Prayer of Pope Pius Xii for Prisoners

O Divine Prisoner of the sanctuary,

Who for love of us and for our salvation

not only enclosed Yourself

within the narrow confines of human nature

and then hid Yourself under the veils of the Sacramental Species,

but also continually live in the tabernacle!

Hear our prayer which rises to You

from within these walls

and which longs to express to You our affection,

our sorrow, and the great need we have of You in our tribulations,

above all, in the loss of freedom which so distresses us.

For some of us,

there is probably a voice in the depths of conscience

which says we are not guilty;

that only a tragic judicial error has led us to this prison.

In this case, we will draw comfort from remembering that You,

the most August of all victims,

were also condemned despite Your innocence.

Or perhaps, instead,

we must lower our eyes to conceal our blush of shame,

and beat our breast.

But, even so,

we also have the remedy of throwing ourselves into Your arms,

certain that You understand all errors,

forgive all sins,

and generously restore Your grace to him

who turns to You in repentance.

And finally, there are those among us

who have succumbed to sin so often

through the course of our earthly lives

that even the best among men mistrust us,

and we ourselves hardly know how to set out

on the new road of regeneration.

But despite all this,

in the most hidden corner of our soul

a voice of trust and comfort whispers Your words,

promising us the help of Your light

and Your grace if we want to return to what is good.

May we, 0 Lord, never forget that the day of trial

is an opportune time for purifying the spirit,

practicing the highest virtues,

and acquiring the greatest merits.

Let not our afflicted hearts be affected

by that disgust which dries up everything,

or by that distrust which leaves no room

for brotherly sentiments

and which prepared the road for bad counsel.

May we always remember that,

in depriving us of the freedom of our bodies,

no one has been able to deprive us of freedom of the soul,

which during the long hours of our solitude

can rise to You to know You better

and love You more each day.

Grant, 0 Divine Saviour,

help and resignation to the dear ones

who mourn our absence.

Grant peace and quiet to this world

which has rejected us

but which we love

and to which we promise our co-operation

as good citizens for the future.

Grant that our sorrows

may be a salutary example to many souls

and that they may thus be protected

against the dangers of following our path.

But above all, grant us the grace of believing firmly in You,

of filially hoping in You,

and of loving You:

Who, with the Father

and the Holy Spirit,

live and reign forever and ever.

Amen.

O Sacred Heart of Jesus,

make us love Thee more and more!

Our Lady of Hope, pray for us!

Saint Dismas, the Good Thief, pray for us!