O Compassionate Father, as I prepare to venerate Your Son’s Cross, help me to understand the great love that is expressed by it. Your Son voluntarily endured suffering and death because You know that we humans fear these to life experiences the most. Out of love You revealed to us that neither suffering nor death can separate us from You, O Father, if we accept these are a part of human life and learn from them. Help me to take up my cross and carry it. As I request Your help, O God, I offer my praise to You, Who I know to be Father, Son and Holy Spirit, not only now but forever and ever. Amen