prayer of st. andrew (o bona crux)

St. Andrew, the Apostle, was martyred. He died nail to a cross. His desire to be identified with Christ was so great that when he was being led toward the place of his martyrdom, and saw the cross in the distance, he cried out:

O good cross, made beautiful by the body of the Lord; long have I desired you, ardently have I loved you, unceasingly have I sought you out; and now you are ready for my eager soul. Receive me from among men and restore me to my Master, so that by means of you he may receive me who by means of you dying redeemed me. Amen.

O bona crux, quæ decórem et pulchritúdinem de membris Dómini suscepísti; diu desideráta, sollícite amáta, sine intermissióne quæsíta et aliquándo cupiénti ánimo preparáta: áccipe me ab homínibus, et redde me magístro meo. Súscipe discípulum Christi, ac per te me recípiat, qui per te móriens me redémit. Amen.