O Lord Jesus Christ, Who I profess to be true God and true man, help me this day to bow low before Your Cross and to proclaim Your Resurrection. Help me to truly be filled with the desire to serve You and bear witness to You, my God, as I venerate Your Cross. Do not allow me to just venerate Your Cross out of custom or tradition but, rather, help me, when I venerate It, to truly offer my pledge to take up my cross and follow You. Help me to understand that You, my loving God, endured Your suffering on the Cross, together with all the other maltreatment, to teach me how to live. 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.