Prayer to Jesus Crucified

I wrote this last summer -- almost exactly a year ago -- at the Benedictine convent of Notre Dame de Toute Confiance in Lamaire, France; and since, of course, I didn't have a computer there, I don't believe I have posted it yet. Here, then, I present my little prayer.

Lest we fail and lest we fall,
Christ Jesu, be with us all.
Lest we fall and lest we fail,
Thou wast torn by scourge and nail.
Lest we die and damned be
Thou didst die upon the Tree;
Then, O Lord, Who suffered thus,
Have Thou mercy upon us.

That we rise to Heaven high,
Thou wast raised on rood to die.
Never let the foe prevail,
Lest we fall and lest we fail!
Blessed Lord that died on rood,
Bless us - bathe us in Thy Blood;
Jesu, lend Thy aid we pray,
That we gain Thy side someday.

By Thy wounds so deep and wide
Spare us, Jesu Crucified!
Thou wast torn by scourge and nail
Lest we fall and lest we fail;
Lest we fail and lest we fall,
Christ Jesu, be with us all!

-- Aug. 26, 2007