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The 15 Prayers of St Bridget of Sweden (Holy Wounds Devotion)

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st bridget of sweden

St Bridget of Sweden, a 14th century mystic, had a great love for Christ and a great desire to know more and more about His Passion. She became singularly obsessed with the holy wounds of Christ and wanted to know  how many wounds our Lord received. She prayed for this over and over, not out of curiosity but because she wanted to honor each and every one of them.

Be Careful What You Wish For

Our Lord tells us in Luke 11:

9And I say to you, Ask, and it shall be given you: seek, and you shall find: knock, and it shall be opened to you. 10For every one that asketh, receiveth; and he that seeketh, findeth; and to him that knocketh, it shall be opened. 11And which of you, if he ask his father bread, will he give him a stone? or a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? 12Or if he shall ask an egg, will he reach him a scorpion? 13If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father from heaven give the good Spirit to them that ask him?

And so, according to pious tradition, St Bridget received an answer from our Lord.

“I received 5480 blows upon My Body. If you wish to honor them in some way, recite fifteen Our Fathers and fifteen Hail Marys with the following Prayers, which I Myself shall teach you, for an entire year. When the year is finished, you will have honored each of My Wounds.”

St Bridget & The Holy Wounds of Christ Devotion

Our Lord didn’t stop there.  He then gave St Bridget an assignment. She was to pray 15 prayers    for a full year. These prayers,  added together- the 5475  plus the main 5 wounds that are part of the  The 5 Wounds Devotion, equals 5480.  By the way, the 5 Wounds Devotion,  is not the same as the Holy Wounds Devotion.

You can find the 15 prayers here or in the Pieta Prayer Book.

Now, this is a private revelation, but its an approved revelation. Pope Benedict XV approved and said of it:

Though they don’t merit the same credence as the truths of religion, one can, however, believe them out of human faith, conforming to the rules of prudence by which they are probable, and supported by sufficient motives that one might believe in them piously.”

How do you Pray the 15 Prayers to St Bridget?

Simple. You pray all 15 prayers every day.

What are the Promises Attached to this Devotion?

You will often find in your readings that there are some promises attached to these prayers. However, the Holy See has established that these promises were not given to St Bridget of Sweden, but were actually concocted years later, and so were banned.

WARNING CONCERNING THE “PROMISES OF ST. BRIDGET”
Marius Crovini
Notary of the Supreme Holy Congregation of the Holy Office

In some places, a little work has been disseminated called the “Secret of Happiness: 15 prayers revealed by the Lord to St. Bridget in the Church of St. Paul at Rome”, published at Nice and elsewhere in several languages.

Since it is asserted in this pamphlet that God made to St. Bridget certain promises, whose supernatural origin is uncertain, let local ordinaries take care not to grant permission for publishing or reprinting pamphlets or other writings which contain these promises.

Given at Rome, from the offices of the Holy Office, 28 January 1954
Marius Crovini
Notary of the Supreme Holy Congregation of the Holy Office

Therefore, we will not reprint these promises here.

However, if you wish to honor our Lord by having a devotion to his holy wounds, pray the prayers below for one year.

God bless!


Pray the 15 Prayers of St Bridget Honoring Christ’s Wounds

1st Prayer 

O Jesus Christ! Eternal Sweetness to those who love Thee, joy surpassing all joy and all desire, Salvation and Hope of all sinners, Who hast proved that Thou hast no greater desire than to be among men, even assuming human nature at the fullness of time for the love of men, recall all the sufferings Thou hast endured from the instant of Thy conception, and especially during Thy Passion, as it was decreed and ordained from all eternity in the Divine plan.

Remember, O Lord, that during the Last Supper with Thy disciples, having washed their feet, Thou gavest them Thy Most Precious Body and Blood, and while at the same time Thou didst sweetly console them, Thou didst foretell them Thy coming Passion.

Remember the sadness and bitterness which Thou didst experience in Thy Soul as Thou Thyself bore witness saying: “My Soul is sorrowful even unto death.”

