Way of the Cross
Way of the Cross
First Station:
T
his Way of the Cross is intended for personal use, but with the addition of some prayers and hymns, it may be used as a communal celebration, either in the morning or evening of Good Friday. The Way of the Cross is another reminder of the rich pilgrimage tradition of the church. In Jerusalem, pilgrims followed quite literally in the footsteps of Jesus. The Way of the Cross became a popular devotion especially in the seventeenth and 18th century. Many of the prayers for this Way of the Cross are adapted from those composed by St Alphonsus Liguori (1696-1787). Prayers before each station V. We adore you, O Christ and we bless you R. Because by your holy Cross you have redeemed the world. After the meditation at each station has been read I love you, my beloved Jesus; I love you more than myself. I repent with my whole heart of having offended you. Never permit me to separate myself from you again. Grant that I may love you always; and then do with me what you will. (St Alphonsus) Introductory meditation The French philosopher, Jacques Maritain, once wrote “Christ suffers in every innocent person who is persecuted. His agony is heard in the cries of so many human beings humiliated and tortured, in the suffering of all those images and likenesses of God treated worse than beasts. He has taken all these things upon himself, he has suffered every wound.” As we make this Way of the Cross today, we remember the innocent in this world who suffer – refugees, the homeless, victims of injustice, the poor and especially children. We pray for them and for the sick and housebound of our own parish.
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HOLY WEEK
JESUS IS CONDEMNED Consider how Jesus Christ, after being scourged and crowned with thorns, was unjustly condemned by Pilate to die on the cross. It was not Pilate, Lord, it was my sins that condemned you to die. By the merits of this sorrowful journey, assist my soul on its journey to eternity.
Second Station:
JESUS RECEIVES THE CROSS Consider how Jesus walked this road with the cross on his shoulders, thinking of us, and offering to his Father on our behalf, the death he was about to suffer. My most beloved Jesus, I embrace all the sufferings you have destined for me until death. I beg you, by all you suffered in carrying your cross, to help me carry mine with perfect peace and resignation.
Way of the Cross
Third Station:
Fifth Station:
JESUS FALLS THE FIRST TIME Consider the first fall of Jesus. Loss of blood from the scourging and crowing with thorns had so weakened him that he could hardly walk; and yet he had to carry that great load upon his shoulders. As the soldiers struck him cruelly, he fell several times under the heavy cross. My beloved Jesus, it was not the weight of the cross but the weight of my sins which made you suffer so much. By the merits of this first fall, save me from falling into mortal sin.
SIMON HELPS JESUS CARRY THE CROSS And when they had finished making fun of Jesus, they took off the purple and dressed him in his own clothes. They led him out to crucify him. They forced a passer-by, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, to carry his cross. What impression did carrying the cross make on Simon? He clearly did not want to be involved in an execution, but the fact that not only his name and place of origin (somewhere in North Africa) but also the names of his sons are known to the evangelist suggests that he became a believer.
Fourth Station:
Sixth Station:
JESUS MEETS HIS MOTHER Jesus and Mary gazed at each other and their looks became as so many arrows to wound those hearts which loved each other so tenderly. Jesus, by the pain you suffered in this meeting, grant me the grace of being truly devoted to your most holy Mother. And you, Mother, so overwhelmed with sorrow, obtain for me a lasting remembrance of the Passion of your divine Son. Mary, we commend to your care the mothers of children who suffer either in hospital from illness or in refugee camps from homelessness and hunger.
VERONICA WIPES THE FACE OF JESUS Seeing Jesus in such distress, his face bathed in sweat and blood, a woman came forward to offer her veil to wipe his face. Jesus wiped his face, and left the image of his face imprinted on the cloth. My beloved Jesus, your face was beautiful before you began this journey. Now, it no longer appears beautiful but it is disfigured with wounds and blood. I thank you for the bravery and goodness of so many women who minister to those who are broken in body and spirit.
