"Lord Jesus, eternal Word of the Father, you became silence for us. And in the silence that leads us to your tomb, there is one more word we want to say to you as we reflect on the Way of the Cross we walked with you: Thank you!
Thank you, Lord Jesus, for the gentleness that overthrows arrogance.
Thank you for the courage with which you took up the cross.
Thank you for the peace that flows from your wounds.
Thank you for giving your holy Mother to us as our mother too.
Thank you for the love you showed in the face of betrayal.
Thank you for turning tears into smiles.
Thank you for loving everyone without excluding anyone.
Thank you for the hope you pour out in the hour of trial.
Thank you for the mercy that overcomes misery. heals.
Thank you that you laid aside everything to make us rich.
Thank you that you transformed the cross into a tree of life.
Thank you for the forgiveness you offered your murderers.
Thank you that you conquered death.
Thank you, Lord Jesus, for the light you have ignited in our nights, for reconciling every division and thus making us all brothers and sisters, children of the same Father in Heaven."
(Prayer for the Stations of the Cross with the Holy Father, Pope Francis, Good Friday 2023)