Remember all the fear, anguish and pain that Thou didst suffer in Thy delicate Body before the torment of the Crucifixion, when, after having prayed three times, bathed in a sweat of blood, Thou wast betrayed by Judas, Thy disciple, arrested by the people of a nation Thou hadst chosen and elevated, accused by false witnesses, unjustly judged by three judges during the flower of Thy youth and during the solemn Paschal season.

Remember that Thou wast despoiled of Thy garments and clothed in those of derision; that Thy Face and Eyes were veiled, that Thou wast buffeted, crowned with thorns, a reed placed in Thy Hands, that Thou was crushed with blows and overwhelmed with affronts and outrages.

In memory of all these pains and sufferings which Thou didst endure before Thy Passion on the Cross, grant me before my death true contrition, a sincere and entire confession, worthy satisfaction and the remission of all my sins. Amen.

Our Father

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed by thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. Amen.

Hail Mary

Hail Mary, Full of Grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.


The Revelations of Saint Bridget of Sweden: Books 1-5

holy wounds of christ

2nd Prayer

O Jesus! True liberty of angels, Paradise of delights, remember the horror and sadness which Thou didst endure when Thy enemies, like furious lions, surrounded Thee, and by thousands of insults, spits, blows, lacerations and other unheard-of-cruelties, tormented Thee at will. In consideration of these torments and insulting words, I beseech Thee, O my Savior, to deliver me from all my enemies, visible and invisible, and to bring me, under Thy protection, to the perfection of eternal salvation. Amen.

Our Father

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed by thy name . . .

Hail Mary

Hail Mary, Full of Grace, the Lord is with thee . . .


3rd Prayer

O Jesus! Creator of Heaven and earth Whom nothing can encompass or limit, Thou Who dost enfold and hold all under Thy Loving power, remember the very bitter pain Thou didst suffer when the Jews nailed Thy Sacred Hands and Feet thttps://beautysoancient.com/devotion-to-the-pierced-feet-of-jesus/o the Cross by blow after blow with big blunt nails, and not finding Thee in a pitiable enough state to satisfy their rage, they enlarged Thy Wounds, and added pain to pain, and with indescribable cruelty stretched Thy Body on the Cross, pulled Thee from all sides, thus dislocating Thy Limbs. I beg of Thee, O Jesus, by the memory of this most Loving suffering of the Cross, to grant me the grace to fear Thee and to Love Thee. Amen.

Our Father

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed by thy name . . .

Hail Mary

Hail Mary, Full of Grace, the Lord is with thee . . .

4th Prayer

O Jesus! Heavenly Physician, raised aloft on the Cross to heal our wounds with Thine, remember the bruises which Thou didst suffer and the weakness of all Thy Members which were distended to such a degree that never was there pain like unto Thine. From the crown of Thy Head to the Soles of Thy Feet there was not one spot on Thy Body that was not in torment, and yet , forgetting all Thy sufferings, Thou didst not cease to pray to Thy heavenly Father for Thy enemies, saying
“Father forgive them for they know not what they do.”   Through this great Mercy, and in memory of this suffering, grant that the remembrance of Thy Most Bitter Passion may effect in us a perfect contrition and the remission of all our sins. Amen.

Our Father

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed by thy name . . .

Hail Mary

Hail Mary, Full of Grace, the Lord is with thee . . .


5th Prayer

O Jesus! Mirror of eternal splendor, remember the sadness which Thou experienced, when contemplating in the light of Thy Divinity the predestination of those who would be saved by the merits of Thy Sacred passion, Thou didst see at the same time, the great multitude of reprobates who would be damned for their sins, and Thou didst complain bitterly of those hopeless lost and unfortunate sinners.

Through this abyss of compassion and pity, and especially through the goodness which Thou displayed to the good thief when Thou sadist to him: “This day, thou shalt be with Me in paradise.” I beg of Thee, O Sweet Jesus, that at the hour of my death, Thou wilt show me mercy. Amen.

