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Praying the Passion of Jesus

The four prayers that follow are derived from two important feasts in the Passionist calendar: the Solemn Commemoration of the Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ and the feast of the Prayer of Jesus in the Garden. Both feasts occur a few days before Lent begins and call us to remember the wondrous Passion of Jesus Christ and keep it in mind through prayer.

Since the Passion of Jesus is a mystery never out of season, these prayers can be prayed any day of the year.

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REMEMBERING THE PASSION OF THE LORD

Morning Prayer

They brought him to the place of Golgotha (which is translated Place of the Skull). They gave him wine drugged with myrrh, but he did not take it. Then they crucified him and divided his garments by casting lots for them to see what each should take. It was nine o’clock in the morning* when they crucified him. The inscription of the charge against him read, “The King of the Jews.” With him they crucified two revolutionaries, one on his right and one on his left.

Those passing by reviled him, shaking their heads and saying, ¹ “Aha! You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself by coming down from the cross.” Likewise, the chief priests, with the scribes, mocked him among themselves and said, “He saved others; he cannot save himself. Let the Messiah, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross that we may see and believe.” Those who were crucified with him also kept abusing him.

At noon darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. And at three o’clock Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?”* which is translated, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Some of the bystanders who heard it said, “Look, he is calling Elijah.” One of them ran, soaked a sponge with wine, put it on a reed, and gave it to him to drink, saying, “Wait, let us see if Elijah comes to take him down.” Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last. The veil of the sanctuary was torn in two from top to bottom.

When the centurion who stood facing him saw how he breathed his last he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!” There were also women looking on from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of the younger James and of Joses, and Salome. These women had followed him when he was in Galilee and ministered to him. There were also many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem.” (Mark

Ant. 1 We will go up to the mountain of the Lord; he will teach us the wisdom of the cross.

Psalm 63:2-9

O God, you are my God, for you I long;
for you my soul is thirsting.
My body pines for you
like a dry, weary land without water.
So I gaze on you in the sanctuary
to see your strength and your glory.
For your love is better than life,
my lips will speak your praise.
So I will bless you all my life,
in your name I will lift up my hands.
My soul shall be filled as with a banquet,
my mouth shall praise you with joy.
On my bed I remember you.
On you I muse through the night
for you have been my help;
in the shadow of your wings I rejoice.
My soul clings to you;
your right hand holds me fast.
Glory be to the Father…

Ant. 2 Let us bless our God; it is he who gives us life again.

Canticle Daniel 3:57-88,56

Bless the Lord, all you works of the Lord.
Praise and exalt him above all forever.
Angels of the Lord, bless the Lord.
You heavens, bless the Lord.
All you waters above the heavens, bless the Lord.
All you hosts of the Lord, bless the Lord.
Sun and moon, bless the Lord.
Stars of heaven, bless the Lord.
Every shower and dew, bless the Lord.
All you winds, bless the Lord.
Fire and heat, bless the Lord.
Dew and rain, bless the Lord.
Frost and chill, bless the Lord.
Ice and snow, bless the Lord.
Nights and days, bless the Lord.
Light and darkness, bless the Lord.
Lightnings and clouds, bless the Lord.
Let the earth bless the Lord.
Praise and exalt him above all forever.
Mountains and hills, bless the Lord.
Everything growing from the earth, bless the Lord.
You springs, bless the Lord.
Seas and rivers, bless the Lord.
You dolphins and all water creatures, bless the Lord.
All you birds of the air, bless the Lord.
All you beasts, wild and tame, bless the Lord.
You sons of men, bless the Lord.
0 Israel, bless the Lord.
Praise and exalt him above all forever.
Priests of the Lord, bless the Lord.
Servants of the Lord, bless the Lord.
Spirits and souls of the just, bless the Lord.
Holy men of humble heart, bless the Lord.
Hananiah, Azariah, Mishael, bless the Lord.
Praise and exalt him above all forever.
Let us bless the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Let us praise and exalt him above all forever.
Blessed are you, Lord, in the firmament of heaven.
Praiseworthy and glorious and exalted above all forever.

Ant. 3 Jesus Christ loves us; he washes away our sins with his blood.

