RITUAL OF THE BLESSING WITH THE HOLY CROSS

IN MEMORY OF THE DEATH OF THE SAVIOR

This procession takes place every Friday evening during Lent and every evening during Holy Week. Upon the altar there is a cross covered with a black veil and two or three candles at each side. The priest and two altar boys enter carrying the censer. They and the people kneel. The priest incenses the Cross.

                                                                                     The choir sings:    click here for hymns  (Window Media Player^©)     

O MY PEOPLE,O MY FRIENDS,WHERE IS YOUR PLEDGE OF FAITH?  WHERE IS YOUR LOYALTY TOWARDS LOVE, AFFECTION AND GRATITUDE? LIKE A KILLER AND ENEMY YOU EXPOSED ME TO INSULT!  AND BETWEEN TWO THIEVES, NAKED, YOU CRUCIFIED ME. TELL ME, WHAT DID I DO TO DESERVE SUCH A PUNISHMENT?  TELL ME, WHO IS THE PROSECUTOR AND WHAT IS THE CHARGE?  DON'T YOU REMEMBER THE FAVORS?  DON'T YOU REMEMBER MY GENEROSITY?  HOW MANY SICK; HOW MANY CRIPPLED HAS MY CONCERN CURED? O YOU WHO LOOK AT MY DISTRESS, O YOU WHO SEE MY AFFLICTION, O YOU WHO HEAR MY LAMENTATION AND MY MOTHER'S SIGHING HAVE YOU EVER FOUND ANYONE WHO EXPERIENCED MY OPPRESSION ANYONE WHO DRANK OF MY CUP AND TASTED OF ITS BITTERNESS? O MARIAM, MY MOTHER, YOUR SOBBING ADDS TO MY TEARS.  HAVE PITY ON ME! BE STILL!  LEAVE ME!  GO AWAY!  O MY FATHER, WHY DO YOU KEEP ME IN MY AGONY?  MY SIGHS ARE CHOKING ME, AND MY BONES ARE CRUSHED.

 

The priest says the following five Acts and after each, he and the people pray, Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be, etc.:  

ACT OF FAITH

O, Our Lord Jesus Christ, we firmly believe in you and in all the beliefs and teachings of Our Mother, the Holy church, because you have revealed them to Her, Who can neither deceive nor be deceived.
We ask you, through your love to your Blessed Mother, the Virgin Mary, your Chosen and Righteous, St. Joseph, and through the Wound of your LEFT FOOT, to grant us to live and die with your grace. Amen.

ACT OF ADORATION AND THANKSGIVING

O, Our Lord, Jesus Christ, We believe in you and we adore you, for you are our God, our Redeemer, and our Supreme Judge.  While bowing before your Divine Majesty, we offer you thanks for all the graces which you already granted and will grant us later.
We ask you, through your love to your Blessed Mother, the Virgin mary, your chosen and Righteous, St. Joseph, and through the wound of your RIGHT FOOT, to grant us to live and die with your graces. Amen.

ACT OF HOPE

O, Our Lord Jesus Christ, we place our hope in you: help and guide us in this our life, forgive our faults and make us the inheritors of Your everlasting paradise, for all our hope is based upon Your boundless mercy and incomparable goodness.
We ask you, through your love to your Blessed Mother, the Virgin Mary, Your Chosen and Righteous, St. Joseph, and through the Wound of your LEFT HAND, to grant us to live and die with your grace. Amen.

ACT OF SUBMISSION

O, Our Lord Jesus Christ, we submit ourselves to Your Divine and trusting will and willingly accept from Your hand sickness, tribulations and death at the moment and in the manner You choose it. O beloved Jesus, we desire only to accomplish Your holy will, now in all places and at all times.
We ask you, through your love to your Blessed Mother, the Virgin Mary, your Chosen and Righteous, St. Joseph, and through the Wound of your RIGHT HAND, to grant us to live and die with your grace. Amen.

ACT OF CONTRITION AND LOVE

O, Our Lord, Jesus Christ, from the bottom of our hearts, we are sorry, for in our wrong-doings, we offended you, deserved the temporal and eternal punishments, and we lost the happiness of your heavenly kingdom. We are especially sorry because we offended your Fatherly love. You who are the good God and Who deserves all the love of his humble creatures.  We permanently resolve that we will offend you no more, even to accept death one thousand times rather than commit one serious sin.
We ask you, through your love to your Blessed Mother, the Virgin Mary, Your Chosen and Righteous, St. Joseph, and through the Wound of your PURE SIDE, to grant us to live and die with your grace. Amen.