The 15 Prayers of St. Bridget are a Catholic devotion on the Passion of Christ. You pray them daily for one year.
Each prayer follows one Our Father and one Hail Mary. Here is what they are, what they offer, and how to start.
Table of Contents
What Are the 15 Prayers of St. Bridget?
Many readers start with one question: what are the 15 Prayers of St. Bridget? Here is the short answer, then the full list.
They are 15 meditations on the suffering of Jesus. Tradition says St. Bridget of Sweden asked how many blows Christ received. He answered 5,480 (some texts say 5,475). He told her to pray 15 Our Fathers and 15 Hail Marys with these prayers for a year. That honors each wound.
Who was St. Bridget of Sweden? She was a widow, a mother of eight, and a mystic. She wrote the Revelations and founded the Brigittine Order at Vadstena. She was canonized in 1391, and her feast day is July 23.
The text appeared in a 1740 book printed in Toulouse. One source says Pope Pius IX approved the prayers in 1862. The Magnificent Promises are different. The Holy Office barred their printing. So the prayers are approved for devotion, but the promises are not.
Here are the 15 Prayers of St. Bridget, each in brief:
First Prayer: Recalls the Last Supper and Gethsemane. Asks for true contrition and a sincere confession.
Second Prayer: Recalls the mockery and spitting. Asks for freedom from enemies, seen and unseen.
Third Prayer: Recalls the nailing to the Cross. Asks for the grace to love and fear God.
Fourth Prayer: Recalls “Father, forgive them.” Asks for perfect contrition.
Fifth Prayer: Recalls Christ’s sorrow for lost souls and the good thief. Asks for mercy at death.
Sixth Prayer: Recalls Mary and St. John at Calvary. Asks for help in every trial.
Seventh Prayer: Recalls “I thirst.” Asks for a heart set on holiness.
Eighth Prayer: Recalls the vinegar and gall. Asks to receive the Eucharist worthily.
Ninth Prayer: Recalls the cry of abandonment. Asks not to be left alone in death.
Tenth Prayer: Recalls the depth of the wounds. Asks for love of the Commandments.
Eleventh Prayer: Recalls wounds that reached the bone. Asks to be drawn away from sin.
Twelfth Prayer: Recalls wounds from head to foot. Asks that Christ’s love grow until heaven.
Thirteenth Prayer: Recalls “It is consummated.” Asks for mercy in the final hour.
Fourteenth Prayer: Recalls “Father, into Thy hands.” Asks for strength against the devil, the flesh, and the world.
Fifteenth Prayer: Recalls the pierced side and the Precious Blood. Asks for mercy in the death agony.
A short closing prayer ends the set. It asks Jesus to pierce the heart with love and sorrow.
Don’t confuse these with the Seven Prayers of St. Bridget. That is a separate devotion, prayed over 12 years.
Benefits of the 15 Prayers of St. Bridget
The benefits are mostly spiritual. It helps to know what the Church teaches and what is private belief.
Praying daily builds a steady habit. You spend time with the Passion every day. Many people report a deeper sense of contrition, humility, and trust in God’s mercy.
The prayers also focus on a happy death. Many ask for mercy at the hour of death. That makes them a comfort for the sick and dying.
The traditional text lists 21 promises. Examples include souls of one’s family freed from Purgatory and special graces at death. These come from private tradition. The Church has not approved them.
So pray out of love for Christ, not to earn rewards. That is the safest and most faithful way to use them. You can also read the older text with its promises to see the history yourself.
If you want to deepen your understanding of the Rosary, explore this complete guide to Rosary prayers for the prayers, meanings, and step-by-step guidance you can use during your devotion.
How to Pray the 15 Prayers of St. Bridget
The method is simple. Anyone can learn it in a day.
How do you pray the 15 Prayers of St. Bridget? Follow these steps:
Make the Sign of the Cross.
Pray one Our Father and one Hail Mary.
Pray the first prayer.
Repeat this pattern through all 15 prayers.
End with the closing prayer.
How long does it take? About 20 to 30 minutes at a calm pace. Over a year, that adds up to more than 100 hours of prayer.
You can pray them all at once. You can also split them, such as eight in the morning and seven at night. A printed prayer card or a tracking calendar helps you stay on course. Some people memorize them to pray anywhere, even in a hospital.
Good start dates include New Year’s Day, Ash Wednesday, or July 23, St. Bridget’s feast.
What if you miss a day? The Church has no formal rule. A common practice is to make it up the next day. Some people pray twice, morning and evening.
Avoid rushing. Speak each line, even silently. Skimming the words like a magazine misses the point.
FAQs
Here are quick answers to common questions.
How do you pray the 15 Prayers of St. Bridget?
Pray one Our Father and one Hail Mary before each of the 15 prayers. Finish with the closing prayer. Do this once a day for a full year.
How long should you pray the 15 Prayers of St. Bridget?
Tradition says for one full year, or 365 days. This honors each wound of Christ. Each daily session takes about 20 to 30 minutes.
What are the benefits of praying the 15 Prayers of St. Bridget?
You gain a deeper focus on the Passion, a steady prayer habit, and growth in contrition and trust. The promises are traditional but not approved by the Church.
Can the 15 Prayers of St. Bridget be prayed at any time?
Yes. No set hour is required. You can pray them in one sitting or spread them across the day.
Conclusion
The 15 Prayers of St. Bridget invite you to walk through the Passion one day at a time. Pray with love, not just for the promises.
Abroy Hassan is the founder and writer behind Morning Prayer Hub, where he shares daily prayers and devotionals to help readers begin each day with faith, gratitude, and a quiet mind. He writes with a simple goal: to make prayer feel accessible, personal, and part of everyday life.
