A prayer to Jesus Christ, who suffered under Pontius Pilate and died upon the Cross for us sinners.
Prayer Before Jesus Christ Crucified
Look down upon me,
good and gentle Jesus,
while before your sight I humbly kneel
and, with the greatest desire of my soul,
pray and beg you to fix deep within my heart
lively sentiments of faith, hope, and charity,
true contrition for my sins,
and a firm purpose of amendment.
With deep affection and sorrow
I contemplate your five wounds,
having before my eyes the words
that David the prophet spoke concerning you:
"They have pierced my hands and my feet;
they have numbered all my bones."
Meditating before Christ crucified
Contemplating the cross means remembering Jesus' self-giving love, not seeking suffering for its own sake. Pray this on Good Friday, after confession, or whenever you need repentance and hope.
Read slowly and notice what calls for conversion. Ask forgiveness, give thanks for mercy, and identify a possible act of reparation. Faith can sustain physical or emotional suffering, but it does not replace needed medical or psychological care.