Psalm 149

Sing a new song to the Lord,
his praise in the assembly of the faithful.
Let Israel rejoice in its maker,
let Zion’s sons exult in their king.
Let them praise his name with dancing
and make music with timbrel and harp..
For the Lord takes delight in his people.
He crowns the poor with salvation.
Let the faithful rejoice in their glory,
shout for joy and take their rest.
Let the praise of God be on their lips
and a two-edged sword in their hand,
to deal out vengeance to the nations
and punishment on all the peoples;
to bind their kings in chains
and their nobles in fetters of iron;
to carry out the sentence pre-ordained;
this honor is for all his faithful.
Glory be to the Father….

READING 1Corinthians 1:22-25

While the Jews demand miracles and the Greeks look for wisdom, here are we preaching a crucified Christ; to the Jews an obstacle that they cannot get over, to the pagans madness, but to those who have been called, whether they are Jews or Greeks, a Christ who is the power and the wisdom of God. For God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.

RESPONSORY

Jesus humbled himself, obediently accepting death.
– Jesus humbled himself, obediently accepting death.
Death on a cross.
– He obediently accepted death.
Glory to the Father .. .
– Jesus humbled himself .. .

CANTICLE OF ZECHARIAH

Ant. Tell me, you who pass by, is there any suffering like mine.

INTERCESSIONS

With deep love let us adore Christ on the cross, our Redeemer and protector,
and let us ask him;
You who suffered for us, hear us!

Lord, our Teacher, out of obedience you died for us,
– teach us to imitate your ready obedience to the will of your Father.
Lord, our Life, by dying on the cross, you defeated death and hell,
– let us share your death and enter into your victory.
Jesus, our King, you became an outcast for us and were treated like a worm,
– help us to learn the humility that leads to holinessJesus, our deliverer, yolife for the
Jesus, our delivery, you gave your life for us,
–grant that we may show the same love for one another.
Jesus, our Savior, you stretched out your arms on the cross to embrace all creation,
– gather into your kingdom all you have made.

Our Father….

Prayer

All-powerful and ever-living God, in obedience to your will,
our Savior took human flesh and died upon the cross
and so became for us
the great example of humility.
As we honor his passion,
help us to be united with him
in his suffering,
so that we may be one with him
in the glory of his resurrection.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.

REMEMBERING THE PASSION OF THE LORD
Evening Prayer

Ant. 1 God so loved the world that he gave his only Son.

Psalm 113

Praise, 0 servants of the Lord,
praise the name of the Lord!
May the name of the Lord be blessed
both now and for evermore!
From the rising of the sun to its setting
praised be the name of the Lord!
High above all nations is the Lord,
above the heavens his glory.
Who is like the Lord, our God,
who has risen on high to his throne
yet stoops from the heights to look down,
to look down upon heaven and earth?
From the dust he lifts up the lowly,
from his misery he raises the poor
to set him in the company of princes,
yes, with the princes of his people.
To the childless wife he gives a home
and gladdens her heart with children.
Glory to the Father…

Ant.2 God did not spare his own Son but gave him up to die for us.

Psalm 146

My soul, give praise to the Lord;
I will praise the Lord all my days,
make music to my God while I live.
Put no trust in princes,
in mortal men in whom there is no help.
Take their breath, they return to clay
and their plans that day come to nothing.
He is happy who is helped by Jacob’s God,
whose hope is in the Lord his God,
who alone made heaven and earth,
the seas and all they contain.
It is he who keeps faith for ever,
who is just to those who are oppressed.
It is he who gives bread to the hungry,
the Lord, who sets prisoners free,
the Lord who gives sight to the blind,
who raises up those who are bowed down,
the Lord. who protects the stranger
and upholds the widow and orphan.
It is the Lord who loves the just
but thwarts the path of the wicked.
The Lord will reign for ever,
Zion’s God, from age to age.
Glory to the Father…

Ant. 3 The Son of Man came to serve and to give his life as a ransom for us all.

Canticle Philippians 2:6-11

Though he was in the form of.God,
Jesus did not deem equality with God something to be grasped at.
Rather, he emptied himself and took the form of a slave,
Being born in the likeness of men,
He was known to be of human estate, and it was thus that he humbled himself,
obediently accepting even death,
death on a cross!
Because of this,
God highly exalted him
and bestowed on him the name above every other name,
so that at Jesus’ name
every knee must bend
in the heavens, on the earth, and under the earth,
and every tongue proclaim
to the glory of God the Father: JESUS CHRIST IS LORD!
Glory to the Father…

READING

All you who fear God, this message of salvation is meant for you. What the people of Jerusalem and their rulers did, though they did not realize it, was in fact to fulfill the prophecies read on every sabbath. Though they found nothing to justify his death, they condemned him and asked Pilate to have him executed. When they had carried out everything that scripture foretells about him they took him down from the tree and buried him in a tomb. But God raised him from the dead.

