Prayer for Each Day

Holy Week 3

Song

Psalm

I love the Lord, for the Lord has heard
the cry of my appeal.
The Lord was attentive to me
on the day when I called.

They surrounded me, the snares of death,
with the anguish of the tomb;
they caught me, sorrow and distress.
I called on the Lord’s name.

How gracious is the Lord, and just,
our God has compassion.
The Lord protects the simple hearts;
I was helpless so God saved me.

Turn back, my soul, to your rest
for the Lord has been good,
and has kept my soul from death,
my feet from stumbling.

I will walk in the presence of the Lord
in the land of the living.

Reading

I know that my Redeemer lives, and that at the last he will stand upon the earth; and after my skin has been thus destroyed, then in my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see on my side, and my eyes shall behold, and not another. My heart faints within me!

or

When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” And they cast lots to divide his clothing. And the people stood by, watching; but the leaders scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen one!” The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine, and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.” One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, “Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember when you come into your kingdom.” He replied, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, while the sun’s light failed; and the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” Having said this, he breathed his last.

Song

Silence

Intercessions

O Christ, your life was no triumph, you carried a cross; may we walk along the same road as you.

O Christ, by your suffering you learned faithfulness; you became a source of eternal salvation for the whole human race.

O Christ, when threatened you did not retaliate; enable us to forgive to the very end.

O Christ, you see the pain of those who are exiled and abandoned; take their suffering upon yourself.

O Christ, when lies and worries try to separate us from you, your Holy Spirit is always with us.

O Christ, you are the happiness of those who follow you: enable us to live by your trust.

O Christ, our life is hidden with you in God; that is a joy that touches the depths of the soul.

Our Father

Prayer

God of every human being, in a world where we are bewildered by the incomprehensible suffering of the innocent, how can we be witnesses to the Gospel? Enable us to manifest a reflection of the compassion of Christ by the lives that we live.

or

Strengthen us, Eternal God, and we will wait in silence and peace until the light of the Resurrection rises upon us.

or

Christ Jesus, you did not come to earth to judge the world but so that through you, the Risen Lord, every human being might be saved, reconciled. And when the love that forgives burns with a Gospel flame, the heart, even when beset by trials, can begin to live again.

Songs