Words From The Cross Chaplet, Prayer

Seven Last Words of Christ

 Words From The Cross chaplet information

His words at first sounded sad, desperate and empty of hope but they were actually filled with love, mercy, peace, and encouragement.

This chaplet is composed of 33 beads representing the number of years Christ lived on earth. The first 2 beads are Hail Mary beads. They are prayed in devotion for the painful tears that Our Blessed Mother shed wile watching her only Child suffer and die on the cross. She too was in much agonizing pain while watching her Son being tortured so brutally.

How to pray this chaplet

On the Crucifix
Sign yourself with the sign of the cross. And pray the Apostles Creed

First 2 Beads
Hail Mary

Set of 3 beads (See prayers at the end of this page.)
Act of Faith
Act of Hope
Act of Love

The First Mystery
"Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." (Luke 23:34)
These words of yours, O Lord, are a two edged sword; they cut both ways. They console me because I know myself as being as guilty as those who nailed you to the cross. Speak these words of forgiveness over me as well. But, at the same time though, these words fill me with dread. I understand that in your example I must pardon those persons who have harmed me - toward whom I nurse a powerful grudge. The imitation of Christ, to which I am pledged, is excruciatingly hard. I count on the strength of your example to serve me, and to be able to say and mean those words, Father forgive them.
Next 3 beads: 1 Our Father, 1 Hail Mary, 1 Glory Be to the Father.

The Second Mystery
"Amen I say to thee, this day thou shalt be with me in paradise." (Luke 23:43)
All I can think of in reading your words, O Lord, is the magnanimous return the good thief receives for his gentle kindness to you. He has spoken the only gracious words to reach your ears on that fateful day when he said that you weren't deserving of this punishment for you had done no evil. But what a massive reward he receives for those few words: heaven in return for a simple act of kindness. I hope that all the words I speak during prayer will bring down a similar avalanche of divine mercy onto me.
Next 3 beads: 1 Our Father, 1 Hail Mary, 1 Glory Be to the Father.

The Third Mystery
"Woman, behold thy Son . . . Behold thy mother." (John 19:26-27)
These desperate sounding words first appear to be a guarantee for the well being of your mother. It is not, but rather it is a gift - the gift of Mary as mother, to care for me, to guide me, to love me and to intercede to you for me. You give me a rare gift indeed, a presence in my life, to make my heart gentle and my world beautiful. There are no limits to your generosity - giving me your mother.
Next 3 beads: 1 Our Father, 1 Hail Mary, 1 Glory Be to the Father.

The Fourth Mystery
"My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me?." (Matt. 27:46)
These words are not words of despair, but words of trust taken from the opening of Psalm 22. Our ancestors trusted in the Father and He delivered them. To Him they cried out and were saved. In your darkest hour you placed your trust in the Father and by doing so, you show me to place my trust in You.
Next 3 beads: 1 Our Father, 1 Hail Mary, 1 Glory Be to the Father.

The Fifth Mystery
"I thirst." (John 19:28)
It is an irony that you who quench the thirst in people searching for truth and divine wisdom should in your darkest hour experience thirst. Considering your loss of blood from the scourging, and the noon day sun as you made your way up to Calvary, your thirst must have been monstrous; but, you endured patiently and lovingly for me.
Next 3 beads: 1 Our Father, 1 Hail Mary, 1 Glory Be to the Father.

The Sixth Mystery
"It is finished" (John 19:30)
At first, these words could seem to be desperate, sad and empty of hope. On second look, they appear to be those of encouragement. It is finished, that is to say, that you have reached you goal, your task is completed. There is a sense of fulfillment and even triumph in what you say. Your task in bringing the good word was completed as was the task of dying for our sins. I hope that in my time, I will be able to say in full honesty...It is finished - my task complete.
Next 3 beads: 1 Our Father, 1 Hail Mary, 1 Glory Be to the Father.

The Seventh Mystery
"Father, into your hands I commend my spirit." (Luke 23:46)
In these words you give me the formula for achieving peace and strength. You died commending your spirit to the Father. What would make more sense than at any critical moment than to put myself in God's hands? Just as Stephen died commending his spirit to you, I will place my life securely in your hands for safekeeping.
Next 3 beads: 1 Our Father, 1 Hail Mary, 1 Glory Be to the Father.

An Act of Faith
O my God, I firmly believe that You are one God in three Divine Persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; I believe that Your Divine Son became man and died for our sins, and that He will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe these and all the truths which the Holy Catholic Church teaches, because You revealed them, who can neither deceive nor be deceived.

An Act of Hope
O my God, relying on Your infinite goodness and promises, I hope to obtain pardon of my sins, the help of Your grace, and life everlasting, through the merits of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Redeemer.

An Act of Love
O my God, I love You above all things, with my whole heart and soul, because You are all-good and worthy of all love. I love my neighbor as myself for the love of You. I forgive all who have injured me, and I ask pardon of all whom I have injured. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, Have mercy on me, a sinner.

Chaplet prayer written by Brian Heacock
The chaplet designed and created by ©2003 J.S. Kotchka and Brian Heacock is use here with permission from the artisans.
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Last up-date November 2008

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