Lord God Almighty, Who rides the heavens to help man, Who in His excellency rules the nations, and in His mercy and love, sent His only begotten Son to come to earth, suffer and die for man, I come before You, this holy and fearsome day, bowing before the mystery of the Cross of Calvary, and praying that You have mercy upon me, deliver me, and pardon and redeem in me what is lost in me. O Holy One, veiled in suffering and crowned with thorns, on this sacred Friday, I fall silent beneath the shadow of Your Cross; in wonder, tears, and praise – praying You crown me with Your boundless grace; let the shadow of Calvary cover me; and Lord, remove every thorn in my flesh, every hidden torment that presses upon my mind and soul; and remove the crown of challenges on my head. Jesus, Lamb of God, You carried what I could not; You bore the crushing weight of sin —mine and all humanity’s, You were pierced for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquities, and by Your wounds, we are healed – so Lord Jesus carry, not just lighten, my burden; heal me of all diseases; and make me whole in You. Lord God, Who thunders through the skies in majesty, yet stooped in mercy to redeem dust, let me sit in Calvary’s silence and stare into its mystery; let me feel the tremble of earth, the tearing of the veil, and the stillness of heaven as the Lamb was slain – so the blessings of this day may be fully upon me. O Christ, keep me at the foot of Your Cross, so pride dies in me, and love is born in my heart; and let Your mercy write a new covenant over me. Lord Jesus, O hope of every contrite heart, O joy of all the meek, let this death be my death, that Your resurrection may be my life; as You descend to hell, take with You to the void of life all that ails, hampers, hinders or disturbs me, known and unknown; bury my shame and all my striving there in hades. Lord Jesus, let Your blood cover me; let Your words remake me; and let Your sacrifice possess me. I ask these penitently. Amen.
Apr
