Archbishop John: pray before the distressing majesty of the cross
Pray before our Crucified Lord during Lent
Archbishop John is calling on all in the Archdiocese to join him in prayer and contemplation before the crucified Lord Jesus during Lent.
In a Lenten video message, shared the day before Lent begins, the Archbishop said: "I want to draw your eyes and your heart to the distressing majesty of the cross”. "Every year in Lent, we go on a spiritual journey to the foot of the cross”, Archbishop John said, as “we seek to draw ourselves closer to the Lord Jesus and his redeeming sacrifice”.
The importance of the redeeming sacrifice of the Lord Jesus, in that hour at Calvary, but also for our lives today, is why Archbishop John said:
"I want us to do more than stumble on our Lenten journey. I want us, together, to really contemplate and meditate on the distressing majesty of the cross so that we really can take in what it means for us and our relationship with our God, the Lord Jesus Christ".
The Archbishop emphasised the beauty and majesty of Christ's sacrifice, stating:
"In that hour at Calvary, as he died on the cross, the Lord Jesus saw you. He looked deep into your soul and into mine. He knew our sins, our transgressions, our faults. Yet he still chose to die for us."
Archbishop John is inviting all the faithful to spend time in daily prayer before the cross during this penitential season.
"This Lent I invite you to spend time in prayer before the cross in your home, in a church or even find an image or piece of art of the cross on your phone. But spend time before the crucified Lord in prayer each day”.
The Archbishop added:
"Keep your eyes fixed on the Lord Jesus and as you gaze in wonder at our Lord, find comfort that when he was on the cross his eyes were fixed on you and in that moment, he loved you as he loves you now."
Archbishop John concluded with a prayer he encourages all to repeat throughout Lent:
We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you;
because by your Holy Cross, you have redeemed the world.
By your wounds, we are healed.
By your wounds we are being healed
Amen
Throughout Lent, alongside the Archbishop’s Lenten message, the Archdiocese of Southwark will publish prayers and reflections to help you contemplate the distressing majesty of the cross and give thanks to the Lord Jesus for his redeeming sacrifice. You can find the prayers and reflections across our social media channels, including YouTube, Instagram, TikTok and Facebook.
You can also join Archbishop John in praying the Romero Rosary (rcaos.org.uk/romerorosary) before a cross at the National Shrine of St Oscar Romero at St George’s Cathedral on Ash Wednesday (18 February 5pm) and again on Friday 6 March and Friday 27 March.
