A Prayer Before A Crucifix

O my Divine Savior, what did You become when, out of love for souls, You endured being tied to the pillar? Truly, the words of the Prophet came to pass, proclaiming that Your body would be one great wound, making You unrecognizable. The shame You faced when they stripped You of Your garments, the agony You experienced amidst the relentless blows! How Your Most Precious Blood poured forth from Your shattered veins! I recognize that it was not only the injustice of the Roman governor or the cruelty of the soldiers that caused Your suffering, but my own sins. O heinous sins, that brought You such anguish! How callous I have been, continuing to offend You despite Your many sufferings for my sake! Yet, from this moment on, it shall be different. Bound to You in loyalty for the rest of my days, I will strive to repair the justice You so deservedly demand. By the anguish You experienced while bound to the pillar, by the scourges that tore Your innocent flesh, by the Blood You shed abundantly, have mercy on my wounded soul; deliver me today and forever from the traps of the tempter; and when my time of exile concludes, safely bring me home to Heaven to be with You.