Offering of Daily Crosses

Jesus said, "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me" (Matthew 16:24). This short offering takes the ordinary crosses of a day, weariness, disappointment, pain of body or mind, and unites them to Christ's Passion. St. Paul wrote that he could "fill up those things that are wanting of the sufferings of Christ" for the sake of the Church (Colossians 1:24), and generations of Catholics have learned to "offer it up."

Pray it in the morning, as a companion to the Morning Offering, or at the moment a difficulty arrives. It is a helpful prayer for the sick, for caregivers, for those with chronic pain, and for anyone going through a hard season. The offering also includes the souls in purgatory, so even small sufferings can become an act of charity for others.

The Prayer

O Jesus, I offer Thee all the crosses of this day: my weariness, my disappointments, my pains of body and mind. Unite them to Thy Passion, and make them meritorious for my salvation and for the souls in Purgatory. Amen.

Sources: Traditional offering of crosses; classic devotionals, public domain.

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