My Lord Jesus Christ,
Thou hast made this journey to die for me with love
unutterable,
and I have so many times unworthily abandoned Thee;
but now I love Thee with my whole heart,
and because I love Thee,
I repent sincerely for having ever offended Thee.
Pardon me, my God,
and permit me to accompany Thee on this journey.
Thou goest to die for love of me;
I wish also, my beloved Redeemer,
to die for love of Thee.
My Jesus, I will live and die
always united to Thee.
After the Stations, say:
5 Our Father…
5 Hail Mary…
5 Glory Be…
in honor of the Passion of Jesus Christ, and once for the intention of the holy Father.
Where did this prayer come from? Prayer before the Way of the Cross
The Prayer Before the Way of the Cross is a traditional prayer that is often used at the beginning of the Stations of the Cross.
The Stations of the Cross is a devotional practice that originated in the medieval period, and which involves meditating on the events leading up to Jesus’ crucifixion and death.
The Prayer Before the Way of the Cross is a way of preparing the participant for this spiritual journey of reflection and contemplation.
The prayer acknowledges the depth of human sin and the need for penance and conversion, while also placing hope and trust in God’s mercy and forgiveness.
The Prayer Before the Way of the Cross has been a part of Catholic tradition for many centuries, and its use remains widespread today.
The prayer has been adapted and translated into many different versions and languages, reflecting the diversity of Catholic spirituality around the world.
Over time, the prayer has become closely associated with the Stations of the Cross, and is often used as a way of opening the heart and mind to the transformative power of the sacred journey.
Overall, the history of the Prayer Before the Way of the Cross reflects the enduring importance of this spiritual practice in Catholic tradition, and the ongoing relevance of its message of repentance, forgiveness, and renewal.