# The seven prayers of St. Bridget of Sweden
*2020-07-22*

> Bill Young discusses the spiritual significance of the Seven Prayers of St. Bridget of Sweden and shares a personal story of divine protection.

## A Personal Encounter and Divine Protection

Before diving into the prayers, I want to share a strange experience I had. About a year and a half ago, shortly before a trip to Charlotte, North Carolina, I had a vivid dream. I woke up to find a figure in my room—a woman with short blonde hair wearing a long white gown. I couldn't quite recognize her face, and while I was initially frightened, I later felt a gentle breeze pass by me. I still don't fully understand the meaning of the dream, but it coincided with a time when I rediscovered a Bible given to me by my aunt, Sister Mary Teresa, open to the passage where Mary says 'yes' to God.

Shortly after, while driving south on the Turnpike, I experienced a near-miss. A car was driving the wrong way in the left lane, heading north while I was heading south. If I had been in that lane, it would have been a head-on collision. I believe this is a testament to how prayer and the intercession of saints or guardian angels can affect our lives. The prayers of St. Bridget mention that for those with a good heart, life may be extended, and I suspect I may have been saved by such grace.

## The Promises of the Seven Prayers

The Lord revealed to St. Bridget of Sweden that He received more than 6,000 blows during His Passion and shed more than 30,000 drops of holy blood. He promised specific graces to those who honor His precious blood for 12 years by reciting seven Our Fathers and seven Hail Marys daily. These graces include being numbered among the martyrs, the preservation of relatives in a state of sanctifying grace, and receiving knowledge of one's death a month beforehand.

If a person begins these prayers and dies before the 12 years are complete, the prayer is considered valid as if it had been finished. While faithfulness to the daily recital is emphasized, if a serious matter causes someone to miss a day, they may recite the prayers twice the following day. Most importantly, these should not be read without attention, but said devotedly while meditating on the words.

## The Seven Prayers of the Passion

The devotion begins with the Sign of the Cross, the Apostles' Creed, and an initial prayer asking Jesus to unite our voices with His love for the Father. The seven prayers then follow the stages of the Passion:

1. The Circumcision: Offering the first drops of blood to pardon the sins of youth.
2. The Sweating of Blood: Offering the suffering on the Mount of Olives for the propagation of love toward God and neighbor.
3. The Scourging: Offering the thousands of strokes to amend sins of the flesh.
4. The Crowning with Thorns: Offering the blood from the head of Jesus to amend sins of the spirit.
5. The Way to Calvary: Offering the wounds of the shoulder to amend rebellion against the Cross and sins of the tongue.
6. The Crucifixion: Offering the nails, the extreme poverty, and the torments of the soul for the Holy Father, the Church, and the renewal of Christian families.
7. The Wound in the Side: Offering the blood and water from the Sacred Heart to cleanse the soul and quench the flames of purgatory for the poor souls of the dead.

Each of these prayers is accompanied by an Our Father, a Hail Mary, and the Glory Be.

## Closing Reflections

To conclude this devotion, I include prayers to the guardian angels, asking for light, guidance, and protection on the path of life. As we continue our Lenten journey, let us pray for the Holy Spirit to help us turn away from sin, fast, and pray so that we may know the Lord better and share His grace with the world.

*Faithful devotion to the Passion of Christ through the prayers of St. Bridget can bring profound spiritual protection and grace to both the believer and their relatives.*