Novena for the Finding of the Holy Cross

With all the powers of my heart I love, I praise, I bless and adore thee, O true seat of wisdom! O vanquisher of the infernal powers! O invaluable instrument of human redemption! O most holy Cross of Jesus Christ! O Cross ennobled by the blood of the Divine Lamb! Thou art become the hope of sinners, the comfort of penitents, the consolation of the just, and the characteristic distinction of all the disciples of the true God; most powerful monarchs regarded it as an honour to pay thee worship, and to have thee placed upon their crowns; thereby declaring that thou art their defence and their glory. Ah, teach us those divine lessons of humility, patience, meekness, charity, and constancy, which were preached from thee when the Author of our faith, the Finisher of our salvation, expired upon thee! With the deepest contrition I mourn the length of time that I have refused to conform my life to thy teaching; and with the firmest resolution I declare, that for the future I will endure with holy courage every kind of mortification, and support, with patient resignation, all the crosses with which my beloved Saviour may be pleased to prove me; so that after having followed Him in suffering and contempt, I may be made fit to share with Him in the blessedness of His Kingdom, to which thou art the only key.

Our Father, (three times,) to the Agony of Jesus.