We adore you, most holy Lord Jesus Christ, here and in all your churches throughout the world, and we bless you, because by your Holy Cross, you have redeemed the world.

If this prayer rings a bell to you, chances are; you’re probably a parishioner of St. Mary of the Angels, or you’re familiar with the Franciscan Friars. This simple prayer is a prayer which is actually composed by St. Francis of Assisi, and it is prayed by Franciscans throughout the world today, typically at the start and at the end of each hour of the Liturgy of the Hours. 

During his life on earth, whenever Francis caught sight of a Church, he was known to go into the Church, where he would kneel and pray these very simple and profound words in front of the crucified Lord. Francis was known to gaze into the eyes of Christ on the Cross as he prayed this prayer, which he believed to follow him wherever he went.

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Whenever Francis prayed this prayer in front of the cross, it was always the eyes of Jesus which drew his attention. Francis saw that the eyes of the suffering servant which hung upon the Cross showed no sign of anguish. To Francis, the eyes of Christ on the cross looked nothing but serene, even in the midst of suffering. The eyes of the crucified Lord did not threaten Francis with more pain. On the contrary, they seemed to console him. 

If one thing is absolutely certain, it is that the suffering and crucified Jesus who stood in front of Francis as he prayed this prayer, and who stands before all of us whenever we pray knew the experience of suffering. As much as his passion is something which we celebrate, we cannot deny the fact that Jesus suffered much, and he did so out of love for all of us. But few of us remember that it was after his experience of suffering that our Lord experienced the peace found after suffering. It was this peace which he shared with the disciples when they were locked in the upper room on that Sunday evening, the same day where Christ rose from the dead. 

Francis prayed this simple prayer in front of our crucified Lord on a daily basis. He wanted to know the fullness of the peace which our Lord offers each and every one of us. But he knew that the peace which Christ offers us would not be possible without the Cross. Francis knew that it was the Cross which redeemed the world, and it is the cross that offers us the peace of Christ. Francis knew to love the Lord not just for the joys in life, but for the cross. 

What about us? Do we long for the peace which Christ offers? Are we willing to love the Lord for the cross? 

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