“The Seven Last Words of Christ” is a profound prayer and meditation on the seven final statements that Jesus Christ spoke during His crucifixion. The prayer is particularly focused on one’s own preparation for death, as each meditation asks for grace at the hour of death and connects Christ’s suffering to the believer’s own eventual passing. It emphasizes themes of mercy, trust in God’s will, and the redemptive power of Christ’s sacrifice.
The Seven Last Words of Christ
Video – The Seven Last Words of Christ
Introductory Prayers
INCLINE unto my aid, O God.
R/. O Lord, make haste to help me.
GLORY BE to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
The First Word
FATHER, forgive them for they know not what they do.
V/. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee.
R/. Because by Thy holy Cross Thou hast redeemed the world.
LORD JESUS, Who for love of me dost suffer upon the Cross in order to pay with Thy sufferings the debt of my sins, and Who dost open Thy Divine lips to obtain for me their remission from the eternal justice of God, have pity on all the faithful who are in their last agony, and upon me.
When I shall come to that final hour, by the merits of Thy Most Precious Blood, which was shed for our salvation, give me such a lively sorrow for my sins that my soul may expire in the bosom of Thine infinite mercy.
GLORY BE to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. [3 times]
V/. Have mercy on us, O Lord.
R/. Have mercy on us.
O my God, I believe in Thee, I hope in Thee, I love Thee, and I repent of having offended Thee by my sins.
The Second Word
THIS day Thou shalt be with Me in Paradise.
V/. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee.
R/. Because by Thy holy Cross Thou hast redeemed the world.
LORD JESUS, Who for love of me dost hang in agony upon the Cross, and with such readiness and bounty, dost respond to the faith of the Good Thief, who acknowledges Thee as the Son of God in Thy humiliation, assuring him of Paradise, have pity on all the faithful who are in their agony, and upon me.
When I shall come to my latter end, by the merits of Thy Most Precious Blood, inspire in my soul a faith so firm and constant that it shall not waver at any suggestions from the devil. May I obtain the reward of Thy holy Paradise.
GLORY BE to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. [3 times]
V/. Have mercy on us, O Lord.
R/. Have mercy on us.
O my God, I believe in Thee, I hope in Thee, I love Thee, and I repent of having offended Thee by my sins.
The Third Word
BEHOLD Thy Son; behold thy Mother.
V/. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee.
R/. Because by Thy holy Cross Thou hast redeemed the world.
LORD JESUS, Who for love of me dost hang in agony upon the Cross, and who, forgetting Thine own sufferings, dost bequeath to me Thy most holy Mother as a pledge of Thy love. Through her, may I be enabled to have recourse to Thee with all confidence in my greatest necessities.
Have pity on all the faithful who are in their agony, and upon me. When I shall come to my latter end, by the interior martyrdom of Thy dear Mother, inspire in my heart a firm trust in the infinite merits of Thy Most Precious Blood, whereby I may escape the eternal damnation which I have merited by my sins.
GLORY BE to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. [3 times]
V/. Have mercy on us, O Lord.
R/. Have mercy on us.
O my God, I believe in Thee, I hope in Thee, I love Thee, and I repent of having offended Thee by my sins.
The Fourth Word
MY GOD! My God! why hast Thou forsaken Me?
V/. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee.
R/. Because by Thy holy Cross Thou hast redeemed the world.
LORD JESUS, Who for love of me dost hang in agony upon the Cross, and who, adding suffering to suffering, besides Thy bodily pains, dost endure with infinite patience the most painful affliction of spirit at being abandoned by Thine Eternal Father.
Have pity on all the faithful who are in their agony, and upon me. When I shall come to the hour of death, by the merits of Thy Most Precious Blood, give me the grace of suffering with true patience all the pains and agony of my death-struggle, so that by uniting my sufferings to Thine, I may share Thy glory in Paradise.
GLORY BE to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. [3 times]
V/. Have mercy on us, O Lord.
R/. Have mercy on us.
O my God, I believe in Thee, I hope in Thee, I love Thee, and I repent of having offended Thee by my sins.
The Fifth Word
I THIRST.
V/. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee.
R/. Because by Thy holy Cross Thou hast redeemed the world.
LORD JESUS, Who for love of me dost hang in agony upon the Cross, and who, not yet satisfied with so many reproaches and sufferings, wouldst suffer even more, if thereby all men might be saved, showing that the whole torrent of Thy Passion is not enough to satisfy the thirst of Thy loving Heart.
Have pity on all the faithful who are in their agony, and upon me. When I shall come to my final hour, by the merits of Thy Most Precious Blood, enkindle such a fire of love within my heart that it yearns to be united with Thee through all eternity.
GLORY BE to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. [3 times]
V/. Have mercy on us, O Lord.
R/. Have mercy on us.
O my God, I believe in Thee, I hope in Thee, I love Thee, and I repent of having offended Thee by my sins.
The Sixth Word
IT IS consummated.
V/. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee.
R/. Because by Thy holy Cross Thou hast redeemed the world.
LORD JESUS, Who for love of me dost hang in agony upon the Cross, and from that pulpit of truth dost proclaim that Thou hast finished the work of our redemption, whereby man, from being a child of wrath and perdition, has been made a son of God and an heir of Heaven.
Have pity on all the faithful who are in their agony, and upon me. When I shall come to my last hour, by the merits of Thy Most Precious Blood, detach me wholly from the world and from myself, giving me the grace to offer Thee from my heart the sacrifice of my life in expiation of my sins.
GLORY BE to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. [3 times]
V/. Have mercy on us, O Lord.
R/. Have mercy on us.
O my God, I believe in Thee, I hope in Thee, I love Thee, and I repent of having offended Thee by my sins.
The Seventh Word
FATHER, into Thy hands I commend My spirit.
V/. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee.
R/. Because by Thy holy Cross Thou hast redeemed the world.
LORD JESUS, LORD JESUS, Who for the love of me dost hang in agony upon the Cross, and who to complete this great sacrifice dost embrace the will of Thine Eternal Father, resigning Thy spirit into His hands and bowing Thy head in death, have pity on all the faithful who are in their agony, and upon me.
When I shall come to my latter end, by the merits of Thy Most Precious Blood, give me a perfect conformity to Thy Divine will, so that I may be ready to live or die as it shall please Thee. I desire nothing else except the perfect fulfillment in me of Thine adorable will, Who for the love of me dost hang in agony upon the Cross, and who to complete this great sacrifice dost embrace the will of Thine eternal Father, resigning Thy spirit into His hands and bowing Thy head in death, have pity on all the faithful who are in their agony, and upon me.
GLORY BE to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. [3 times]
V/. Have mercy on us, O Lord.
R/. Have mercy on us.
O my God, I believe in Thee, I hope in Thee, I love Thee, and I repent of having offended Thee by my sins.
