(A simple) Passiontide Family Prayer

Here’s how (in just 5 minutes) you can imitate Christ’s most astonishing action on the Cross. It’s a great way to allow the Holy Spirit in these last days of Lent to transform you into a true “imitation of Christ.”

The last 2 weeks before Easter are commonly known as “Passiontide.” In most parishes, the statues and crucifixes are covered with violet veils as we prepare for Palm Sunday, then Holy Week.  

And the readings in Mass every day turn to the historical record in the Scriptures of Jesus’ Passion. We ponder scene by scene all that Our Lord suffered for no reason–other than out of love of you and me and all His creatures.

We ponder what He did, how He responded to questions and slaps and ridicule and torture…and betrayal and abandonment and denial.

With all that in mind:

Meditate on His Final Words, especially His startling First Words from the Cross: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34).

This is the most astounding thing for a crucified man to say.

When did He say these words? As the soldiers were impersonally pounding in nail after nail? Or had He already been roughly heaved upright to hang on those nails, looking down on those who jeered Him, watching His agonizing struggles for each breath?

Want to be more like Him and less like those who crucified Him?

You can’t do it yourself. Only the working of the Holy Spirit can remake you in His image if you begin this Passiontide with this simple daily practice.

Spend no more than 5 minutes each evening doing what Jesus repeatedly told us:

“I tell you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you.” (Matthew 5:44)

There are two steps to this Passiontide prayer. First, write down by name the people you will pray for, the ones we forget because they are not our friends, the ones we only remember if our injury is fresh.

Spend just those few minutes each evening until Easter naming:

— People who have wronged you, who have harmed you, who mistreated you

— People who irritate you, whom you dislike, whom you avoid

— People you fear, who make you mad, who frustrate you

— People who embarrassed you, humiliated you, ridiculed you, misrepresented you, spoke untruths about you

Get the idea? Then, Step Two: pray for them just as you pray for your friends and yourself:

“Lord, please grant to ______ the joys/successes/blessings/mercies which I ask You to grant in your generosity to myself and my loved ones.”

That’s it. Simple. Don’t dwell on the hurts. Instead ask for the sincerity of Jesus in asking blessings upon people whom God–in His loving wisdom–brought you into contact with in your life. By writing the names down and bringing them personally to the Lord, He will open your heart to the love which God has for all His creatures.

You will find each day that He gently reminds you of those you have forgotten…from your past…whom you need to ask blessings for…by name.

We are each writing the names of those we are reminded of in our Spiritual Journals. Any notebook or paper will do, but putting them in our journals might inspire longer prayer and open up other promptings of the Holy Spirit. We’ll see

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love another; even as I have loved you…By this all men will know that you are My disciples.” (John 13:34-35

We owe others what Jesus gave to us–although He owed us nothing.

May God bless your Lent and Easter!

PS. If you are looking for a great book for your Lenten Confession (and every one thereafter), I love this book How to Make a Good Confession. It is not only an inspiring (and convicting) read about the sacrament which offers tremendous insights, but it includes a whopping 17-page examination of conscience which hits just those violations of the Will of God which the shorter pamphlet lists usually don’t have room for.

“Teaches us not only how to go to Confession, but also how to stir up sentiments of repentance and purpose of amendment that are necessary to receive the sacrament fruitfully. Worth reading again and again.” 
Fr. Kenneth Baker, S.J.

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PPS This exercise might inspire anger as old hurts are brought up for healing and transformation. This handy book does two things to help us have greater respect and love for others:

1. It helps with practical tips to handle the anger and indignation that is everywhere in our world (and hard not to unconsciously absorb and reflect);
2. It helps root out the sources of anger and excuses we use for ourselves.

An excellent pre-Confession resource to skim (it’s short and easily skimmable…but eminently re-readable, too).

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