THE PASSION

PRAYER TO THE WOUND ON THE SHOULDER
BEHOLD ME, MOST MERCIFUL JESUS

PRAYER TO THE WOUND ON THE SHOULDER

O most loving Jesus, meek lamb of God, I, a miserable sinner,
salute and worship the most sacred Wound of Thy Shoulder
on which Thou didst bear Thy heavy Cross, which so
tore Thy flesh and laid bare Thy bones as to inflict on Thee
an anguish greater than any other wound of Thy most blessed body.
I adore Thee, O Jesus most sorrowful; I praise and glorify Thee,
and give Thee thanks for this most sacred and painful
Wound, beseeching Thee by that exceeding pain, and by
the crushing burden of Thy heavy Cross, to be merciful to me,
a sinner, and to forgive me all my mortal and venial sins, and
to lead me on toward Heaven along the Way of the Cross. Amen.

IT IS RELATED IN THE ANNALS OF CLAIRVAUX THAT ST. BERNARD ASKED OUR LORD WHICH WAS HIS GREATEST UNRECORDED SUFFERING, AND OUR LORD ANSWERED:

"I HAD ON MY SHOULDER WHILE I BORE MY CROSS ON THE WAY OF SORROWS, A GRIEVOUS WOUND WHICH WAS MORE PAINFUL THAN THE OTHERS, AND WHICH IS NOT RECORDED BY MEN. HONOR THIS WOUND WITH THY DEVOTION, AND I WILL GRANT THEE WHATSOEVER THOU DOST ASK THROUGH ITS VIRTUE AND MERIT. AND IN REGARD TO ALL THOSE WHO SHALL VENERATE THIS WOUND, I WILL REMIT TO THEM ALL THEIR VENIAL SINS, AND WILL NO LONGER REMEMBER THEIR MORTAL SINS."

IMPRIMATUR: Thomas D. Beaven, Bishop of Springfield

BEHOLD ME, MOST MERCIFUL JESUS

Behold me, most merciful Jesus: a poor sinner; I cast myself at Thy sacred feet, penetrated with sorrow for my sins. Oh! let not pride any longer occupy my heart. How vain I am! How sensitive to the least humiliation! How anxious for the praise and esteem of men! How easily influenced by human respect! how many sins against charity I have committed through pride --- unkind words and actions, anger, hatred, jealousy, and revenge! let no pride any longer dominate and disturb the peace of my soul --- that soul, which Thou, my Savior, hast so tenderly loved and redeemed at so great a cost!

Cleanse my poor, O Jesus, from all offensive stains, and drown my imperfections in the boundless ocean of Thy mercy. My Jesus, mercy! Sweetest Jesus, grant me an increase of faith, hope, and charity; a contrite and humble heart.

BACK TO THE PASSION
BACK TO PRAYER DIRECTORY
FORWARD TO PRAYERS TEXT 5