Seven Last Words: I Thirst

The Seven Last Words are the seven sayings of Jesus from the Cross recorded in the Gospels. They have been prayed and preached on for centuries, especially on Good Friday, when many parishes hold a three-hour service from noon to three o'clock. "I thirst" (John 19:28) is the fifth Word.

Jesus' thirst was real and physical after hours of suffering, but spiritual writers have long seen in it a deeper thirst: His longing for souls and for our love. This short meditation asks for a share in that desire. Pray it on Fridays, during Lent, at the Stations of the Cross, or whenever you want to console Our Lord, and follow it with the sixth Word.

The Prayer

"I thirst." O Jesus, Thou didst thirst for souls. Make me thirst for Thy love and for the salvation of others. Amen.

Sources: Traditional Seven Words devotion; classic Passion manuals, public domain.