Jesus Christ Crucified (I) - Prayer
Jesus Christ, my crucified Lord, Son of the Blessed Virgin Mary, open your ears and hear me, as you listened to the Father on Mount Tabor.
Jesus Christ, my crucified Lord, Son of the Blessed Virgin Mary, open your eyes and look upon me, as from the Cross you looked upon your beloved Mother, afflicted with sorrow.
Jesus Christ, my crucified Lord, Son of the Blessed Virgin Mary, open your mouth and speak to me, as you spoke to Saint John when you gave him your Mother as his own.
Jesus Christ, my crucified Lord, Son of the Blessed Virgin Mary, open your sacred arms and embrace me, as you opened them upon the wood of the Cross to embrace all humanity.
Jesus Christ, my crucified Lord, Son of the Blessed Virgin Mary, open your Heart, receive mine, and grant what I ask of you, if it is your will.
Prayer to Christ Crucified (II)
It is not the heaven you have promised me, my God,
that moves me to love you;
nor is it the hell I fear so greatly
that moves me to cease offending you.
You move me, Lord.
I am moved by seeing you
nailed to a cross and mocked.
I am moved by seeing your wounded body,
by your suffering and your death.
You move me, Lord, in such a way
that even if there were no heaven, I would love you,
and even if there were no hell, I would revere you.
You need give me nothing for me to love you,
for even if I did not hope for what I hope from you,
I would still love you just as I do.
Prayer to Jesus Christ Crucified on Calvary
This evening, Christ of Calvary,
I came to plead for my suffering body;
but when I see you, my eyes move
from your body to mine in shame.
How can I complain of my tired feet
when I see yours torn apart?
How can I show you my empty hands
when yours are filled with wounds?
How can I tell you of my loneliness
when you hang alone upon the Cross?
How can I say that I have no love
when your Heart has been torn open?
Now I remember nothing else;
all my troubles have fled from me.
The urgent plea I brought with me
dies upon my pleading lips.
I ask only that I may ask for nothing,
that I may remain here beside your lifeless image
and slowly learn that suffering is
the holy key to your holy door. Amen.