Good Friday Prayers
Prayers for Good Friday — venerating the Cross, meditating on the Passion of Our Lord, and the traditional Solemn Intercessions of the Church.
The Good Friday Prayers help you venerate the Cross and meditate on the Passion of Our Lord, including the traditional Solemn Intercessions of the Church. Good Friday is the quietest day of the liturgical year, with no Mass, and these prayers match its stillness. Pray them at home if you cannot attend the liturgy, and again at three in the afternoon, the hour of Jesus' death. They end with hope in the Resurrection. The Solemn Intercessions pray for the Church, the Pope, catechumens, Christian unity, the Jewish people, non-believers, those in public office and the suffering. It is a day to pray for the whole world and to receive the silence.
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Open in the app App StoreGoogle PlayGood Friday Prayers
Veneration of the Holy Cross:
We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You, because by Your holy Cross You have redeemed the world.
O saving Victim opening wide
The gate of heaven to man below!
Our foes press on from every side;
Thine aid supply, Thy strength bestow.
To Thy great name be endless praise,
Immortal Godhead, One in Three;
Oh, grant us endless length of days,
In our true native land with Thee. Amen.
Prayer at the Foot of the Cross:
Lord Jesus Christ, as You hung upon the cross, You forgave those who crucified You and promised paradise to the repentant thief. I kneel before Your Cross in gratitude for all You suffered for my sake. You bore my sins, my sorrows, and my shame. No suffering I will ever endure can compare to what You endured out of love for me.
Increase my love for You. Let me never be indifferent to the price You paid. Help me to take up my own cross daily and follow You, knowing that the cross leads to resurrection. Amen.
Traditional Good Friday Prayer:
Lord God, in your infinite mercy you have looked graciously on our weakness. Through the Passion of your Son, you have granted us the hope of eternal life. Look upon us in your mercy, that we may receive the fruits of his Passion, who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen.
Frequently asked questions
When should I pray the Good Friday Prayers?
Pray them on Good Friday, ideally around three in the afternoon.
How do I pray the Good Friday Prayers?
Light a single candle, read the prayers slowly, and spend time in silence before a crucifix.
Who is the Good Friday Prayers for?
All Catholics keeping Holy Week, families and parishes.
Pray this prayer, and save your favourites, in the Sacred Novenas app
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