The St. Bridget 12-Year Prayer is one of the most profound and life-changing devotions in all of Catholic tradition. Unlike the more common one-year devotion (the 15 Prayers), this practice asks for more than a decade-long commitment to meditating on the seven times Jesus Christ shed His Precious Blood for the redemption of mankind.
Revealed to St. Bridget of Sweden—the 14th-century mystic and co-patroness of Europe—this devotion is a "marathon of grace" that roots the soul deeply in the Passion of Our Lord.
Our Lord is said to have revealed five extraordinary promises to St. Bridget for those who faithfully recite these prayers for twelve years. While the Church classifies these as private revelations, they have inspired the faithful to persevere in prayer for over 650 years.
A Note on Faith: If the devotee should die before the 12 years are completed, the Lord accepts the spiritual intention as if the devotion had been finished.
To begin, make the sign of the cross.
O Jesus, now I wish to pray the Lord's Prayer seven times in unity with the love with which You sanctified this prayer in Your Heart. Take it from my lips into Your Divine Heart. Improve and complete it so much that it brings as much honor and joy to the Trinity as You granted it on earth with this prayer. May these pour upon Your Holy Humanity in Glorification to Your Painful Wounds and the Precious Blood that You spilled from them.
Our Father, Hail Mary...
Eternal Father, through Mary's unblemished hands and the Divine Heart of Jesus, I offer You the first wounds, the first pains, and the first Bloodshed as atonement for my and all of humanity's sins of youth, as protection against the first mortal sin, especially among my relatives.
Image: Fra Bartolomeo, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Our Father, Hail Mary...
Eternal Father, through Mary's unblemished hands and the Divine Heart of Jesus, I offer You the terrifying suffering of Jesus' Heart on the Mount of Olives and every drop of His Bloody Sweat as atonement for my and all of humanity's sins of the heart, as protection against such sins and for the spreading of Divine and brotherly Love.
Our Father, Hail Mary...
Eternal Father, through Mary's unblemished hands and the Divine Heart of Jesus, I offer You the many thousands of Wounds, the gruesome Pains, and the Precious Blood of the Flogging as atonement for my and all of humanity's sins of the Flesh, as protection against such sins and the preservation of innocence, especially among my relatives.
Our Father, Hail Mary...
Eternal Father, through Mary's unblemished hands and the Divine Heart of Jesus, I offer You the Wounds, the Pains, and the Precious Blood of Jesus' Holy Head from the Crowning with Thorns as atonement for my and all of humanity's sins of the Spirit, as protection against such sins and the spreading of Christ's Kingdom here on earth.
Our Father, Hail Mary...
Eternal Father, through Mary's unblemished hands and the Divine Heart of Jesus, I offer You the Sufferings on the Way of the Cross, especially His Holy Wound on His Shoulder and its Precious Blood as atonement for my and all of humanity's rebellion against the Cross, every grumbling against Your Holy Arrangements and all other sins of the tongue, as protection against such sins and for true love of the Cross.
Our Father, Hail Mary...
Eternal Father, through Mary's unblemished hands and the Divine Heart of Jesus, I offer You Your Son on the Cross, His Nailing and Raising, His Wounds on His Hands and Feet, and the three streams of His Precious Blood that poured forth from these Wounds for us, His extreme tortures of His Body and Soul, His precious Death and its un-bloody Renewal in all the Holy Masses on earth as atonement for all wounds against the vows and regulations within the Religious Orders, as reparation for my and all of the world's sins, for the sick and the dying, for all holy priests and laymen, for the Holy Father's intentions toward the restoration of Christian families, for the strengthening of Faith, for our country and unity among all nations in Christ and His Church.
Our Father, Hail Mary...
Eternal Father, accept as worthy, for the needs of Your Holy Church and as atonement for the sins of all Mankind, the Precious Blood and Water which poured forth from the Wound of Jesus' Divine Heart. Be gracious and merciful toward us.
Blood of Christ, the last precious content of His Holy Heart, wash me of all my and others' guilt of sin!
Water from the Side of Christ, wash me clean of all punishments for sin and extinguish the flames of Purgatory for me and for all the Poor Souls. Amen.
Beyond the promises, the greatest benefit of this devotion is the profound, steady transformation of the soul. Committing to several minutes of meditation on the Passion every day for over a decade provides a spiritual "scaffolding" that reshapes a person’s entire interior life.
Holiness is the fruit of constancy. By carving a permanent channel for grace in your daily routine, you tame the "wandering mind" and anchor the soul in the presence of God.
Filling the mind daily with the Passion of Christ creates a psychological shift. When we habitually meditate on Christ's suffering, our own personal trials are placed within a redemptive context. This invites us into the way of reparation and fosters a "supernatural optimism" that rests in the knowledge that no pain is wasted.
Focusing on the Precious Blood of Christ highlights specific virtues: Humility from the Agony, Patience from the Scourging, and Charity from the Crucifixion. This devotion both highlights the virtues of Christ for our imitation and obtains the grace to exercise them in our lives.
Embarking on a 12-year devotion is a marathon, not a sprint. To help you persevere through the seasons of life, use this "Checklist for Success" to anchor your practice:
Devotion to the Saint: Your commitment is part of a larger mission of moral renewal that flows out of the life, work, and example of St. Bridget. Perseverance in this practice can be helped by developing a devotion to her. Learn more about St. Bridget of Sweden.
If you miss a day due to an honest oversight, simply make up the prayer as soon as possible. The devotion is a matter of the heart’s intent and perseverance, not a legalistic requirement.
Yes. The 15 Prayers are a one-year devotion focusing on the number of blows Christ received. The 12-Year Prayer is a longer commitment focusing specifically on the seven instances of His Blood being shed.
Many find it helpful to record their start date in a Bible or prayer journal.
No Subscriptions, NoPaywall, 100% Free!
Experience the richness of our Catholic Faith with the free Covenant Network app, now available on your iPhone or Android.
No Subscriptions, NoPaywall, 100% Free!
Experience the richness of our Catholic Faith with the free Covenant Network app, now available on your iPhone or Android.
An initiative of Covenant Network
