands of the people, that have set themselves against me round

about.

Salvation belongeth to the Lord; and thy blessing is upon thy people.

Antiphon:

I will lay me down in peace, and take my rest.

Reading: St. Matthew; Chap. 27; Vss 59 & 60:

And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and laid it

in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock; and he rolled a great stone to the door

of the sepulchre, and departed.

Meditation:

Where was our Lord’s soul when His Body lay in the tomb? St. Peter tells us “He

went and preached to the spirits in prison.” (I St. Peter; Chap. 3, Vss. 19-20), declaring unto the

patriarchs and prophets the day of their redemption. What a day that must have been in the abode

of the shades when the Lord from Heaven had “broken the gates of brass and smitten the bars of

iron asunder!” (Psalm 107: Vs. 16). This work, begun on Holy Saturday, He leaves for us to

continue. There are now holy souls waiting to be purified. In honor of our Lord’s descent into

hell*, pray to-day that with the Easter dawn some poor soul the no one has ever prayed for may

be brought forth into the glory of the Beatific Vision.

The Kyrie




* Apostle’s Creed.

42.

Pater Noster






Orison:

O LORD JESUS CHRIST, God humbled in the flesh, lowered from thy throne to an earthly

sepulchre: From all our low estate, from the graves of failure and sin, lift us up, we beseech thee,

to our heavenly inheritance; who art Man received unto glory, and reignest in the unity of the

Father and the Holy Spirit, world without end. Amen.

NOW unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own Blood, to Him be glory,

power, and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Concluding Verse:

May the Lord grant us a quiet night, and a peaceful (+) death. Amen.

PAX

43.

Sources Used in the compilation of this devotional:

Books:

A Procession of Passion Prayers – E. Milner White – 1952

The Office of Holy Week and Paschal Triduum – Benziger Bros. 1911

The Holy Bible & 1928 Book of Common Prayer – Preservation Press

The Anglican Breviary – Reprint of Frank Gavin Liturgical Foundation issue by R.R. Donnelley &

Sons – Chicago - 1998

The Holy Bible – Translation from the Latin Vulgate – Fr. Ronald Knox – Sheed and Ward - 1956

The Stations of the Cross – Fr. Herbert Thurston, S.J. – Burns & Oates, London – 1906

The Sarum Missal in English – Translated by Frederick E. Warren – De La More Press, London -1911

The Old Sarum Missal – Trans. By Fr. Aiden Keller – St. Hilarion Press - 1998

The Myroure of Oure Ladye - from origional 1539 text – Translated by Henry Blount – Early English

Text Society - Reprint of 1873 edition.

Devotional Pamphlets & Tracts:

Forty Days with Jesus – The Leaflet Missal Company – 1982

The Passion of the King: Meditations for Lent – Fr. Hughson, O.H.C. Holy Cross Publications – 1955

The Way of the Cross – Compiled from Biblical and Liturgical Texts – Forward Movement Publications

The Way of the Cross by St. Alphonsus Ligouri – Catholic Book Company – 1960

FOR PERSONAL DEVOTIONAL USE ONLY

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