“Were You There (When They Crucified My Lord)” is an American spiritual that was first printed in 1899.

“Were You There” was likely composed by African-American slaves in the 19th century. It was first published in William Eleazar Barton’s 1899 Old Plantation Hymns. In 1940, it was included in the Episcopal Church hymnal, making it the first spiritual to be included in any major American hymnal. As reported in Howard Thurman’s autobiography, the song was one of Mahatma Gandhi’s favorites. The song has been recorded by artists including Marion Williams, Johnny Cash, Phil Keaggy, Max Roach, Diamanda Galás, Harry Belafonte, The Seldom Scene, Diamond Version (with Neil Tennant), Bayard Rustin, and Rajaton.

Prayer for students is vitally important in culture today. School campuses are full of temptation and negative influences targeting students. Prayer is a way to influence students to make wise choices and excel in their studies. There are many topics in the curriculum that will impact their decision making for years to come. Our youth and young adults approach a time of their lives where they will make significant decisions about careers, marriage, children, and other life choices.

The Five Sorrowful Mysteries are traditionally prayed on the Tuesdays, Fridays, and Sundays during Lent. Each details the The Agony in the Garden, The Scourging at the Pillar, The Crowning with Thorns, The Carrying of the Cross, and The Crucifixion and Death of Jesus. In this video, the viewer is guided through all five Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary, offering a unique way to pray and meditate on Jesus’s journey from the Garden of Gethsemane to the Cross. Join us in prayer as we reflect on Jesus’s sacrifice for all sinners.