15 Prayers of St Bridget: Traditional Catholic Devotion from the Pieta Prayer Book

The sacred tradition of Catholic prayer offers treasures that have sustained the faithful for centuries. This Catholic prayer is written to help you pray with the Church. Among these precious devotions stand the 15 Prayers of St. Bridget, found within the beloved Pieta Prayer Book that has guided countless souls in their journey toward Christ.

These prayers emerged from the mystical experiences of St. Bridget of Sweden, who received divine revelations about Christ’s Passion. Each prayer focuses on specific moments of Our Lord’s suffering, creating a pathway for deep meditation on His ultimate sacrifice for humanity.

The devotion traditionally requires daily recitation for one full year, preceded by one Our Father and one Hail Mary before each prayer. Through this discipline, Catholics unite their hearts with Christ’s wounds and participate more fully in the mystery of His redemptive love. As scripture reminds us, But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. Isaiah 53:5 (NKJV)

According to tradition, these prayers honor the 5,480 blows Christ received during His Passion, transforming our understanding of His sacrifice into intimate communion with His Sacred Heart.

Sacred 15 Prayers of St Bridget Pieta

The Pieta Prayer Book preserves these ancient prayers as St. Bridget received them, maintaining their original power and spiritual depth. Each prayer begins with a unique title addressing Jesus in His various divine attributes, creating a litany of love that encompasses His entire redemptive work.

And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground. Luke 22:44 (KJV) This scripture illuminates the profound anguish our Savior experienced, which these prayers help us contemplate with reverent hearts.

Prayer Collection Bridge

Enter into these sacred prayers with a heart prepared for encounter. Allow each invocation to draw you deeper into the mystery of Christ’s love, remembering that these words have carried the prayers of countless faithful souls before the throne of grace.

1. Jesus, Eternal Sweetness

This opening prayer focuses on Christ’s agony from the Last Supper through His arrest. St. Bridget received this vision of Jesus as the source of all spiritual sweetness, even in His deepest suffering. The prayer contemplates how our Savior’s heart was troubled knowing the betrayal and abandonment that awaited Him.

O Jesus Christ, Eternal Sweetness to those who love You, joy surpassing all joy and all desire, salvation and hope of all sinners, Who have proved that You have no greater desire than to be among men, even assuming human nature at the fullness of time for the love of men, recall all the sufferings You have endured from the instant of Your conception, and especially during Your Passion, as it was decreed and ordained from all eternity in the Divine plan.

Remember, O Lord, that during the Last Supper with Your disciples, having washed their feet, You gave them Your Most Precious Body and Blood, and while at the same time You sweetly consoled them, You foretold them Your coming Passion.

Remember the sadness and bitterness which You experienced in Your Soul as You Yourself bore witness saying: “My Soul is sorrowful even unto death.” Remember all the fear, anguish and pain that You did suffer in Your delicate Body before the torment of the Crucifixion, when, after having prayed three times, bathed in a sweat of blood, You were betrayed by Judas, Your disciple, arrested by the people of a nation You had chosen and elevated, accused by false witnesses, unjustly judged by three judges during the flower of Your youth and during the solemn Paschal season.

Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me. Matthew 26:38 (KJV)

2. Jesus, True Liberty of Angels

The second prayer addresses Jesus as the true freedom that even angels desire. This prayer recalls the torment inflicted by His enemies and the mockery He endured. It contemplates how the Creator of liberty allowed Himself to be bound for our sake.

Remember, O my Jesus, that You were bound, struck, blindfolded, mocked, clothed in white, struck again and subjected to all kinds of mistreatments in the house of Annas, then sent before Caiaphas where You were condemned to death by wicked men who cried: “He is guilty of death.”

O my loving Jesus, True Liberty of Angels, remember the grief You suffered when You were so ignominiously bound by Your enemies, dragged along and treated so harshly. I beseech You, by the memory of this suffering, to deliver me from the bonds of sin and bad inclinations by which I am bound, and to present me, cleansed by Your Precious Blood, to the Eternal Father on the day of judgment. Amen.