RESPONSORY

Christ, Son of the living God, have mercy on us.
– Christ, Son of the living God, have mercy on us.
You died for our sins, – have mercy on us.
Glory to the Father .. .
– Christ, Son of the living God, have mercy on us.

CANTICLE OF MARY
Ant. Let us take pride in nothing but the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is our salvation, life and resurrection. He has rescued us and set us free.

INTERCESSIONS

Christ the Lord died on the cross for us and brought us new life. Let us give thanks to him and ask:
Lord, give us life through your passion.
Lord Jesus, you humbled yourself, becoming obedient even to death on a cross,
– grant that we may imitate you in fulfilling the Father’s will.
Lord Jesus, you experienced untold sufferings in your passion,
– grant that in our sufferings we may share your spirit and strength.
Lord Jesus, on your cross you begged your Father to forgive those who crucified you,
– help us to forgive and pray for those who offend us.
Lord Jesus, as you hung on the cross, you permitted a soldier to open your side with a lance,
– heal the wounds of sin in us.
Lord Jesus, you are acclaimed by all in the kingdom of our Father,
– welcome our deceased brothers and sisters into your unending joy.

Our Father…

Prayer

God of compassion,
Creator and Redeemer of all,
you sent your only Son into this world to die that we might live,
and to restore us to your friendship, lost by the sin of Adam.
Keep before our eyes
the mystery of Christ crucified,
so that we may preach to the world
the redeeming love of your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen

PRAYER TO OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST IN THE GARDEN

Morning Prayer

Come, let us adore Jesus Christ praying in the garden.

Then going out Jesus went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. When he arrived at the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not undergo the test.” After withdrawing about a stone’s throw from them and kneeling, he prayed, saying, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me; still, not my will but yours be done.”
And to strengthen him an angel from heaven appeared to him. He was in such agony and he prayed so fervent that his sweat became like drops of blood falling on the ground.

When he rose from prayer and returned to his disciples, he found them sleeping from grief. He said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you may not undergo the test.” Luke 22,39-46
Ant. 1 When Jesus arrived at Gethsemane, he said to his disciples: Stay here while I go over there and pray

Psalm 63:2-9

0 God, you are my God, for you I long;
for you my soul is thirsting.
My body pines for you
like a dry, weary land without water.
So I gaze on you in the sanctuary
to see your strength and your glory.
For your love is better than life,
my lips will speak your praise.
So I will bless you all my life,
in your name I will lift up my hands.
My soul shall be filled as with a banquet,
my mouth shall praise you with joy.
On my bed I remember you.
On you I muse through the night
for you have been my help;
in the shadow of your wings I rejoice.
My soul clings to you;
your right hand holds me fast.
Glory be the the Father….

Ant. 2 My heart is nearly broken with sorrow. Remain here and stay awake with me.

Canticle Daniel 3:57-88,56

Ant. 3 My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass me by; but let it be as you, not I, would have it.

Psalm 149

Sing a new song to the Lord,
his praise in the assembly of the faithful.
Let Israel rejoice in its maker,
let Zion’s sons exult in their king.
Let them praise his name with dancing and make music with timbrel and harp..
For the Lord takes delight in his people.
He crowns the poor with salvation.
Let the faithful rejoice in their glory,
shout for joy and take their rest.
Let the praise of God be on their lips and a two-edged sword in their hand,
to deal out vengeance to the nations and punishment on all the peoples;
to bind their kings in chains
and their nobles in fetters of iron;
to carry out the sentence pre-ordained;
this honor is for all his faithful.
Glory be to the Father….

READING Hebrews 5:6-8
During his life on earth, Christ, the eternal High Priest according to the order of Melchizedek, offered up prayer and entreaty, aloud and in silent tears, to the one who had the power to save him out of death, and he submitted so humbly that his prayer was heard.

RESPONSORY

If this cup cannot pass me by without my drinking it, your will be done.
– If this cup cannot pass me by without my drinking it, your will be done.

Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass me by. – Your will be done.

Glory to the Father . – If this cup cannot…

CANTICLE OF ZECHARIAH

Ant. When Jesus came to the disciples and found them sleeping, he said to them: Could you not stay awake with me even for an hour? Be on guard and pray, that you may not fail in time of temptation.

