This is part of The Great Fast, our program for Lent, 2024. You can find the rest of the program content here.

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‍DAILY ASPIRATION

A reflection on Lenten fasting to guide you into a deeper relationship with Christ.

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PRAYER

(To be prayed in light of the Daily Aspiration.)

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On each of the Fridays of Lent, a plenary indulgence is granted to the faithful who, after Communion, recite this “Prayer Before a Crucifix”:

Look down upon me, good and gentle Jesus while before Thy face I humbly kneel and, with burning soul, pray and beseech Thee to fix deep in my heart lively sentiments of faith, hope and charity; true contrition for my sins; and a firm purpose of amendment; while I contemplate with great love and tender pity Thy five most precious wounds, pondering over them within me while I call to mind the words which David Thy prophet said of Thee, my Jesus: “They have pierced My hands and My feet, they have numbered all My bones.” Amen.

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ANTIPHON

Remember, not O Lord our or our parents' offences: neither take vengeance of our sins.

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Psalm 37

Lord, rebuke me not in Thy furor; nor chastise me in Thy wrath. For thy arrows are fastened in me: and Thy hand hath descended upon me.

There is no health in my flesh in the face of Thy wrath: there is no peace for my bones in the face of my sins. For my iniquities are gone over my head: and are a heavy burden too heavy to bear.

My wounds are putrid and corrupt, in the face of my foolishness. I am miserable and am bowed down: all the day long I walked in sadness .

For my insides are filled with mocking; and there is no health in my flesh. Greatly am I afflicted and humbled: I roared with the groaning of my heart.

Lord, before Thee are all my desires, and my groaning is not hidden from Thee. My heart is troubled, my strength hath left me, and the light of my eyes themselves is not with me.

My friends and my neighbors have drawn near me and stood against me. And those who were near me stood afar:

They laid snares, those who sought my soul. And they that sought evil for me said wicked things, all day long they planned deceitful things.

But I, as a deaf man, heard not: and as a dumb man not opening his mouth. And I became like one that heareth not: and that hath no reproofs in his mouth.

For in Thee, O Lord, have I hoped: Thou wilt hear me, O Lord my God. For I said, "May my enemies never rejoice over me: when my feet stumble, they speak great things against me."

For I am ready for the whip: and my sorrow is continually before me. For I will declare my inequity: and I will be sorry for my sin.

But my enemies live, and are stronger than I, and they that hate me wrongfully multiply. They that render evil for good, have humiliated me, because I followed goodness.

Forsake me not, O Lord, my God, depart not from me. Hasten unto my help, O Lord, God of my salvation.

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Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

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DAILY TABLE READING:

Listen to this when you are able. For a true monastic experience, try playing it while you are breaking your fast (during your meal of the day).

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