All you who pass by, look and see
if there is any sorrow like my sorrow.
Look, all you people, and see my sorrow,
if there is any sorrow like my sorrow.
Original in Latin:
O vos ómnes qui transítis per víam, atténdite et vidéte:
Si est dólor símilis sícut dólor méus.
V. Atténdite, univérsi pópuli, et vidéte dolórem méum.
Si est dólor símilis sícut dólor méus.
Source: Wikipedia: O vos omnes, Lamentations 1:12, adapted from the English Standard Version.
Let us all cry with one voice,
Lord, have mercy.
You were led like a sheep to be crucified,
Lord, have mercy.
From the cross you looked on your mother and your disciple. Look on us from heaven with pity,
Lord, have mercy.
By the shedding of your blood you redeemed the world.
Lord, have mercy.
You commended your spirit to your Father,
Lord, have mercy.
By your cross grant us forgiveness,
Lord, have mercy.
Source: Mozarabic Breviary, 480, 482. Freely modified from Devotions from Ancient and Medieval Sources (Western), ed. Rev. Charles Plummer, 1916.
Lord, hear the prayers of your people,
and forgive our sins, for you are kind.
Lord, Creator of the world, you judge righteously, deliver us from evil by your Right Hand,
and forgive our sins, for you are kind.
By your Cross you purchased for yourself a people from the nations, graciously blot out the sins of all, O Christ,
and forgive our sins, for you are kind.
You called on the Father, and asked him to forgive. Forgive our debts, and loosen our bonds,
and forgive our sins, for you are kind.
You promised the rest of Paradise to the thief. Help the penitents who are bound,
and forgive our sins, for you are kind.
Mozarabic Breviary, 574. Freely modified from Devotions from Ancient and Medieval Sources (Western), ed. Rev. Charles Plummer, 1916.
My enemies lie in wait for me without a cause.
Holy Father, have mercy and deliver me.
I was led as a lamb to the slaughter, caught by my enemies like a bird in a snare without a cause.
Holy Father, have mercy and deliver me.
Evil people opened their mouths against me, they gnashed their teeth, seeking to devour me. They hissed and shouted and shook their heads, bringing false witness against me without a cause.
Holy Father, have mercy and deliver me.
They condemned and nailed me to the cross with nails of iron. Judas sold me for thirty pieces of silver. They pierced my side with a spear, and there flowed out water with innocent blood without a cause.
Holy Father, have mercy and deliver me.
They surrounded me, even when I was buried in the tomb. They put a seal on the stone without a cause.
Holy Father, have mercy and deliver me.
Look, merciful Father, and help the wretched, for whom I suffer such bitter punishments without a cause.
Holy Father, have mercy and deliver me.
Source: Gallican Sacramentary, 842. Freely modified from Devotions from Ancient and Medieval Sources (Western), ed. Rev. Charles Plummer, 1916.
O Lord, behold my affliction, for the enemy has triumphed! (Lamentations 1:9)
Have mercy, righteous Father, and forgive us all.
Sent from the Father, I came to seek the lost and to redeem with my blood those who were carried captive by the enemy. A cruel people rejected me.
Have mercy, righteous Father, and forgive us all.
Foretold by the prophets, I was born of a virgin, I took on myself the nature of a servant to gather those who were scattered. The hunters took me.
Have mercy, righteous Father, and forgive us all.
They rewarded me much evil for good. They devised wicked plans against me. They sold me for money.
Have mercy, righteous Father, and forgive us all.
They put a crown of thorns on my head. They spit on me. They mocked my affliction.
Have mercy, righteous Father, and forgive us all.
They hung me on the cross with evil thieves. They fed me with gall, and to punish me they gave me vinegar to drink.
Have mercy, righteous Father, and forgive us all.
Those I came to deliver accused me. They beat me with scourges and crucified me. They pierced me with a spear.
Have mercy, righteous Father, and forgive us all.
I was laid in the tomb. I broke the gates of hell. I brought out the captives and led them on high. I displayed them in triumph.
Have mercy, righteous Father, and forgive us all.
Most merciful Father, forgive all their evil deeds. Blot out their sins and absolve the crimes of those who did not know what they were doing.
Have mercy, righteous Father, and forgive us all.
You pardoned the crimes of the repentant thief. Loosen our chains and absolve our guilt. Save us by your cross.
Have mercy, righteous Father, and forgive us all.
Source: Mozarabic Manual, 354; cf. Gallican Sacramentary, 843. Freely modified from Devotions from Ancient and Medieval Sources (Western), ed. Rev. Charles Plummer, 1916.
O Savior of the world,
by your cross and precious blood you have redeemed us:
Save us and help us, O Lord.
Source: From the Proper Liturgy for Good Friday, The Book of Common Prayer (U. S., 1979), p. 282.
