Traditional Catholic Prayer to Recite Before a Crucifix

The short devotional prayer below, found in most traditional Catholic prayer books, is meant to be recited before a crucifix or some other image of Jesus hanging on the cross.

PRAYER BEFORE AN IMAGE OF CHRIST CRUCIFIED

Look down upon me, good and gentle Jesus

while before Your face I humbly kneel,

and, with burning soul,

pray and beseech You

to fix deep in my heart lively sentiments

of faith, hope, and charity;

true contrition for my sins,

and a firm purpose of amendment,

while I contemplate,

with great love and tender pity,

Your five most precious wounds,

pondering over them within me

and calling to mind the words which David,

Your prophet, said to You, my Jesus:

"They have pierced My hands and My feet,

they have numbered all My bones." Amen.

A plenary indulgence is granted on each Friday of Lent to the faithful, who, after receiving Holy Communion, piously recite this prayer before an image of Christ crucified; on other days of the year the indulgence is partial.