Evening Prayer for Lent

O my Jesus, my King, and My Head! Before I lay my weary limbs to rest, and fall asleep, I would commune once more with Thee, and commend myself to Thy keeping. My meditations today upon Thy sufferings have awakened in me the sweetest emotions. O let those emotions be permanent, and let the remembrance of Thy Passion bear fruit in me.

O dearest Jesus! through Thy sufferings Thou hast hallowed all the sufferings which may come upon Thy members, and hence those also which may come upon me. Thou wast sorrowful even unto death; yea, Thou didst experience what it means to be utterly forsaken. And all this Thou didst endure, in order that I might be delivered from similar distresses through Thee. Be not forgetful of me in such hours, but be my help in trouble. When I cry, be not silent unto me. Sorrow and dismay take hold on me, when Thou hidest Thy face and seemest not to know me or not to care for me. Trembling and anguish fill my soul, when Thou appearest to turn me away in my bodily or spiritual distress, as if I had nothing to seek from Thee. Therefore I entreat Thee, hide not from me the gracious light of Thy countenance. In such dark hours rouse me to faith, that I may cling firmly to Thy promises and Thy love. Let me confidently hope that Thou wilt turn for me my mourning into dancing, and wilt put off my sack-cloth and gird me with gladness.

O yes, my Jesus, speak to me words of comfort in my afflictions. Leave me not, neither forsake me. Let me remember the joyful end which crowned Thy sufferings, and firmly trust in Thy goodness and mercy. Let me be like Thee, and imitate Thy example in my sufferings. Let me bear with cheerfulness all that a wise Providence sees fit to have me bear. Make me patient when troubles come upon me like a flood. Enable me to bear with meek submission all that befalls me. Let the same mind be in me which was also in Thee, O Jesus. Let me not seek to prescribe the hour when Thou shalt help, but ever say with Thee, “Father, not my will, but Thine be done.” Let me imitate Thy example in my hours of sorrow, that at last I may also share in Thy eternal glory. Let the thought of Thee banish my sadness. Keep Thy bleeding image ever before my eyes; then shall I never lack for comfort, but be powerfully quickened and refreshed.

Abide with me tonight. And tomorrow when I awake, yea, on every succeeding morning when I awake, let my soul be satisfied with Thy likeness. Strengthen me constantly by Thy grace even to my end. And when the hour of my death arrives, let me look forward in confidence to the dissolution of soul and body, and die in peace. Take my spirit into Thy hands: and let Thy sufferings for me hover before my eyes, that I may draw from them comfort, strength, and quickening in abundant measure. Amen.