The Way of the Cross in the words of St Paul

 

The Way of the Cross in the words of St Paul by Fr Clement Parsons (updated by Donal Anthony Foley)

All booklets are published thanks to the generous support of the members of the Catholic Truth Society

CATHOLIC TRUTH SOCIETY PUBLISHERS TO THE HOLY SEE

 

2

Contents Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Foreword . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 First Station - Jesus is condemned to death . . . . . . . . . .6 Second Station - Jesus is made to bear his Cross . . . . . .8 Third Station - Jesus falls beneath his Cross . . . . . . . .10 Fourth Station - Jesus meets his afflicted Mother . . . . .12 Fifth Station - Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus to carry the Cross . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 Sixth Station - Veronica wipes the face of Jesus . . . . .16 Seventh Station - Jesus falls a second time . . . . . . . . . .18 Eighth Station - Jesus consoles the Women of Jerusalem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20 Ninth Station - Jesus falls the third time . . . . . . . . . . . .22 Tenth Station - Jesus is stripped of his garments . . . . .24 Eleventh Station - Jesus is nailed to the Cross . . . . . . .26 Twelfth Station -Jesus dies on the cross . . . . . . . . . . . .28 Thirteenth Station - Jesus is taken down from the cross30 Fourteenth Station - Jesus is laid in the tomb . . . . . . . .32 Epilogue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34

 

3

Introduction In June 2007 the Vatican announced that on 28th June 2008, the eve of the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Pope Benedict XVI will proclaim a year especially dedicated to St Paul, so as to mark the 2,000th anniversary of his birth.

This special year is set to run from 29th June 2008 to 29th June 2009, and it will have a particular missionary focus, given that St Paul was the greatest missionary of the apostolic era, the “Apostle of the Gentiles,” the person who did more than anyone else to spread the Gospel throughout the Roman Empire.

As part of his apostolate he wrote letters to many of the early Christian communities he either founded or was in touch with, and these make up a sizable part of the New Testament. There are many themes in his writings, but one of the most important was his focus on the Cross of Christ, not least because he lived his identification with the crucified Christ to the utmost of his ability.

This identification became so intense that he could write the following to the church in Galatia: “I have been crucified with Christ, and I live now not with my own life but with the life of Christ who lives in me. The life I now

 

4

live in this body I live in faith: faith in the Son of God who loved me and who sacrificed himself for my sake.”

(Ga 2:19-20) He wanted those whom he was in correspondence with, to grasp the significance of this identification, and so in his letter to the Romans he tells them that: “We must realise that our former selves have been crucified with him to destroy this sinful body and to free us from the slavery of sin.” (Rm 6:6) He could also say to the Galatians: “As for me, the only thing I can boast about is the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom the world is crucified to me, and I to the world;” (Ga 6:14) while he was at pains to remind the Corinthians that: “During my stay with you, the only knowledge I claimed to have was about Jesus, and only about him as the crucified Christ.” (1 Co 2:2) For St Paul, then the cross of Christ was not something to be ashamed of, but something that we should glory in; thus, following his teaching, the Way of the Cross as a commemoration of the Passion and death of Christ, is a devotion that has been valued in the Church for many centuries. And so it seems particularly appropriate that this Way of the Cross in the words of Saint Paul should be republished for the Year dedicated to St Paul.

 

5

Foreword In your minds you must be the same as Christ Jesus; His state was divine, yet he did not cling to his equality with God but emptied himself to assume the condition of a slave, and became as men are; and being as all men are, he was humbler yet, even to accepting death, death on a cross. But God raised him high and gave him the name which is above all other names so that all beings in the heavens, on earth and in the underworld, should bend the knee at the name of Jesus and that every tongue should acclaim Jesus Christ as Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Ph 2:5-11)

Editor’s Note: Italics have been used to distinguish text that is not a direct quotation from the bible.

 

6

First Station Jesus is condemned to death Kneel in Adoration V. He was humbler yet, R. Even to accepting death, death on a cross.1 Scripture reading Though they found nothing to justify his execution, they condemned him and asked Pilate to have him put to death.2 And so Christ, our passover, has been sacrificed.3 Since God did not spare his own Son, but gave him up to benefit us all, we may be certain, after such a gift, that he will not refuse anything he can give.4 Christ loved the Church and sacrificed himself for her.5 The life I now live in this body I live in faith: faith in the Son of God who loved me and who sacrificed himself for my sake.6 Pause and Meditate

1

Ph 2:8; 2 Ac 13:28; 3 1 Co 5:7; 4 Rm 8:32; 5 Ep 5:25; 6 Ga 2:20.

 

7

Prayer I put to you my soul, the duty, before God the source of all life and before Christ, who spoke up as a witness for the truth in front of Pontius Pilate,7 that you who live may be consigned to death every day, for the sake of Jesus, so that in your mortal flesh the life of Jesus, too, may be openly shown,8 because those who are in Christ Jesus are not condemned.9 V. The Lord will rescue me from all evil attempts on me, R. And bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.10 V. So let us thank God, R. For giving us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.11 V. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, my brothers, R. Amen.12

7

1 Tm 6:13; 8 2 Co 4:11; 9 Rm 8:1; 10 2 Tm 4:18; 11 1 Co 15:57; 12 Ga 6:18.

 

34

Epilogue That is why all you who are holy brothers and have had the same heavenly call should turn your minds to Jesus, the apostle and the high priest of our religion.1 Since in Jesus, the Son of God, we have the supreme high priest who has gone through to the highest heaven, we must never let go of the faith that we have professed.

For it is not as if we had a high priest who was incapable of feeling our weaknesses with us; but we have one who has been tempted in every way that we are, though he is without sin. Let us be confident, then, in approaching the throne of grace, that we shall have mercy from him and find grace when we are in need of help.2 Because Jesus remains for ever, he can never lose his priesthood. It follows, then, that his power to save is utterly certain, since he is living for ever to intercede for all who come to God through him.3

1

Heb 3:1; 2 Heb 4:14-16; 3 Heb 7:24-25.

 

The Gospel of Paul This classic text, by one of Britain’s greatest Biblical scholars was originally a series of Lenten conferences given in Westminster Cathedral and is reprinted in this new edition for the Year of St Paul. Mgr Knox expounds all his insights into the Pauline letters in his simple inimitable style and introduces us to the heart of the good news - the Gospel - that comes to us across the centuries from the Church’s greatest missionary: St Paul.

ISBN: 978 1 86082 513 2 CTS Code: Sc 87

b. Way of the Cross in the words of St Paul_The Way of the Cross - St Paul 19/02/2014 09

A world of Catholic reading at your fingertips ...

CTS ... now online Browse 500 titles at

www.cts-online.org.uk Catholic Faith, Life, and Truth for all

CTS