Prayers

February 1st & 15th: “And as they were at table eating, Jesus said, ‘Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me, one who is eating with me’. They began to be sorrowful, and to say to Him one after another, ‘Is it I?’” (St. Mark 14:18-19). Lord Jesus, is it I who have betrayed thee? Forgive me Jesus! Grant that I may turn from my sinfulness and my own selfish desires and serve thee with a loving and faithful heart all the days of my life. Amen.

· February 2nd & 16th: “And Jesus said to him, ‘Truly, I say to you, this very night, before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times’” (St. Mark 14:30). Lord Jesus, is it I? Is it I who have denied thee? Grant me thy grace and mercy, that I may have the courage to confess thy holy Name before all the world, for I know that thou shall never deny me if I but place my hand in thine. Amen.

· February 3rd & 17th: “And Jesus said, ‘Abba, Father, all things are possible to thee; remove this cup from me; yet not what I will, but what you wilt’” (St. Mark 14:36). Lord Jesus, thou didst teach us to pray to the Father in the midst of our trials and tribulations. Grant us thy grace and strength, that like thee, we may surrender our will completely to the Father. Help us to trust in His ways above our own. Amen.

· February 4th & 18th: “And Jesus came and found them sleeping and he said to Peter, ‘Simon, are you asleep? Could you not watch one hour? Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak” (St. Mark 14:37-38). Lord Jesus, thou hast called us to be a people of prayer and to keep watch against the enemy who seeks to destroy us. Send thy Father’s Spirit to us we pray, that we being true to thy Word, may faithfully keep watch and pray as thou hast commanded. Amen.

· February 5th & 19th: “Jesus said to him, ‘Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss? (St. Luke 22:48). Lord, even though we love thee, we often turn from thee placing our own hopes and desires before thee. Enable us, when we fall into willful sin, not to be overcome by despair, but rather, trusting in thy love and in the power of thy Word, to turn quickly again to thee and receive thy mercy. Amen.

· February 6th & 20th: “Now the men who were holding Jesus mocked Him and beat Him; they also blindfolded Him and asked Him, ‘Prophesy! Who is it that struck you?’ And they spoke many other words against Him, reviling Him’ ” (St. Luke 22:63-65). Lord Jesus, thou willingly accepted mockery and humiliation for me. In thy humility, thou didst reveal the worth of every human person, as someone loved by thee and precious in thy sight. Grant me the ability to gladly suffer humiliation for the sake of the Gospel and the Truth of thy holy Word that others may see thy love reflected in me. Amen.

· February 7th & 21st: “And Herod with his soldiers treated Jesus with contempt and mocked Him; then, arraying Him in gorgeous apparel, he sent Him back to Pilate” (St. Luke 23:11). Lord Jesus, thou didst come into the world to reveal the very heart of the Father and His great love for us all, but we rejected thee, mocked thee and treated thee with contempt. May we, when we are hurt by those whom we love, find our comfort and consolation in thee, learning to show mercy as we have received mercy and learning to forgive as we have been forgiven. Amen.

· February 8th & 22nd: “They shouted, saying, ‘Crucify Him, crucify Him!’” (St. Luke 23:21). Lord, it was me who cried “Crucify Him”. For it was for my sins that thou didst come into this world. Thou hast taken my rejection of thee and hast made it an opportunity for me to be delivered from the power of sin, suffering and death. O how thou dost love me! Grant me thy grace, that trusting in thy love for me, I may receive the gift of eternal life. Amen.

· February 9th & 23rd: “Pilate released the man [Barabbas] who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, whom they asked for; but Jesus he delivered up to their will” (St. Luke 23:25). Lord Jesus, thou wast condemned in place of Barabbas. Keep us mindful O Lord that we who have been set free from our spiritual prison and rebellion, are so only because thou didst freely choose to give thyself in our place. Amen.

· February 10th & 24th: “Pilate said to the Jews, ‘Behold your King’” (St. John 19:14). Lord at thy birth in Bethlehem, we offered to thee a gift of gold, recognizing thee as King of kings. Yet thou didst come to reign, not as an earthly king would, but as a servant (though thou art King and Lord over all). Thou hast brought us victory in surrender, clothed us in majesty in humility, healing in suffering, wholeness in brokenness, and life by thy death. Enable us to follow thy holy example and to find our true wealth by becoming poor in spirit. Amen.

· February 11th & 25th: “Then he handed Him over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus and led Him away” (St. John 19:16). Father, may we follow our Lord along the Way of the Cross, that sharing with Him in His sacrifice, we may become partakers with Him in the ineffable joy of His resurrection. Amen.

· February 12th & 26th: “Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene” (St. John 19:25). Lord, sometimes the trials of this world seem to be too much for me to bear. Yet, here I find myself at the foot of thy cross. Thy love for me trickles down as thy blood flows down thy sacred body onto me. Wash me O Lord in thy precious Blood, cleanse me and make me new this day. Deliver me from the weight of my sin and shame and give me thy strength to endure the hardships of this world, until thou callest me home to be with thee. Amen.

· February 13th & 27th: “Women, behold your son�[John], behold your mother!” (St. John 19:26-27). Lord Jesus Christ, as Eve was the mother of the first creation, so Mary is the mother of the New Creation in thee. Give us thy grace, that following the example of the Blessed Virgin Mary thy mother and ours, we may unite our lives, in both joy and sorrow, to thy most sacred and holy Life. Amen.

· February 14th & 28th: “I thirst” (St. John 19:28). Lord, thou didst cry out, “I thirst”, not to receive a drink, but because thou did thirst for all souls to come to thee on the cross; to know thy love and thy forgiveness. Lord, grant us the courage, hearing thy cry, to come speedily to thy cross, that dying with thee we may know the blessedness of everlasting life. Amen.

· February 15th & March 1: “It is finished” (St. John 19:30). Lord Jesus, in saying, “It is finished”, thou didst proclaim thy victory over evil, sin, suffering and death, having confronted the dark powers of this world in the flesh thou hast become the final word in this world over all creation. Thou hast done it! Thine is the victory O Lord! May we trust in thee and the saving truth of thy holy cross above all things in our lives, that we may be delivered from the ways and foolishness of the world, the flesh and the devil. Amen.

· February 16th & March 2: “And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit” (St. John 19:30). As you contemplate the death of our Lord and His great love for you, may a moment of silence be your prayer today�Amen.

· February 17th & March 3: Almighty and everlasting God, who, of thy tender love towards mankind, hast sent thy Son our Savior Jesus Christ to take upon him our flesh, and to suffer death upon the cross, that all mankind should follow the example of his great humility: Mercifully grant that we may both follow the example of his patience, and also be made partakers of his resurrection�Amen.