Variant:
O Savior of the world,
who by your cross and precious blood did redeem us:
Help, save, pity, and defend us, we pray, O Lord.
Original from BCP 1979 in traditional English:
O Savior of the world,
who by thy cross and precious blood hast redeemed us:
Save us and help us, we humbly beseech thee, O Lord.
We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you,
because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
If we have died with him, we shall also live with him;
if we endure, we shall also reign with him.
We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you,
because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
Source: From the Proper Liturgy for Good Friday, The Book of Common Prayer (U. S., 1979), p. 281-2.
Variant:
We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you,
because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
Holy God,
holy and strong,
holy and immortal,
have mercy upon us.
We glory in your cross, O Lord,
and praise and glorify your holy resurrection;
for by virtue of the cross
joy has come to the whole world.
Source: https://www.methodistprayer.org/
We glory in your cross, O Lord,
and praise and glorify your holy resurrection;
for by virtue of your cross
joy has come to the whole world.
May God be merciful to us and bless us,
show us the light of his countenance, and come to us.
Let your ways be known upon earth,
your saving health among all nations.
Let the peoples praise you, O God;
let all the peoples praise you.
We glory in your cross, O Lord,
and praise and glorify your holy resurrection;
for by virtue of your cross
joy has come to the whole world.
Source: From the Proper Liturgy for Good Friday, The Book of Common Prayer (U. S., 1979), p. 281
Variant:
We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you,
because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
Holy God,
holy and strong,
holy and immortal,
have mercy upon us.
We glory in your cross, O Lord,
and praise and glorify your holy resurrection;
for by virtue of the cross
joy has come to the whole world.
Source: https://www.methodistprayer.org/
The Reproaches or Improperia are a series of antiphons and responses sung in Good Friday liturgies, usually in the afternoon. They first appeared in the ninth century. There are many different versions of the Reproaches with different verses. What is presented below is a shorter and possibly earlier version.
O my people, what have I done to you?
How have I wearied you? Answer me! (Micah 6:3)
I led you out of the land of Egypt,
and you have led your Savior to be scourged.
I led you out of the land of slavery,
and you led your Redeemer to be nailed to the cross.
Lord God most holy,
Lord most mighty,
holy and most merciful Savior,
deliver us from the bitter pains of eternal death.
I threw Pharaoh’s chariots and his army into the sea,
and you delivered me to the chief priests and the Gentiles.
I fed you with manna,
and gave you water to drink from the rock in the wilderness,
and you gave me gall and vinegar to drink.
Lord God most holy,
Lord most mighty,
holy and most merciful Savior,
deliver us from the bitter pains of eternal death.
O my people, what have I done to you?
How have I wearied you? Answer me!
Lord God most holy,
Lord most mighty,
holy and most merciful Savior,
deliver us from the bitter pains of eternal death.
Source: This version is translated from the German version in Allgemeines evangelisches Gesang- und Gebetbuch zum Kirchen und Hausgebrauch, Hamburg, 1846, p. 529.
Some sections are identical to “In the midst of life we are in death…”
For the history of the Improperia and other versions, see the Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Improperia
Listen to the Improperia sung in Latin in an arrangement by Tomas Luis de Victoria.
Here is a different performance of the same piece that also includes the chant in the illustration at the top of this page.
German version:
The section in the German version “Heiliger Herre Gott…” is quoted from Luther’s hymn version, “Mitten wir in Leben sind…” Our translation above follows our translation of “In the midst of life…”
Was habe ich dir gethan , mein Volk, und womit habe ich dich beleidigt? antworte mir! (Micha 6:3).
Habe ich dich doch aus Aegyptenland geführt: und du hast zu Geißelung überantwortet deinen Heiland.
Habe ich dich doch aus dem Diensthause erlóset: und du hast ans Kreuz geschlagen deinen Erlöſer.
Heiliger Herre Gott!
Heiliger starker Gott!
Heiliger, barmherziger Heiland, Du ewiger Gott,
Laß uns nicht verſinken in des bittern Todes Noth!
Habe ich doch Pharao und seine Reuter gestürzt ins Meer: und du hast mich überantwortet den Hohenprieſtern und den Heiden.
Habe ich dich doch gespeiſet mit Manna, und getrånker von dem Wasser
des Felsen in der Wüste: und du haſt mich getränket mit Galle und Essig.
Heiliger Herre Gott!
Heiliger starker Gott!
Heiliger, barmherziger Heiland, Du ewiger Gott,
Laß uns nicht versinken in des bittern Todes Noth.
Was habe ich dir gethan , mein Volk, und womit habe ich dich beleidigt? antworte mir!
Heiliger Herre Gott!
Heiliger starker Gott!
