O Jesus,
it is not the heavenly reward You have promised
which impels me to love You;
neither is it the threat of hell
that keeps me from offending You.
It is You O Lord,
it is the sight of You
affixed to the Cross and suffering insults;
it is the sight of Your broken body,
as well as Your pains and Your death.
There is nothing You can give me
to make me love You.
For even if there were no heaven and no hell
I would still love you as I do!
The background of Good Friday Prayer of Love for the Crucified Lord
The Good Friday Prayer of Love for the Crucified Lord is a relatively recent addition to the Catholic liturgy.
It was composed by St. Padre Pio, an Italian Catholic priest and mystic, in the early 20th century.
The prayer is a deeply personal expression of St. Padre Pio’s love for Jesus Christ and his passion for the salvation of souls.
St. Padre Pio’s Good Friday Prayer of Love for the Crucified Lord was first published in Italian in 1914, and has since been translated into many languages, including English.
The prayer invites Catholics to meditate on the suffering and sacrifice of Jesus Christ, and to offer their own suffering and sacrifice to him in love and gratitude.
In recent years, the prayer has gained popularity among Catholics around the world, who recite it during their personal prayer time and during Good Friday liturgies.
In 2008, Pope Benedict XVI approved the use of the Good Friday Prayer of Love for the Crucified Lord during the liturgy of Good Friday in all Latin rite churches.
Overall, the Good Friday Prayer of Love for the Crucified Lord is a powerful reminder of the love and sacrifice of Jesus Christ, and an inspiration for Catholics to offer their own lives in service to him.