The St. Bridget 12-Year Devotion, also known as the 7 Prayers Honoring the 7 Times Jesus Shed His Blood, is a devotion in which seven specific prayers are prayed daily for 12 years. Traditionally attributed to St. Bridget of Sweden, these prayers focus on the seven instances when Jesus shed His Precious Blood during His life and Passion, from the Circumcision to the piercing of His Side. By meditating on these moments and offering the prayers, those who pray them seek to honor Christ’s sacrifice, express gratitude for His love, and deepen their spiritual connection with Him.
The St. Bridget 12-Year Devotion
Honoring the 7 Times Jesus Shed His Blood
Prayer Video – St. Bridget’s 12 Years Devotion
Opening Prayer
O Jesus, I now wish to pray the Lord’s Prayer seven times in unity with the love with which You sanctified this prayer in Your Heart. Take it from my lips into Your Divine Heart. Improve and complete it until it brings as much honor and joy to the Blessed Trinity as You granted it on earth with this prayer. May these pour upon Your Holy Humanity in glorification of Your painful Wounds and the Precious Blood that You spilled from them.
First Prayer – The Circumcision
Our Father …
Hail Mary …
Eternal Father, through Mary’s unblemished hands and the Divine Heart of Jesus, I offer You the first wounds, the first pains, and the first bloodshed, as atonement for my and all of humanity’s sins of youth, as protection against the first mortal sin, especially among my relatives. Amen.
Second Prayer – The Suffering on the Mount of Olives
Our Father …
Hail Mary …
Eternal Father, through Mary’s unblemished hands and the Divine Heart of Jesus, I offer You the terrifying suffering of the Heart of Jesus on the Mount of Olives, and every drop of His sweat of Blood, as atonement for my and all of humanity’s sins of the heart, as protection against such sins, and for the spreading of Divine and Brotherly Love. Amen.
Third Prayer – The Scourging
Our Father …
Hail Mary …
Eternal Father, through Mary’s unblemished hands and the Divine Heart of Jesus, I offer You the many thousands of Wounds, the gruesome Pains, and the Precious Blood of the Scourging, as atonement for my and all of humanity’s sins of the flesh, as protection against such sins and for the preservation of innocence, especially among my relatives. Amen.
Fourth Prayer – The Crowning of Thorns
Our Father …
Hail Mary …
Eternal Father, through Mary’s unblemished hands and the Divine Heart of Jesus, I offer You the Wounds, the Pains, and the Precious Blood of the Holy Head of Jesus from the Crowning with Thorns, as atonement for my and all of humanity’s sins of the spirit, as protection against such sins and for the spreading of the Kingdom of Christ here on earth. Amen.
Fifth Prayer – The Carrying of the Cross
Our Father …
Hail Mary …
Eternal Father, through Mary’s unblemished hands and the Divine Heart of Jesus, I offer You the Sufferings on the Way of the Cross, especially His Holy Wound on His Shoulder and its Precious Blood, as atonement for my and all of humanity’s rebellion against the Cross, every grumbling against Your Holy Providence, and all other sins of the tongue, as protection against such sins and for true love of the Cross. Amen.
Sixth Prayer – The Crucifixion
Our Father …
Hail Mary …
Eternal Father, through Mary’s unblemished hands and the Divine Heart of Jesus, I offer You Your Son on the Cross, His nailing and raising on high, the Wounds on His Hands and Feet, and the three streams of His Precious Blood that poured forth for us from these, the extreme tortures of His Body and Soul, His precious death and its unbloody renewal in all Holy Masses on earth, as atonement for all wounds against vows and regulations within Religious Orders, as reparation for my and all the world’s sins, for the sick and the dying, for all holy priests and laymen, for the Holy Father’s intentions toward the restoration of Christian families, for the strengthening of Faith, for our country, for unity among all nations in Christ and His Church, as well as for the Diaspora. Amen.
Seventh Prayer – The Piercing of Jesus’s Side
Our Father …
Hail Mary …
Eternal Father, accept as worthy, for the needs of the Holy Church and as atonement for the sins of all Mankind, the Precious Blood and Water which poured forth from the Wound of the Divine Heart of Jesus. Be gracious and merciful toward us.
Blood of Christ, the last precious content of His Holy Heart, wash me of all my and others’ guilt of sin.
Water from the Side of Christ, wash me clean of all punishments for sin and extinguish the flames of Purgatory for me and for all the Poor Souls. Amen.
Promises traditionally associated with this devotion (authenticity unverified):
- The soul who prays them will suffer no Purgatory.
- The soul who prays them will be accepted among the Martyrs as though he had spilled his blood for his faith.
- The soul who prays them can choose three others whom Jesus will then keep in a state of grace sufficient to become holy.
- No one in the four successive generations of the soul who prays them will be lost.
- The soul who prays them will be made conscious of his death one month in advance.