The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ. Acts 4:26 (KJV)

3. Jesus, Creator of Heaven and Earth

This prayer focuses on the physical agony of the crucifixion, particularly the moment when nails pierced Christ’s hands and feet. The prayer invites us to meditate on how the Creator allowed His creation to wound Him for our redemption.

O Jesus Christ, Creator of Heaven and earth, Whom nothing can encompass or limit, You Who enfold and hold all under Your loving power, remember the very bitter pain You suffered when the Jews nailed Your Sacred Hands and Feet to the Cross by blow after blow with big blunt nails, and not finding You in a pitiable enough state to satisfy their rage, they enlarged Your wounds, and added pain to pain, and with indescribable cruelty stretched Your Body on the Cross, pulled You from all sides, thus dislocating Your limbs.

I beseech You, O Jesus, by the memory of this most loving suffering of the Cross, to grant me the grace to fear You and to love You. Amen.

And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. Luke 23:33 (KJV)

4. Jesus, Heavenly Physician

The fourth prayer contemplates Christ as the divine healer who, even while suffering, prayed for His enemies. This prayer focuses on His words “Father, forgive them” and invites us to consider His boundless mercy even in agony.

O Jesus, Heavenly Physician, lifted up on the Cross to heal our wounds with Yours, remember the bruises, the wounds, and the flowing Blood which covered Your Body, as well as the depth of Your sufferings, and the crushing of Your Flesh. O merciful Jesus, what You suffered was beyond all description, yet You did not cease to pray to Your Heavenly Father for Your enemies, saying: “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.”

Through this great mercy, and in memory of this suffering, grant that the remembrance of Your most bitter Passion may effect in us a perfect contrition and the remission of all our sins. Amen.

Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. Luke 23:34 (KJV)

5. Jesus, Mirror of Eternal Splendor

This prayer focuses on Christ’s compassion toward the good thief. Even in His final hours, Jesus offered salvation to the repentant criminal, demonstrating His endless mercy to all who turn to Him in faith.

O Jesus, Mirror of eternal splendor, remember the sadness which You experienced, when contemplating in the light of Your divinity the predestination of those who would be saved by the merits of Your sacred Passion, and seeing at the same time the great multitude of reprobates who would be damned for their sins, and You complained bitterly of those hopeless lost and unfortunate sinners.

Through this abyss of compassion and pity, and especially through the goodness which You displayed to the good thief when You said to him: “Today you shall be with Me in Paradise,” I beg of You, O sweet Jesus, that at the hour of my death, You will show me mercy. Amen.

6. Jesus, Beloved and Most Desirable King

The sixth prayer contemplates the grief of the Blessed Virgin Mary at the foot of the Cross. This prayer invites us to unite our hearts with Mary’s sorrow as she witnessed her Son’s crucifixion, and to find comfort in her maternal intercession.

O beloved and most desirable Jesus, King of Kings, remember the grief You experienced when, naked and like a common criminal, You were lifted up and fastened to the Cross, when all Your relatives and friends abandoned You, except Your loving Mother, who remained close to You during Your agony and whom You entrusted to Your faithful disciple when You said to Mary: “Woman, behold your son,” and to Saint John: “Son, behold your mother.”

I beseech You, O my Savior, by the sword of sorrow which pierced the soul of Your holy Mother, to have compassion on me in all my afflictions and tribulations, both corporal and spiritual, and to assist me in all my trials, and especially at the hour of my death. Amen.

7. Jesus, Inexhaustible Fountain of Compassion

This prayer focuses on Christ’s cry “I thirst” from the Cross. It contemplates both His physical thirst and His spiritual thirst for souls. The prayer invites us to consider how we can satisfy His longing for our love and salvation.