Our Father

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed by thy name . . .

Hail Mary

Hail Mary, Full of Grace, the Lord is with thee . . .


6th Prayer

O Jesus! Beloved and most desirable King, remember the grief Thou didst suffer, when naked and like a common criminal, Thou was fastened and raised on the Cross, when all Thy relatives and friends abandoned Thee, except Thy Beloved Mother, who remained close to Thee during Thy agony and whom Thou didst entrust to Thy faithful disciple when Thou saideth to Mary: “Woman, behold thy son!” and to St. John: Son, behold thy Mother!”   I beg of Thee O my Savior, by the sword of sorrow which pierced the soul of Thy holy Mother, to have compassion on me in all my affliction and tribulations, both corporal and spiritual, and to assist me in all my trials, and especially at the hour of my death. Amen.

Our Father

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed by thy name . . .

Hail Mary

Hail Mary, Full of Grace, the Lord is with thee . . .



7th Prayer

O Jesus! Inexhaustible Fountain of compassion, Who by a profound gesture of Love, said from the Cross: “I thirst!” suffered from the thirst for the salvation of the human race. I beg of Thee O my Savior, to inflame in our hearts the desire to tend toward perfection in all our acts; and to extinguish in us the concupiscence of the flesh and the ardor of worldly desires. Amen.

Our Father

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed by thy name . . .

Hail Mary

Hail Mary, Full of Grace, the Lord is with thee . . .


8th Prayer

O Jesus! Sweetness of hearts, delight of the spirit, by the bitterness of the vinegar and gall which Thou didst taste on the Cross for Love of us, grant us the grace to receive worthily Thy Precious Body and Blood during our life and at the hour of our death, that they may serve as a remedy and consolation for our souls. Amen.

Our Father

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed by thy name . . .

Hail Mary

Hail Mary, Full of Grace, the Lord is with thee . . .


9th Prayer

O Jesus! Royal virtue, joy of the mind, recall the pain Thou didst endure when, plunged in an ocean of bitterness at the approach of death, insulted, outraged by the Jews, Thou didst cry out in a loud voice that Thou was abandoned by Thy Father, saying: “My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken me?” Through this anguish, I beg of Thee, O my Savior, not to abandon me in the terrors and pains of my death. Amen.

Our Father

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed by thy name . . .

Hail Mary

Hail Mary, Full of Grace, the Lord is with thee . . .


10th Prayer

O Jesus! Who art the beginning and end of all things, life and virtue, remember that for our sakes Thou was plunged in an abyss of suffering from the soles of Thy Feet to the crown of Thy Head. In consideration of the enormity of Thy Wounds, teach me to keep, through pure love, Thy Commandments, whose way is wide and easy for those who love Thee. Amen.

Our Father

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed by thy name . . .

Hail Mary

Hail Mary, Full of Grace, the Lord is with thee . . .


11th Prayer

O Jesus! Deep abyss of mercy, I beg of Thee, in memory of Thy Wounds which penetrated to the very marrow of Thy Bones and to the depth of Thy being, to draw me, a miserable sinner, overwhelmed by my offenses, away from sin and to hide me from Thy Face justly irritated against me, hide me in Thy Wounds, until Thy anger and just indignation shall have passed away. Amen.

Our Father

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed by thy name . . .

Hail Mary

Hail Mary, Full of Grace, the Lord is with thee . . .


12th Prayer

O Jesus! Mirror of Truth, symbol of unity, link of Charity, remember the multitude of wounds with which Thou was covered from head to foot, torn and reddened by the spilling of Thy adorable blood. O great and universal pain which Thou didst suffer in Thy virginal flesh for love of us! Sweetest Jesus! What is there that Thou couldst have done for us which Thou hast not done! May the fruit of Thy sufferings be renewed in my soul by the faithful remembrance of Thy passion, and may Thy love increase in my heart each day, until I see Thee in eternity, Thou Who art the treasury of every real good and every joy, which I beg Thee to grant me, O sweetest Jesus, in Heaven. Amen.

