Day 7 - The Prayers at the Foot of the Cross - St. Bridget of Sweden Novena

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Day 7: The Prayers at the Foot of the Cross – St. Bridget of Sweden Novena

Quote from the Revelations

“I received these prayers from the lips of Christ Himself as I knelt before the Crucifix. They are for those who desire to remember His Passion and live in His love.”
—Revelations, Book V, Prologue

Reflection
The Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls was a place of deep prayer for St. Bridget during her years in Rome. There, she would come before the crucifix suspended above the altar—its hands broken by age and conflict—and offer her heart completely to Christ. In that sacred space, she received a series of revelations from the Lord, who shared with her prayers that would help the faithful unite more closely to His Passion.

These prayers became known as the Fifteen Prayers of St. Bridget. Through them, Christ drew her into the mystery of His suffering and invited her to share it with others. Bridget wrote down the words she heard and the insights given to her—not to spark fear, but to awaken love. Her purpose was to help hearts remain close to Jesus, especially in His sorrows.

Bridget shows us how the Passion is not an event to be observed from a distance. It is the place where we meet Christ in His deepest gift of self. When we meditate on His wounds, we are invited to entrust Him with our own. When we remember His suffering, we are drawn into the mercy that flows from it. These prayers were not only a gift for personal devotion—they were also a call to renewal. Bridget urged the leaders of her time to remember the love Christ poured out on the Cross and to live lives worthy of that love. As the Church—the Bride of Christ—struggled with wounds and division, Bridget called her to reflect again the holiness of her Divine Bridegroom.

Prayer for Intercession
St. Bridget, you listened with love at the foot of the Cross and received a treasure for the Church.
Help us to pray the Passion with devotion and gratitude.
Teach us to remain close to Jesus in sorrow and in joy,
and to bring others to the healing love of the Crucified.
With confidence in your prayers, we now place before the Lord the intention we bring to this novena.
May the mystery of the Cross strengthen our hearts, renew our hope, and inspire the Church to conversion, healing, and the courage to act with holiness and clarity.
Amen.

St. Bridget of Sweden, pray for us