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The Annual Devotion of Saint Bridget

Saint Bridget long begged the Lord to make known to her how many blows He received during the time of His sorrowful Passion. One day the Savior appeared to her and said: "My body received 5,480 blows. If you wish to show Me special honor for them, then pray every day for one year fifteen Our Fathers and fifteen Hail Marys. To these add also the prayers which I shall teach you. After the year has passed, you will thus have honored each wound from those 5,480 blows." Then the Savior said to her: "Whoever performs this yearly devotion will save fifteen souls of his relatives from purgatory, fifteen souls of his kindred will obtain the gift of persevering in sanctifying grace, and fifteen sinners will be converted to a life of penance. The very person who prays these prayers will attain the first degree of perfection. Fifteen days before death I will give him My most pure Body, that he may be saved from eternal hunger, and My most pure Blood, that I may save his soul from eternal thirst. Before death I will visit him with My beloved Mother and lead him, enriched with graces, into eternal joy. There he will receive the gift of a special knowledge of My Divinity, unknown to those who do not perform these prayers. If anyone, even though he has lived in mortal sin for thirty years, devoutly performs this devotion or resolves to perform it, his sins will be forgiven, the power of God will protect him from evil temptations and from eternal damnation. And everything for which he asks God or the Most Holy Virgin Mary, the Divine Mercy will grant him. Whoever will teach these prayers also to others, his joy and merits will endure forever! In the place where these prayers are prayed, the Lord God is present with His grace." All the benefits mentioned were promised to Saint Bridget by the crucified Divine Savior Himself. The crucifix before which this happened is still found today in the Church of Saint Paul in Rome and is held in extraordinary veneration. If at all possible, this devotion should not be omitted even for a single day. If, however, serious obstacles make it impossible to say these prayers, the person concerned will not lose the graces connected with this devotion if, during that year, he later prays the omitted prayers.

Choose day

Day 1

The Devotion of Saint Bridget

1. Christ’s Suffering on the Mount of Olives up to the Crowning with Thorns
Our Father; Hail Mary.

O Jesus! Thou art the eternal fragrance of all who love Thee; Thou art the joy that surpasseth all joys; Thou art the desire, salvation, and hope of every sinner. By taking on human nature, Thou didst show us that it is Thy ardent desire, out of love for us, to dwell among men until the end of all ages. Remember all the suffering which Thou didst endure from the moment when Thou becamest man, but especially during Thy holy, sorrowful Passion, as the divine plan had ordained before all ages. Remember the Last Supper with Thy disciples, to whom Thou didst wash the feet, didst give Thy most holy Body and most holy Blood, didst speak to them of Thy coming Passion, and didst grant them consolation. Remember Thy sorrow and bitterness at the moment when Thou Thyself didst confess: “My soul is sorrowful even unto death.” Think upon the afflictions and anguish which Thou didst suffer in the flower of Thy youth before the Crucifixion, upon Judas’s betrayal, upon the betrayal of Thy people whom Thou hadst chosen and exalted, upon the false witnesses who accused Thee, and upon the three judges who condemned Thee. Remember the moments when they shamefully stripped Thee of Thy garments and clothed Thee in robes of disgrace and mockery. They bound Thee to the pillar, and from the blows Thy Body was torn. They pressed a crown of thorns upon Thy head, a reed into Thy hands, covered Thy face and eyes, struck Thee, buffeted Thee, and overwhelmed Thee with mockery and insults. Call to mind all the sorrow and suffering which Thou hadst to endure even before the Crucifixion. I beseech Thee, grant me before my death the grace of true contrition, a pure and complete confession, the grace of worthy satisfaction, and the forgiveness of my sins. Amen.

2. The Mocking and Humiliation of Christ
Our Father; Hail Mary.

O Jesus! Thou art the true joy of the angels and the paradise of all splendor. Remember the grief and sorrow which Thou didst suffer when Thy enemies, like wild lions, surrounded Thee and tormented Thee with thousands of insults, inflicted upon Thee many wounds by their blows, and spat in Thy face. In view of this suffering and these insulting words, I beseech Thee, my Savior, protect me from visible and invisible enemies, and under Thy protection lead me to perfection and to eternal salvation. Amen.

3. The Nailing of Christ to the Cross
Our Father; Hail Mary.

O Jesus, Creator of the world! Nothing in the world can restrain or confine Thee. By Thy power Thou holdest and unitest all things. Remember the tormenting pains which Thou didst suffer when Thy holy hands and feet were fastened to the Cross and nailed to its wood with blunt nails. Thy holy Body was not in a fitting position. In dull hatred, causing Thee new pains, with terrible fury they stretched Thee upon the Cross; they pulled and tore Thy limbs in every direction, thus increasing Thy suffering. I beseech Thee, in remembrance of Thy holy pains at the Crucifixion, grant me Thy grace. Amen.

4. Christ Prays for His Enemies
Our Father; Hail Mary.

O Jesus, heavenly Physician! Thou wast nailed to the Cross that by Thy wounds Thou mightest heal our wounds. Remember Thy weakened and wounded limbs, of which not one remained uninjured. No suffering can be compared with Thine. From head to foot, not even the smallest part of Thy holy Body remained unwounded. Yet Thou dost forgive all and dost pray to the heavenly Father for Thy enemies: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Appealing to Thy great mercy and suffering, I beseech Thee, grant me the grace that, in remembrance of Thy most grievous way of the Cross, I may make an act of perfect contrition and obtain the forgiveness of all my sins. Amen.

