This is a prayer which is said while kneeling before a
crucifix. It is often said after Communion or after Mass.
Look
down upon me, good and gentle Jesus
The Crucifix is an important image used in the Catholic Church as it reminds us of the sacrifice Jesus made because of his love for us. We pray that we too may be willing to take up our crosses daily and put the will of God and the needs of others before our own, just as Jesus did.
CCC 618
The cross is the unique sacrifice of Christ, the "one mediator between God and men". But because in his incarnate divine person he has in some way united himself to every man, "the possibility of being made partners, in a way known to God, in the paschal mystery" is offered to all men. He calls his disciples to "take up [their] cross and follow [him]", for "Christ also suffered for [us], leaving [us] an example so that [we] should follow in his steps." In fact Jesus desires to associate with his redeeming sacrifice those who were to be its first beneficiaries. This is achieved supremely in the case of his mother, who was associated more intimately than any other person in the mystery of his redemptive suffering.
 |
| A crucifix at St Thomas More's |
while
before Your face I humbly kneel and,
with
burning soul,
pray
and beseech You
to
fix deep in my heart lively sentiments
of
faith, hope, and charity;
true
contrition for my sins,
and
a firm purpose of amendment.
While
I contemplate,
with
great love and tender pity,
Your
five most precious wounds,
pondering
over them within me
and
calling to mind the words which David,
Your
prophet, said to You, my Jesus:
"They
have pierced My hands and My feet,
they
have numbered all My bones."
The Crucifix is an important image used in the Catholic Church as it reminds us of the sacrifice Jesus made because of his love for us. We pray that we too may be willing to take up our crosses daily and put the will of God and the needs of others before our own, just as Jesus did.
 |
| Messages from children attending Children's Liturgy at the Cathedral, 2012 |
The cross is the unique sacrifice of Christ, the "one mediator between God and men". But because in his incarnate divine person he has in some way united himself to every man, "the possibility of being made partners, in a way known to God, in the paschal mystery" is offered to all men. He calls his disciples to "take up [their] cross and follow [him]", for "Christ also suffered for [us], leaving [us] an example so that [we] should follow in his steps." In fact Jesus desires to associate with his redeeming sacrifice those who were to be its first beneficiaries. This is achieved supremely in the case of his mother, who was associated more intimately than any other person in the mystery of his redemptive suffering.
- Apart from the cross there is no other ladder by which we may get to heaven
- .