Living a Week of Memories
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Way of the Cross
Seventh Station:
JESUS FALLS A SECOND TIME As the procession moved through the streets of Jerusalem, Jesus fell again under the weight of his cross, renewing the pain in all the wounds he had already suffered. Loving Lord, how many times you have forgiven me, yet how many times have I fallen again. By the merits of your second fall, give me the grace to persevere in loving you until death. We commend to you also this evening those who struggle with destructive dependent habits that endanger their lives. In your love reach out to them and touch them with your grace.
Ninth Station:
JESUS FALLS THE THIRD TIME As they approached the high ground outside the city walls, Jesus stumbled and fell one more time. He was extremely weak, and the mockery and insults of the crowd as they tried to jostle him along added more to the pain he suffered. My Lord, by the weakness you suffered in going to Calvary, give us the strength to struggle on when the going is hard. We commend to your love and care tonight all those who struggle with dependency on drugs or alcohol, who feel they lack the willpower and the confidence to face the future.
Eighth Station:
Tenth Station:
JESUS MEETS THE WOMEN OF JERUSALEM Jesus turned to them and said, ‘Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep rather for yourselves and for your children. For look, the days are surely coming when people will say, “Blessed are those who are barren, the wombs that have never borne children, the breasts that have never suckled!” Then they will begin to say to the mountains, “Fall on us!” and to the hills, “Cover us!” For if this is what is done to green wood, what will be done when the wood is dry?’ (Luke 23:27-31)
JESUS IS STRIPPED OF HIS GARMENTS Having arrived at Calvary, the executioners stripped Jesus of his last possessions, the blood-stained clothes he was wearing. Last night, as he prepared to wash his disciples’ feet, he had also laid aside his garments and prepared to wash the feet of his disciples as the Servant of the Lord. “Being in the form of God, Jesus did not count equality with God something to be grasped. But he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, becoming as human beings are; and being in every way like a human being, he was humbler yet, even to accepting death, death on a cross.” (Philippians 2:6-8)
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HOLY WEEK
Way of the Cross
Eleventh Station:
Thirteenth Station:
JESUS IS NAILED TO THE CROSS When they reached the place called The Skull, there they crucified him. Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them; they do not know what they are doing.’ Then they cast lots to share out his clothing. The people stayed there watching. As for the leaders, they jeered at him with the words, ‘He saved others, let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One.’ The soldiers mocked him too, coming up to him, offering him vinegar, and saying, ‘If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.’ Above him there was an inscription: ‘This is the King of the Jews.’
MARY RECEIVES THE DEAD BODY OF HER SON She beheld her tender Child, Saw Him hang in desolation, Till His spirit forth He sent.
Twelfth Station:
Fourteenth Station:
JESUS DIES ON THE CROSS Seeing his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing near her, Jesus said to his mother, ‘Woman, this is your son.’ Then to the disciple he said, ‘This is your mother.’ And from that hour the disciple took her into his home. After this, Jesus knew that everything had now been completed and, so that the scripture should be completely fulfilled, he said: ‘I am thirsty.’ A jar full of sour wine stood there; so, putting a sponge soaked in the wine on a hyssop stick, they held it up to his mouth. After Jesus had taken the wine he said, ‘It is fulfilled’; and bowing his head he gave up his spirit. (John 19:25-30)
THE BURIAL OF JESUS After this, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus – though a secret one because he was afraid of the Jews – asked Pilate to let him remove the body of Jesus. They took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, following the Jewish burial custom. At the place where he had been crucified there was a garden, and in this garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been buried. Since it was the Jewish Day of Preparation and the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there. (John 19:38-1)
O Mary Mother! fount of love! Touch my spirit from above, make my heart with yours accord: Make me feel as you have felt; make my soul to glow and melt with the love of Christ my Lord. Holy Mother! pierce me through, in my heart each wound renew of my Saviour crucified: Let me share with you His pain, who for all my sins was slain, who for me in torments died. (from Stabat Mater)
Living a Week of Memories
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