5. Christ’s Mercy Toward Sinners
Our Father; Hail Mary.

O Jesus! Thou art the mirror of eternal splendor. Remember the sorrow which Thou didst feel when, in the light of Thy Divinity, Thou didst see the great multitude of those who were to be saved through the merits of Thy suffering, Thy holy way of the Cross, yet through their sins are damned. Thou hadst deep compassion and pity also for these hopeless, damned unfortunates. Through Thy boundless compassion and mercy, but especially through the goodness which Thou didst show to the repentant criminal when Thou saidst to him: “This day thou shalt be with Me in paradise,” I beseech Thee, most loving Jesus, for mercy at the hour of my death. Amen.

6. Christ’s Testament on the Cross
Our Father; Hail Mary.

O Jesus! Thou art the most loving, long-awaited King. Remember Thy pains which Thou didst feel when they nailed Thee naked to the Cross as a criminal and all abandoned Thee except Thy most loving Mother. During Thy mortal struggle she suffered with Thee, and Thou didst entrust to her Thy beloved one with the words: “Behold thy son,” and to John: “Behold thy mother!” I beseech Thee, my Savior, by the sword of suffering which at that moment pierced the soul of Thy holy Mother, have mercy on me in all my bodily and spiritual troubles and cares, and be my help in all trials, especially at the hour of my death. Amen.

7. Christ’s Thirst
Our Father; Hail Mary.

O Jesus! Thou inexhaustible fountain of goodness! Remember how, in Thy immeasurable love, hanging upon the wood of the Cross, Thou didst say: “I thirst.” It was Thy thirst for the eternal salvation of all men. I beseech Thee, my Savior, strengthen my heart that I may be perfect in all my works. Let all my desires for the pleasures of the flesh and for temporal things die away. Amen.

8. Christ’s Drink
Our Father; Hail Mary

O Jesus! Thou art the fragrance of the heart and the sweetness of the spirit. Remember the bitterness of the gall and vinegar which Thou didst drink out of love for me. I beseech Thee, my Savior, grant that I may receive Thy Body and Thy Precious Blood worthily during my life, but especially at the hour of death, for the comfort of my soul. Amen.

9. Christ’s Anxious Cry
Our Father; Hail Mary

O Jesus! Thou art the royal power and joy of the soul. Remember the affliction and torments which Thou didst suffer in the moments of approaching death, when, immersed in bitterness, insulted and dishonored, Thou didst cry out loudly: “My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?” I beseech Thee earnestly, my Savior, by this Thy anguish, do not abandon me at the hour of death. Amen.

10. Christ’s Wounds
Our Father; Hail Mary

O Jesus, origin and end of our love! Thou art life, Thou art purity. Remember that from head to foot Thou wast plunged into the deepest abyss of all sorrows. Through the greatness and depth of Thy wounds teach me, my Savior, to walk in the way of Thy commandments, in the way of love for my neighbor, in which all who love Thee must walk. Amen.

11. Christ’s Deep Wounds
Our Father; Hail Mary

O Jesus, Thou deepest abyss of mercy! Remember all the pains and wounds which Thou didst suffer for me. My Savior, hide me, a poor sinner, from the face of Thy Father, angered by my sins; I beseech Thee, hide me in the depths of Thy wounds.

12. Christ’s Bleeding Wounds
Our Father; Hail Mary

O Jesus, radiant image of truth, sign of unity, and bond of love for neighbor! Remember the countless wounds which covered Thy whole Body and dyed it crimson with Thy most holy Blood. O great suffering, embracing the whole world, which Thou didst endure out of love for us in Thy holy, most pure Body! O most loving Jesus, can anything more be done for us than what Thou hast already done?! I beseech Thee, my Savior, imprint by Thy Precious Blood all Thy wounds upon my heart, that I may without ceasing adore Thy suffering and Thy love. May the remembrance of the way of the Cross and Thy suffering bear fruitful effect in my soul, that my love for Thee may grow from day to day, and that I may one day attain eternal life. Just Jesus, for Thou art the fountain of all goodness and of all joys. Amen.

13. Christ’s Final Agony
Our Father; Hail Mary

O Jesus! Thou art the mightiest Lord, immortal and unconquerable King. Remember Thy suffering, when all the strength of body and soul was exhausted, Thou didst bow Thy head and cry out: “It is finished!” I beseech Thee, my Savior, by this Thy affliction and pain, have mercy on me in the last hour of my life, when anguish shall seek to confound my mind and my soul. Amen.

14. Christ’s Death
Our Father; Hail Mary

O Jesus! Thou Only-Begotten of the Most High Father and faithful image of His wisdom. Remember that when Thy holy Body was utterly tormented and Thy most holy Heart was broken, Thou didst yield up Thy spirit with the words: “Father, into Thy hands I commend My spirit!” By Thy Precious Death I beseech Thee, King of heavenly splendor, strengthen me and give me power to resist all the evil of sensuality, that after my death I may live forever with Thee alone. Receive my pilgrim soul as it returns to Thee. Amen.

15. Christ’s Complete Exsanguination
Our Father; Hail Mary

O Jesus! Thou art the one true and fruitful vine. Remember Thy Blood, which flowed from Thy most holy Body as the juice of grapes flows under the pressure of the winepress. From Thy side, pierced by a soldier’s lance, Thou didst pour forth all Thy Blood and water. Thy most holy Body was offered upon the wood of the Cross like a piece of myrrh.

Conclusion

I beseech Thee, most loving Jesus, by Thy sorrowful Passion and Thy Precious Blood poured out, wound my heart, that I may turn completely to Thee. May my heart be Thy eternal dwelling place, may my words be pleasing to Thee, and may the end of my life be full of merit, that I may attain eternal splendor. With all the saints of heaven for all eternity I shall praise and bless Thee. Amen.

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