The Chaplet of the Holy Cross

prayed using Rosary beads, & especially suitable for Fridays, feasts of the Cross & martyrs,
Lent & Paschaltide, times of suffering or temptation, & for the dying

* indicates when others should join in or respond

Opening Prayers

Signing your lips with the Cross, say: O Lord, + Thou wilt open my lips, * and my mouth shall proclaim Thy praise. (Ps 50)

Signing your head and chest slowly and attentively, say:

O God, + come to my assistance. * O Lord, make haste to help me. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Alleluia! [During Septuagesima and Lent, instead of Alleluia: Praise be to Thee, O Lord, King of eternal glory!] (Ps 69)

Introductory Prayers

Apostles’ Creed & Our Father

For an increase of the theological virtues:

Faith: Now is the judgment of this world, now shall the prince of this world be cast out. As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him may not perish, but may have eternal life. * And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw all to Myself. (John 3 & 12)

Hope: If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. * For whoever would save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. (Matt 16)

Charity: Come to Me, all you who labour and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am meek and humble of heart, and you shall find rest for your souls. * For My yoke is sweet and My burden light. (Matt 11)

Sweet the wood, sweet the nails, * sweet the Load that hangs thereon.

Decade

A single decade may be said, or up to five in honour of the wounds of Jesus.

The following sections may be said in alternation, or all may join in at Therefore :

Christ Jesus humbled Himself, becoming obedient unto death, even to the death of the cross. * Therefore, God has highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the Name which is above every name, * that at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow in heaven, on earth, and under the earth, * and every tongue should confess that the Lord Jesus Christ is in the glory of God the Father. (Phil 2)

We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee, * because by Thy holy Cross Thou hast redeemed the world. [x 10]

God forbid that I should glory save in the Cross of Our Lord Jesus Christ, * by Whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. (Gal 6)

Conclusion

Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, laying aside every weight and sin around us, let us run by patience the contest set before us, * looking to Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith, Who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and now is seated on the right hand of the throne of God. (Heb 12)

This sign of the Cross shall be in heaven. * When the Lord shall come to judge.
[In Paschaltide, after each versicle, add Alleluia.]

If the Chaplet is recited in a group, the one leading adds Let us pray before the Collect:

O God, Who didst will to hallow the standard of the life-giving Cross by the Precious Blood of Thine only-begotten Son, grant, we pray, that those who rejoice in the honour of the same holy Cross may also rejoice in Thy protection everywhere. Through the same Christ Our Lord. * Amen.

Prayers for Deliverance from Evil

It behoves us to glory in the Cross of Our Lord Jesus Christ, * in Whom is our salvation, life, and resurrection, by Whom we are saved and delivered. (cf. Gal 6)

May the holy Cross be my light. * May the dragon not be my guide.

Let God arise, and let His enemies be scattered, * and let those who hate Him flee from before His Face. (Ps 67)

Behold the Cross of the Lord! Flee, you enemy hosts! * The Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered! Alleluia!

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit * as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

By the Sign of the Cross, * deliver us from our enemies, O our God.

In the Name of the Father, + and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. * Amen.