Prayer for those Unjustly Imprisioned
ABOUT THE PHOTO ABOVE
(To see a larger photo and download/share it click on the photo above)
This is the “Prison of Christ” (Greek: ΦΥΛΑΚΗ ΤΟΥ ΧΡΙΣΤΟΥ / Fylakí tou Christoú), inside the Greek Orthodox Holy Monastery of the Praetorium in Jerusalem’s Old City.
The site sits along the Via Dolorosa (Lions’ Gate Road), right after the Ecce Homo Arch and before the 3rd Station of the Cross. Tradition identifies it as the Roman prison where Jesus was held after his arrest and questioning by the high priests Caiaphas and Annas, but before his trial by Pontius Pilate. The Praetorium is also linked to the mocking, scourging, and crowning with thorns.
The stone in the foreground is the traditional “prison bench” or stocks — an ancient rock-cut slab with two holes where prisoners’ legs/ankles were inserted and chained underneath. The red cloth, flowers, and vases are typical pilgrim offerings left by visitors who come to pray and venerate the spot.
There is an underground chamber from the Roman-era stonework. Nearby (down a short flight of stairs) are separate cells tradition says held Barabbas and the two thieves crucified with Jesus.
This is the place where Jesus Christ spent his final hours before the Scourging, Carrying the Cross and Crucifixion.
SYMBOLS
[℣] Leader [℟] Response [Ⱥ] All together
SIGN OF THE CROSS
In the Name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
MENTION THE NAME(S) OF THE PERSON(S) YOU ARE PRAYING FOR
God, Almighty Father, we come to you to plead for all those who are falsely accused and imprisoned that they may be delivered from harm, their honor restored, and their life rewarded with your blessings, here on earth and in heaven.
We pray as well for the conversion of all those responsible of spreading lies and for those who judged wrongly, causing great suffering in the lives of many. We pray that they may rectify their ways, retract their accusation, change their wrong decision, and that truth and justice may prevail. Through Our Lord Jesus, the way, the truth and the life. Amen.
Jesus, I trust in you!
Mother of Sorrows, pray for us!
St Raymond Nonnatus, patron of the falsely accused, pray for us!
St Maximilian Kolbe, patron of political prisoners, pray for us!
LORD’S PRAYER
[℣] Our Father who is in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Your WILL be done on earth, as it is in Heaven. [℟] Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.
HAIL MARY
[℣] Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus. [℟] Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen.
GLORIA
[℣] Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. [℟] As it was in the beginning is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
CONCLUDE WITH PSALM 109: 1-5 (Optional)
O God, whom I praise, do not remain silent. Wicked and deceitful men have opened their mouths against me; they have spoken against me with lying tongues. They confront me with words of hatred and assail me without cause. In return for my love they denounce me even as I offer up prayers for them. They give me back evil in exchange for good and hatred in place of my love.
[℣] May the divine assistance remain always with us, [℟] and may the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. [Ⱥ] Amen.
SIGN OF THE CROSS
In the Name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.