O Jesus, inexhaustible fountain of compassion, Who by a profound gesture of love, said from the Cross, “I thirst,” suffered from the thirst for the salvation of the human race. I beseech You, O my Savior, to inflame in our hearts the desire to tend toward perfection in all our acts, and to extinguish in us the concupiscence of the flesh and the ardor of worldly desires.

Amen.

8. Jesus, Sweetness of Hearts

The eighth prayer contemplates the bitterness of the vinegar and gall offered to Christ. This prayer contrasts the sweetness of Jesus with the bitter treatment He received, inviting us to offer Him the sweetness of our love and devotion.

O Jesus, Sweetness of hearts and delight of the spirit, by the bitterness of the vinegar and gall which You tasted on the Cross for love of us, grant us the grace to receive worthily Your precious Body and Blood during our lifetime and at the hour of our death, that they may serve as a remedy and consolation for our souls. Amen.

9. Jesus, Royal Virtue

This prayer focuses on Christ’s cry of abandonment: “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” It contemplates the mystery of the God-man experiencing separation from the Father for our sake, taking upon Himself the full weight of human sin.

O Jesus, Royal Virtue, joy of the mind, recall the pain You endured when, plunged in an ocean of bitterness at the approach of death, insulted, outraged by the Jews, You cried out in a loud voice that You were abandoned by Your Father, saying: “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”

Through this anguish, I beseech You, O my Savior, not to abandon me in the terrors and pains of my death. Amen.

10. Jesus, Beginning and End of All Things

The tenth prayer addresses Jesus as the Alpha and Omega, contemplating His role as the source and completion of all creation. This prayer invites us to find our beginning and end in Christ, surrendering our lives completely to His will.

O Jesus, beginning and end, life and strength, remember that for our sakes You were plunged in an abyss of suffering from the soles of Your feet to the crown of Your head. In consideration of the enormity of Your wounds, teach me to keep, through pure love, Your commandments, whose yoke is sweet and burden light. Amen.

11. Jesus, Deep Abyss of Mercy

This prayer contemplates the depth of Christ’s wounds and the immeasurable mercy that flows from them. It invites us to plunge into this abyss of divine love, finding healing and forgiveness for our deepest wounds and sins.

O Jesus, deep abyss of mercy, I beseech You, in memory of Your wounds which penetrated to the very marrow of Your bones and to the depth of Your being, to draw me, a miserable sinner, overwhelmed by my offenses, away from sin and to hide me from Your face justly irritated against me. Hide me in Your wounds until Your anger and just indignation shall have passed away. Amen.

12. Jesus, Mirror of Truth

The twelfth prayer focuses on the multitude of wounds covering Christ’s Body. This prayer invites us to contemplate how every part of His sacred humanity was offered for our redemption, and to respond with complete surrender of our own lives.

O Jesus, mirror of truth, symbol of unity, link of charity, remember that to redeem us, Your enemies covered Your whole Body with wounds, and that Your flesh was torn on all sides, so that from the sole of Your foot to the top of Your head there was not one spot on Your Body that was not in torment.

Nevertheless, forgetting all Your sufferings, You did not cease to pray to Your Father for Your enemies, saying: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Through this great goodness, grant me grace to love my enemies and to overcome with love those who oppose me. Amen.

13. Jesus, Strong Lion

This prayer contemplates Christ’s final words “It is finished” and His complete surrender to the Father’s will. The prayer invites us to find strength in His victory over sin and death, and to unite our own sufferings with His.

O Jesus, strong lion, immortal and invincible King, remember the pain which You endured when all Your strength, both moral and physical, was entirely exhausted; You bowed Your head, saying: “It is consummated.”

Through this anguish and grief, I beseech You, Lord Jesus, to have mercy on me at the hour of my death when my mind will be greatly troubled and my soul will be in anguish. Amen.

14. Jesus, Only Son of the Father

The fourteenth prayer focuses on Christ’s final commendation of His spirit to the Father. This prayer contemplates the ultimate act of trust and surrender, inviting us to place our own spirits confidently in the Father’s hands.

