| Prayers at the Foot of the Cross | ||||
| These prayers are for use on Fridays and other appropriate occasions (but not during the Christmas, Epiphany or Easter seasons). | ||||
| A procession may be made towards a suitable cross, before which lights may be burning, or a cross may be carried in. It may be mounted upright or laid on the ground, with lights burning around it. | ||||
| On the cross, Jesus offered himself to the Father for the whole world. At the foot of his cross, we join our prayers with his. | ||||
| One of the following may be said. | ||||
| We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you: | ||||
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because by your holy cross | |||
| you have redeemed the world. | ||||
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Holy God, | |||
| Holy and strong, | ||||
| Holy and immortal, | ||||
| have mercy on us. | ||||
| (or) | ||||
| We glory in your cross, O Lord, | ||||
| and praise and glorify your holy resurrection: | ||||
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for by virtue of the cross, | |||
| joy has come to the whole world. | ||||
| God, be gracious to us and bless us, | ||||
| and make his face to shine upon us | ||||
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that your way may be known upon earth, | |||
| your saving power among all nations. | ||||
| We glory in your cross, O Lord, | ||||
| and praise and glorify your holy resurrection: | ||||
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for by virtue of the cross, | |||
| joy has come to the whole world. | ||||
| While silence is kept, or appropriate hymns or chants are sung, any of those present may come forward to touch the cross. They may, for example, place their forehead on it as a sign of entrusting to God, in union with Christ and his suffering, their own burdens as well as those of others. | ||||
| Other forms of intercessions may be offered | ||||
| This response may be used | ||||
| Lord, we come to the cross | ||||
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In your mercy, hear us | |||
| This collect is said. | ||||
| Almighty Father, look with mercy on this your family for which our Lord Jesus Christ was content to be betrayed and given up into the hands of sinners and to suffer death upon the cross; who is alive and glorified with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. |
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Amen. | |||
| The Lord's Prayer is said | ||||
| May the life-giving cross be the source of all our joy and peace. | ||||
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Amen. | |||
| Let us bless the Lord. | ||||
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Thanks be to God. | |||