O glorious Saint Paul of the Cross,
on earth you were a mirror of innocence
and a model of penance!
O hero of saintliness,
chosen by God to meditate day and night
on the bitter Passion of His only-begotten Son,
and to spread devotion by word and deed
as well as by means of your religious family!
O Apostle, mighty in word and work,
you spent your life in bringing back
to the foot of the Cross the erring souls
of countless unfortunate sinners!
Mercifully look down once more from heaven
upon my poor soul and hear my petitions.
Obtain for me so great a love of Jesus suffering,
that by constant meditation on His Passion
I may make His sufferings mine.
Let me realize in the deep Wounds of my Savior
the wickedness of my transgressions,
and obtain from them, as from
the fountain of salvation, the grace of bitter tears
and an effectual resolution to imitate you in your penance,
if I have not followed your example of innocence.