O Jesus, only Son of the Father, express image of His substance, remember the recommendation You made of Your Soul to Your Eternal Father, saying: “Father, into Your hands I commend My Spirit,” and with Your Body all torn, and Your Heart broken, and the bowels of Your mercy open to redeem us, You expired.

By this precious death, I beseech You, O King of Saints, comfort me and help me to resist the devil, the flesh and the world, so that being dead to the world I may live only for You. I beseech You at the hour of my death to receive my soul. Amen.

15. Jesus, True and Fruitful Vine

The final prayer contemplates the total outpouring of Christ’s Precious Blood. This prayer invites us to be grafted onto Him as the true vine, drawing life from His sacrifice and bearing fruit through union with His Sacred Heart.

O Jesus, True and fruitful Vine, remember the abundant outpouring of Blood which You so generously shed from Your sacred Body like grapes trodden in the wine press. From Your side, pierced with a lance by a soldier, blood and water issued forth until there was not left in Your Body a single drop, and finally, like a bundle of myrrh lifted to the top of the Cross, Your delicate flesh was destroyed, the very substance of Your Body withered, and the marrow of Your bones dried up.

By this bitter Passion, and by the outpouring of Your Precious Blood, I beseech You, O sweet Jesus, to receive my soul when I am in my death agony. Amen.

But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water. John 19:34 (KJV)

Closing Encouragement

The 15 Prayers of St. Bridget offer a profound pathway into the heart of Christ’s Passion. Through daily recitation with faith and devotion, these sacred prayers unite us intimately with Our Lord’s redemptive suffering. The Church has treasured this devotion for centuries, and countless souls have found grace and consolation through these mystical glimpses into Christ’s Sacred Heart.

As you embark on this year-long journey of prayer, remember that each word carries the weight of divine love. Allow these prayers to transform your understanding of suffering, mercy, and the boundless compassion of our Savior. Through the intercession of St. Bridget and the powerful promises attached to this devotion, may your soul find the peace and grace that flow eternally from the wounds of Christ. For those seeking to deepen their commitment to daily prayers, this devotion provides a structured path toward intimate communion with Our Lord’s sacrifice.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Part of Our Catholic Prayer Collection

This prayer belongs to Prayer to Saint Michael the Archangel for Protection: A Traditional Catholic Prayer within our complete guide: 15 Essential Catholic Mass Prayers and Responses: Traditional Guide.

FAQ

What are the 15 Prayers of St Bridget and where do they come from?

The 15 Prayers of St. Bridget are a traditional Catholic devotion based on mystical revelations St. Bridget of Sweden received about Christ's Passion. Each prayer focuses on specific moments of Jesus's suffering, and they're preserved in the Pieta Prayer Book. These prayers have guided faithful Catholics for centuries in meditating deeply on Christ's sacrifice and redemptive love.

How do you pray the 15 Prayers of St Bridget correctly?

The traditional practice involves reciting these prayers daily for one full year, with one Our Father and one Hail Mary preceding each of the 15 prayers. This disciplined devotion helps Catholics unite their hearts with Christ's wounds and enter into deeper communion with His redemptive mystery. The prayers should be approached with a prepared heart, ready to encounter Jesus's love through contemplation.

Why are the 15 Prayers of St Bridget in the Pieta Prayer Book?

The Pieta Prayer Book preserves these ancient prayers exactly as St. Bridget received them, maintaining their original spiritual power and depth. The prayers honor the 5,480 blows Christ endured during His Passion, transforming our understanding of His sacrifice into intimate communion. Including them in this beloved prayer book ensures these treasured devotions remain accessible to Catholics seeking to deepen their prayer life.

How many blows did Jesus receive according to the 15 Prayers of St Bridget?

According to Catholic tradition surrounding these prayers, Christ received 5,480 blows during His Passion. This specific number comes from St. Bridget's mystical revelations and is honored through the recitation of these 15 prayers. Understanding this detail helps believers more fully appreciate the physical and spiritual suffering Jesus endured for humanity's redemption.