We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you.

Because by your holy Cross you have redeemed the world.

LET us consider how Our gentle Lord embraces the cross, and see with what meekness He suffers the blows and insults of that rabble whereas we impatiently shrink from the slightest suffering. And yet do we not know that without the cross we cannot enter heaven ? Let us weep for our blindness, and, turning to our Lord, say to Him with sorrow of heart:

O Jesus, this cross should be ours, not yours. Ah, heavy cross! prepared by our sins. Dear Savior give us fortitude to embrace all the crosses which our most grievous sins deserve. Grant that we may die embracing the holy cross, and enable us to say, with Saint Theresa, ''To suffer or die!"

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory, etc.

Jesus crucified, have mercy on us.