We Adore Thee, O Christ!

The Convent Chapel stripped of its adornments and without the presence of our dear Lord

We adore Thee, O Christ, and we praise Thee,
because by Thy holy Cross Thou hast redeemed the world!

Good Friday. A day of communal silence and recollection, penance and prayer, in union with Christ in His most sacred passion. ​Early in Passiontide, each Sister drew at least one of the Stations for her particular meditation during that sacred season. From these times of personal prayer, the Sister prepares a reflection associated with that Station to be prayed during our community Stations of the Cross on Good Friday.

Following our Way of the Cross, the Sisters participate in the Cathedral parish Good Friday Liturgy

The Clergy prostrate in silence expressing the helplessness of mankind before our redemption through the Cross

​Rising, the Celebrant intones
​the collect recto tono:

​O God who, by the Passion of Thy Christ, our Lord, hast loosened the bonds of death, that heritage of the first sin to which all men of later times did succeed: make us so conformed to Him that, as we must needs have bourne the likeness of earthly nature, so we may by santification bear the likeness of heavenly grace.
​Through the same Christ our Lord. R. Amen

During the Solemn Intercessions, the Church presents her Crucified Spouse with every single group of people and every human affliction, beseeching Him to apply the merits of His redemption to each.

After the Great Intercessions, the Clergy remove their vestments and shoes to venerate the sacred sign of our redemption, followed by the faithful while the schola chants the Improperia or "Reproaches".

V. Behold the wood of the Cross, on which hung the Savior of the world.
R. Come, let us adore.

​The First Reproach
V. O my people, what have I done to thee? or wherein have I afflicted thee? Answer me. 
V. Because I led thee out of the land of Egypt, thou hast prepared a cross for thy Savior.
R. O holy God!
R. O holy God!
R. O holy strong One!
R. O holy strong One!

R. O holy immortal one, have mercy on us.
R. O holy immortal one, have mercy on us.

Changing from black to violet, the ministers prepare for the distribution
of Holy Communion.​ Following the Thanksgiving after Communion, the congregation departs in silence. 

Let us pray. 
Upon Thy people who with devout hearts have recalled the Passion and Death of Thy Son, we beseech Thee, O Lord, may plentiful blessings descend: may gentleness be used with us, and consolation given us, may our faith increase in holiness, our redemption for ever made firm. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
R. Amen.

Let us pray. 
Almighty and merciful God, who hast restored us by the Passion and Death of Thy Christ: preserve within us the work of Thy mercy; that by our entering into this mystery we may ever live devoutly. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
R. Amen.

Let us pray. 
Be mindful of Thy mercies, O Lord, and hallow us with eternal protection us Thy servants, from whom Christ Thy Son established through His Blood this mystery of the Pasch. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
R. Amen.

​The Sisters strive to spend the evening and Holy Saturday in company with our Blessed Mother, who holds in her heart the faith of the Church.