Heiliger, barmherziger Heiland, Du ewiger Gott,
Laß uns nicht verſinken in des bittern Todes Noth!
Original in Latin:
Popule meus, quid feci tibi? Aut in quo contristavi te? Responde mihi.
Quia eduxi te de terra Ægypti: parasti Crucem Salvatori tuo.
Hagios o Theos.
Sanctus Deus.
Hagios Ischyros.
Sanctus Fortis.
Hagios Athanatos, eleison hymas.
Sanctus Immortalis, miserere nobis.
Ego propter te flagellavi Ægyptum cum primogenitis suis: et tu me flagellatum tradidisti.
Popule meus, quid feci tibi? Aut in quo contristavi te? Responde mihi.
Ego eduxi te de Ægypto, demerso Pharaone in mare rubrum: et tu me tradidisti principibus sacerdotum.
Popule meus, quid feci tibi? Aut in quo contristavi te? Responde mihi.
The Scriptural Way of the Cross or Scriptural Stations of the Cross is a modern version of the ancient Christian devotion called the Stations of the Cross.
The versicle and response, “We adore you, O Christ,…” is from the traditional devotions for the Stations of the Cross.
The prayers that follow each scriptural devotion are newly written for A Collection of Prayers, based on the traditional response for after each devotion, “Lord Jesus, help us walk in your steps.”
Except where noted otherwise, Scripture is taken from The Holy Bible: Evangelical Heritage Version, www.wartburgproject.org.
All art is by James Tissot.
The readings, prayers and art are available as a downlodable pdf, printable as a booklet.
We adore you, O + Christ, and we praise you.
Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane. He told his disciples, “Sit here, while I go over there and pray.” He took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and he began to be sorrowful and distressed. Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to the point of death. Stay here, and keep watch with me.” He went a little farther, fell on his face, and prayed. He said, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” He came to the disciples and found them sleeping. He said to Peter, “So, were you not able to stay awake with me for one hour? Watch and pray, so that you do not enter into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Matthew 26:36–41
Lord Jesus, help us follow in your steps.
Keep our spirits willing,
and strengthen us when our flesh is weak;
you live and reign, now and forever. Amen.
We adore you, O + Christ, and we praise you.
Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
Just then, while Jesus was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. A crowd was with him, armed with swords and clubs. They were from the chief priests, the experts in the law, and the elders. Now his betrayer had given them a signal, saying, “The one I kiss is the man. Arrest him and lead him away under guard.” He went right to Jesus and said, “Rabbi!” and kissed him. They laid hands on him and arrested him. Mark 14:43–46
Lord Jesus, help us follow in your steps,
even when we must go where we do not want to go;
you live and reign, now and forever. Amen.
We adore you, O + Christ, and we praise you.
Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
As soon as it was day, the council of the elders of the people met together, both the chief priests and experts in the law. They brought him into their Sanhedrin and said, “If you are the Christ, tell us.” But he said to them, “If I tell you, you will not believe, and if I ask you, you will not answer me or release me. But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God.” They all said, “Are you then the Son of God?” He said to them, “I am what you are saying.” Then they said, “Why do we need any more testimony? For we ourselves have heard it from his own mouth!” Luke 22: 66-71
Lord Jesus, help us follow in your steps,
that we always confess you as Christ our Lord,
Son of Man and Son of God;
you live and reign, now and forever. Amen.
We adore you, O + Christ, and we praise you.
Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
Meanwhile Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. A servant girl came to him and said, “You were also with Jesus the Galilean.” But he denied it in front of everyone, saying, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” When Peter went out to the entryway, someone else saw him and said to those who were there, “This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth.” Again Peter denied it with an oath and said, “I do not know the man.” After a little while those who stood by came and said to Peter, “Surely you are also one of them because even your accent gives you away.” Then he began to curse and to swear, “I do not know the man!” Just then the rooster crowed. And Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly. Matthew 26: 69-75
Lord Jesus, help us follow in your steps,
that we always remember the words you have spoken,
repent of our sins,
and cling to you;
you live and reign, now and forever. Amen.
We adore you, O + Christ, and we praise you.
Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
As soon as it was morning, the chief priests, along with the elders, the experts in the law, and the whole Sanhedrin, reached a decision. They bound Jesus, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate. Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” He answered him, “It is as you say.” The chief priests accused him of many things. Pilate questioned him again, “Are you not going to answer anything? See how many charges they are bringing against you!” But Jesus still did not answer anything, so Pilate was amazed. Since he wanted to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. After he had Jesus flogged, he handed him over to be crucified. Mark 15: 1-5, 15
Lord Jesus, we cannot always follow in your steps,
for you went to the depths of suffering alone,
so that like Barabbas, we would be set free;
you live and reign, now and forever. Amen.
We adore you, O + Christ, and we praise you.
Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. The soldiers also twisted together a crown of thorns and placed it on his head. Then they threw a purple robe around him. They kept coming to him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” And they kept hitting him in the face. John 19:1-3
Lord Jesus, help us follow in your steps.
Rule in our hearts,
as our good and gracious King;
you live and reign, now and forever. Amen.
We adore you, O + Christ, and we praise you.
Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
When the chief priests and guards saw him, they shouted, “Crucify! Crucify!” Pilate told them, “Take him yourselves and crucify him, for I find no basis for a charge against him.” They shouted, “Away with him! Away with him! Crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Should I crucify your king?” “We have no king but Caesar!” the chief priests answered. So then Pilate handed Jesus over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus away. Carrying his own cross, he went out to what is called the Place of a Skull, which in Aramaic is called Golgotha. John 19: 6, 15-17
Lord Jesus, help us follow in your steps.
We have no king but you;
you live and reign, now and forever. Amen.
We adore you, O + Christ, and we praise you.
Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
A certain man, Simon of Cyrene (the father of Alexander and Rufus), was passing by on his way in from the country. They forced him to carry Jesus’ cross. Mark 15:21
Lord Jesus, help us follow in your steps.
Help us bear our crosses,
for you bore the heaviest cross for us;
you live and reign, now and forever. Amen.
We adore you, O + Christ, and we praise you.
Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
A large crowd of people was following him, including women who were mourning and wailing for him. Jesus turned to them and said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, stop weeping for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. Be sure of this: The days are coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the childless women, the wombs that never gave birth, and the breasts that never nursed.’ Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us!’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’ For if they do these things to the green wood, what will happen to the dry?” Luke 23:27-31
Lord Jesus, help us follow in your steps.
Dry our tears,
until that day
when you wipe away every tear from our eyes;
you live and reign, now and forever. Amen.
We adore you, O + Christ, and we praise you.
Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
When they came to the place called The Skull, they crucified him there with the criminals, one on his right and the other on his left. Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” They cast lots to divide his garments among them. Luke 23:33-34
Lord Jesus, help us follow in your steps,
that we forgive those who have sinned against us,
because you have freely forgiven us;
you live and reign, now and forever. Amen.
We adore you, O + Christ, and we praise you.
Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
One of the criminals hanging there was blaspheming him, saying, “Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!” But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God, since you are under the same condemnation? We are punished justly, for we are receiving what we deserve for what we have done, but this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come in your kingdom.” Jesus said to him, “Amen I tell you: Today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:39-43
Lord Jesus, help us follow in your steps,
that by your grace
we, too, may join you in your kingdom of Paradise
when our last hour comes;
you live and reign, now and forever. Amen.
We adore you, O + Christ, and we praise you.
Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
Jesus’ mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene were standing near the cross. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, here is your son!” Then he said to the disciple, “Here is your mother!” And from that time this disciple took her into his own home. John 19:25-27
Lord Jesus, help us follow in your steps.
Give us the blessed comfort of friends and family,
and always keep us near you;
you live and reign, now and forever. Amen.
We adore you, O + Christ, and we praise you.
Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour, while the sun was darkened. Then the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” When he had said this, he breathed his last. Luke 23:44-46
Lord Jesus, help us follow in your steps,
for by your innocent suffering and death,
you have opened up the way to the Father for us;
you live and reign, now and forever. Amen.
We adore you, O + Christ, and we praise you.
Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who was also a disciple of Jesus. He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered that it be given to him. Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and laid it in his own new tomb that he had cut in the rock. He rolled a large stone over the tomb’s entrance and left. Matthew 27:57-60
Lord Jesus, help us follow in your steps,
for you have gone where we must all go,
to death and the grave,
all so you could rise again;
you live and reign, now and forever. Amen.
We adore you, O + Christ, and we praise you.
Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. Suddenly, there was a great earthquake! For an angel of the Lord came down from heaven, and going to the tomb, he rolled away the stone and was sitting on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing was as white as snow. The guards were so terrified of him that they shook and became like dead men. The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid! I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here. He has risen, just as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. Go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has risen from the dead! And look, he is going ahead of you to Galilee. There you will see him.’ See, I have told you!” They hurried away from the tomb, with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” They approached, took hold of his feet, and worshipped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go, tell my brothers that they should go to Galilee, and there they will see me.” Matthew 28:1-10
Lord Jesus, help us follow in your steps.
Raise us up on the Last Day,
that we may follow you from death to life;
you live and reign, now and forever. Amen.
Scripture is taken from The Holy Bible: Evangelical Heritage Version
Prayers are written for A Collection of Prayers, © 2021 Paul C. Stratman
Art is by James Tissot from his Gospel Harmony Series.
See also: Scriptural Way of the Cross on Wikipedia, and an article on the website of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
See also:
A Collection of Prayers 