Our Father

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed by thy name . . .

Hail Mary

Hail Mary, Full of Grace, the Lord is with thee . . .


13th Prayer

O Jesus! Strong Lion, Immortal and Invincible King, remember the pain which Thou didst endure when all Thy strength, both moral and physical, was entirely exhausted, Thou didst bow Thy head, saying: “It is consummated!”   Through this anguish and grief, I beg of Thee Lord Jesus, to have mercy on me at the hour of my death when my mind will be greatly troubled and my soul will be in anguish. Amen.

Our Father

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed by thy name . . .

Hail Mary

Hail Mary, Full of Grace, the Lord is with thee . . .


14th Prayer

O Jesus! Only Son of the Father, splendor and figure of His substance remember the simple and humble recommendation Thou didst make of Thy Soul to Thy Eternal Father, saying: “Father, into Thy Hands I commend My Spirit!” And with Thy body all torn, and Thy Heart broken, and the bowels of Thy mercy open to redeem us, Thou didst expire. By this precious death, I beg of Thee O King of Saints, comfort me and help me to resist the devil, the flesh and the world, so that being dead to the world I may live for Thee alone. I beg of Thee at the hour of my death to receive me, a pilgrim and an exile returning to Thee. Amen.

Our Father

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed by thy name . . .

Hail Mary

Hail Mary, Full of Grace, the Lord is with thee . . .


15th Prayer

O Jesus! True and fruitful Vine! Remember the abundant outpouring of Blood which Thou didst so generously shed from Thy Sacred Body as juice from grapes in a wine press. From Thy Side, pierced with a lance by a soldier, blood and water issued forth until there was not left in Thy Body a single drop, and finally, like a bundle of myrrh lifted to the top of the Cross, Thy delicate flesh was destroyed, the very Substance of Thy Body withered, and the Marrow of Thy Bones dried up.

Through this bitter Passion and through the outpouring of Thy precious Blood, I beg of Thee, O Sweet Jesus, to receive my soul when I am in my death agony. Amen.

Our Father

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed by thy name . . .

Hail Mary

Hail Mary, Full of Grace, the Lord is with thee . . .


Conclusion

O Sweet Jesus! Pierce my heart so that my tears of penitence and love will be my bread day and night; may I be converted entirely to Thee, may my heart be Thy perpetual habitation, may my conversation be pleasing to Thee, and my the end of my life be so praiseworthy that I may merit Heaven and there with Thy saints, praise Thee forever. Amen.

Originally posted in 2017. Updated in 2020.

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3 Comments

  1. 1. In the last prayer, after “grape”, at least one Latin version, and one popular English translation adds, adapted from the Prophet Isaiah, “when on the Press of the Cross Thou didst tread alone”. This makes it less passive. “I have power to lay down My life, and I have power to take it up again”.
    2. The Holy See did not say that it is proven that the Magnificent Promises are fake and of merely human origin, they said that were was no proof that they were of Divine origin. But there is nothing wrong with asking for these graces, and thus relying on infallible promises, de fide promises, such as “Ask, and you shall receive”.
    3. There is no Pope Pius XV. That would be Benedict XIV.
    Fr Paul J. McDonald
    Parish Priest of Chippawa

    1. Fr McDonald, thank you for the correction on the Pope. It should be Pope Benedixt XV.

      When it comes to private revelations, the Church never says something is expressly of divine origin, but that there is nothing that goes against the faith.

      As for the promises, the Holy See expressly forbade them to be printed, not just say that there was no proof. Do you not agree with this?

  2. In Re: The 15 Prayers Jesus Gave To St. Bridget
    The (3rd) Prayers states that the Jews nailed Jesus to the cross. Is that not an error, because it was the Roman Soldiers that bore responsibility for that cruelty?

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