INTERCESSIONS

Lord Jesus, you taught us to watch and pray, lest we be overcome by temptation. We confidently ask you:
– Lord, share with us your own spirit of prayer.
By your prayer in the garden, you prepared for your passion and death
– help us, your disciples, to be one with God in every event in life.
In the garden, you persevered in prayer even when distressed to the sweating of blood,
– grant that, by prayer, we may live with God despite all that distracts us.
In the garden, you were sad of heart and anxious in spirit,
– may we, by constant meditation on your passion, share the sentiments of your soul.
In the garden, you were disconsolate when the apostles left you alone in your agony,
– inspire us to be your companions as we share your cross.

Our Father .. .

Prayer

Lord our God,
in his agony in the garden,
your Son taught us by word and example how to pray in time of temptation.
Keep us always faithful to prayer,
that we may reap a rich harvest of grace.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

PRAYER TO OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST IN THE GARDEN

Evening Prayer

Ant.1 My complaint I pour out to the Lord; before
him I lay bare my distress.

Psalm 116:10-19

I trusted, even when I said:
“I am sorely afflicted,”
and when I said in my alarm: “No man can be trusted.”
How can I repay the Lord
for his goodness to me?
The cup of salvation I will raise;
I will call on the Lord’s name.
My vows to the Lord I will fulfill before all his people.
0 precious in the eyes of the Lord is the death of his faithful.
Your servant, Lord, your servant am I;
you have loosened my bonds.
A thanksgiving sacrifice,I make:
I will call on the Lord’s name.
My vows to the Lord I will fulfill before all his people,
in the courts of the house of the Lord,
in your midst, 0 Jerusalem.
Glory be to the Father…

Ant. 2 Pray always and never lose heart. All that you ask the Father in my name, he will give yo

Psalm 142

With all my voice I cry to the Lord,
with all my voice I entreat the Lord.
I pour out my trouble before him;
I tell him all my distress
while my spirit faints within me.
But you, 0 Lord, know my path.
On the way where I shall walk
they have hidden a snare to entrap me.
Look on my right and see:
there is not one who takes my part.
I have no means of escape,
not one who cares for my soul.
I cry to you, 0 Lord.
I have said: “You are my refuge,
all I have left in the land of the living.”
Listen then to my cry
for I am in the depths of distress.
Rescue me from those who pursue me
for they are stronger than I.
Bring my soul out of this prison
and then I shall praise your name.
Around me the just will assemble
because of your goodness to me.
Glory to the Father…

Ant. 3 Jesus came again and found the disciples sleeping. Then he went out and prayed a third time, saying the same words.

Canticle 1 Peter 2:21-24

Christ suffered for you,
and left you an example
to have you follow in his footsteps.
He did no wrong;
no deceit was found in his mouth. When he was insulted
he returned no insult.
When he was made to suffer, he did not counter with threats. Instead he delivered himself up to the One who judges justly.
In his own body
he brought your sins to the cross, so that all of us, dead to sin,
could live in accord with God’s will.
By his wounds you were healed.

READING Ephesians 6:11, 17-18

Put God’s armor on so as to be able to resist the devil’s tactics. And then you must accept salvation from God to be your helmet and receive the word of God from the Spirit to use as a sword. Pray all the time, asking for what you need, praying in the Spirit on every possible occasion. Never get tired of staying awake to pray for all the saints.

RESPONSORY

Give thanks to the Lord for everything; never cease praying.
– Give thanks to the Lord for everything; never cease praying. ·
This is the will of God in Christ Jesus;
– never cease praying.
Glory to the Father .
– Give thanks to…

CANTICLE OF MARY

Ant. In his anguish he prayed even more earnestly, and his sweat became like drops of blood falling to the ground.

INTERCESSIONS

With confidence, we call upon Christ who urged us to watch and pray lest we fail in time of temptation:
Lord, mercifully hear us.
Lord, at your Father’s request, you gladly drank the cup of your passion;
– create in us a like thirst to do the Father’s will.
You promised to be always with those gathered in your name,
– grant that all peoples may live together in the one fold of the Church.
You prayed for sinners and laid down your life for them,
– inflame us with a similar zeal for souls.
By your death and resurrection you restored to us the life we had lost,
– receive all our departed ones into the joy of your eternal kingdom.

Our Father .. .

Prayer,

Lord our God,
in his agony in the garden,
your Son taught us by word and example
how to pray in time of temptation.
Keep us always faithful to prayer,
that we may reap a rich harvest of grace.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Praying the Passion of Jesus