Prayer (of Saint Therese of Baby Jesus): “O Jesus, who in Thy bitter Passion didst become "the most abject of men, a man of sorrows", I venerate Thy Sacred Face whereon there once did shine the beauty and sweetness of the Godhead. But now it has become for me as if it were the face of a leper! Nevertheless, under those disfigured features, I recognize Thy infinite Love and I am consumed with the desire to love Thee and make Thee loved by all men. The tears which well up abundantly in Thy sacred eyes appear to me as so many precious pearls that I love to gather up, in order to purchase the souls of poor sinners by means of their infinite value. O Jesus, whose adorable Face ravishes my heart, I implore Thee to fix deep within me Thy Divine Image and to set me on fire with Thy Love, that I may be found worthy to come to the contemplation of Thy glorious Face in Heaven. Amen.”
First day: “They came to a plot of land called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, 'Stay here while I pray.' Then, he took Peter and James and John with Him. And he began to feel terror and Anguish. And he said to them, 'My Soul is sorrowful to the point of death. Wait here and stay awake.'” (Mark 14, 32-34)
Prayer: Holy Face of Jesus, Face of sorrow and love, have mercy on us!
Second day: “And going on a little further he threw himself on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, this hour might pass him by. 'Abba, Father!' he said, 'For you everything is possible. Take this cup away from me. But let it be as you, not I, would have it.' He came back and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, 'Simon, are you asleep? Had you not the strength to stay awake one hour? Stay awake and pray not to be put to the test. The spirit is willing enough, but human nature is weak.'” ”(Mark 14, 14, 35 -38) “In his Anguish, he prayed even more earnestly, and his sweat fell to the ground like great drops of Blood.”
Third day: "When he rose from prayer he went to the disciples and found them sleeping for sheer grief. And he said to them, 'Why are you asleep? Get up and pray not to be put to the test.' Suddenly, while he was still speaking, a number of men appeared, and at the head of them the man called Judas, one of the twelve, who went up to Jesus to kiss Him. Jesus said, 'Judas, do you betray the Son of man with a kiss?'" (Luke 22, 45-48)
Fourth day: "And the Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. And Peter remembered the Lord's words when he had said to Him, 'Before the cock crows today, you will have disowned me three times.' And he went outside and wept bitterly." (Luke 22, 61-62)
Fifth day: "Meanwhile, the men who guarded Jesus were mocking and beating Him. They blindfolded him and questioned him, saying, 'Prophesy! Who hit you then?' And they heaped many other insults on Him." (Luke 22, 63-65)
Sixth day: "Then Herod, together with his guards, treated Him with contempt and made fun of Him. He put a rich cloak on Him and sent Him back to Pilate." (Lucas 23, 11)
Seventh day: "Pilate then had Jesus taken away and scourged. And after this, the soldiers twisted some thorns into a crown and put it on his Head and dressed him in a purple robe. They kept coming up to him and saying, 'Hail, king of the Jews!' and slapping him in the Face." (John 19, 1-3)
Eighth day: "As they were leading him away they seized on a man, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, and made him shoulder the cross and carry it behind Jesus. Large numbers of people followed him, and women too, who mourned and lamented for him. But Jesus turned to them and said, 'Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me. Weep rather for yourselves and for your children.’" (Luke 23, 26-28)
Ninth day: "Near the Cross of Jesus, stood his Mother and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala. Seeing his Mother and the disciple whom he loved standing near her, Jesus said to his Mother, 'Woman, this is your son.' Then to the disciple he said, 'This is your Mother.' And from that hour the disciple took her into his home. After this, Jesus knew that everything had now been completed and, so that the scripture should be completely fulfilled, he said: I am thirsty. A jar full of sour wine stood there. So, putting a sponge soaked in the wine on a hyssop stick, they held it up to his mouth. After Jesus had taken the wine he said, 'It is fulfilled!' And bowing his Head he gave up his Spirit." (John 19, 25-30)
