The Prayer Before a Crucifix, in Latin En ego, o bone et dulcissime Iesu, is a classic prayer of thanksgiving after Holy Communion, said kneeling before an image of Christ crucified: “Look down upon me, good and gentle Jesus, while before thy face I humbly kneel.” The Church grants a plenary indulgence to those who pray it after Communion on the Fridays of Lent. Below are the English and Latin texts, the indulgence, and what the prayer means.
Prayer Before a Crucifix in English
From The Raccolta (1878):
Look down upon me, good and gentle Jesus, while before thy face I humbly kneel, and with burning soul pray and beseech thee to fix deep in my heart lively sentiments of faith, hope, and charity, true contrition for my sins, and a firm purpose of amendment; the while I contemplate with great love and tender pity thy five wounds, pondering over them within me, whilst I call to mind the words which David, thy prophet, said of thee, my Jesus: “They pierced my hands and my feet; they numbered all my bones.” (Psalm 21:17–18)
In Latin: En ego
En ego, o bone et dulcíssime Iésu, ante conspéctum tuum génibus me provólvo, ac máximo ánimi ardóre te oro atque obtéstor ut meum in cor vívidos fídei, spei et caritátis sensus, atque veram peccatórum meórum paeniténtiam, eáque emendándi firmíssimam voluntátem, velis imprímere; dum magno ánimi afféctu et dolóre tua quinque vúlnera mecum ipse consídero ac mente contémplor, illud prae óculis habens quod iám in ore ponébat tuo David prophéta de te, o bone Iésu:
“Fodérunt manus meas et pedes meos, dinumeravérunt ómnia ossa mea”.
The indulgence
The Enchiridion of Indulgences grants a plenary indulgence to the faithful who, on any Friday of Lent, devoutly recite this prayer after Holy Communion before an image of Christ crucified, under the usual conditions (sacramental confession, Holy Communion, prayer for the Pope’s intentions, and freedom from attachment to sin). On other days the indulgence is partial. See the prayer for the Pope and Lent.
What the prayer means
- Before his face: we kneel before the crucifix, aware that Christ looks on us with love.
- Faith, hope and charity: we ask for the theological virtues to be fixed “deep in my heart.” See the Acts of Faith, Hope and Love.
- True contrition and firm purpose of amendment: sorrow for sin and the resolve to change, the heart of confession. See the Act of Contrition.
- The five wounds: we contemplate the wounds of Christ’s hands, feet and side “with great love and tender pity.”
- The words of David: “They pierced my hands and my feet; they numbered all my bones,” from Psalm 22, the psalm Jesus prayed on the Cross. See Psalm 22.
How to pray it
- After receiving Holy Communion, return to your place or kneel before a crucifix.
- Look at the image of Christ crucified for a moment in silence.
- Pray the prayer slowly, pausing at the five wounds.
- On the Fridays of Lent, fulfil the usual conditions to gain the plenary indulgence.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Prayer Before a Crucifix?
A traditional prayer of thanksgiving after Communion, beginning “Look down upon me, good and gentle Jesus,” prayed before an image of the crucified Christ.
What indulgence is attached to the Prayer Before a Crucifix?
A plenary indulgence on any Friday of Lent when it is prayed after Communion before a crucifix, under the usual conditions; a partial indulgence on other days.
What does En ego mean?
“Behold me,” the first words of the prayer in Latin: En ego, o bone et dulcissime Iesu, “Behold, O good and sweetest Jesus.”
More prayers of the Passion and Communion
Texts and sources
- English: The Raccolta (1878), Prayer before a Crucifix, public domain (archive.org).
- Latin: Latin Wikisource, “En ego, o bone et dulcissime Iesu.”
- Indulgence: Enchiridion of Indulgences (1999), grant 8.