Sunday

*This week meditations on the Stations of the Cross  (Jesus on the way to Calvary) by Catholic St. Francis of Assisi

V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we praise Thee.
R. Because by Thy holy Cross, Thou hast redeemed the world.

Jesus Accepts Sentence
Jesus, the most innocent of beings, is condemned to death, yes, to the
shameful death of the cross. In order to remain a friend of Caesar, Pilate
delivers Jesus into the hands of His enemies. O fearful crime, to
condemn Innocence to death and to displease God in order to please
men.
O innocent Jesus, I have sinned and I am guilty of eternal death; but that
I may Live, Thou dost gladly accept the unjust sentence of death. For
whom then shall I henceforth live if not for Thee, my Lord? If I desire to
please men, I can not be Thy servant. Let me, therefore,

 

Prayer:  Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.  (Matthew 7:21)

 

Monday

Jesus takes the Cross

When our divine Redeemer beheld the Cross, He most willingly reached
out to it with His bleeding arms. He embraced it lovingly, kissed it
tenderly, took it on His bruised shoulders, and, exhausted as He was, He
carried it joyfully.
O my Jesus, I can not be Thy friend and follower if I refuse to carry my
cross. O beloved cross, I embrace Thee, I kiss Thee, I joyfully accept
Thee from the hand of my God. Far be it from me to glory in anything
save in the Cross of my Lord and Redeemer. By it the world shall

Prayer:  I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.  (Phil 4:13)

 

Tuesday

Jesus falls the first time

Carrying the Cross, our dear Savior was so weakened with its heavy
weight that He fell exhausted to the ground. The Cross was light and
sweet to Him, but our sins made it so heavy and hard to carry.
Beloved Jesus, Thou didst carry the burden and the heavy weight of my
sins. Should I then not bear in union with Thee my light burden of
suffering, and accept the sweet yoke of Thy commandments? Thy yoke
is sweet and Thy burden is light. I willingly accept it. I will take up my
cross and follow Thee.

Prayer:  Glory to Jesus Christ…glory forever!

 

Wednesday

Jesus Greets His mother

How sad and how painful must it have been for Mary to behold her
beloved Son laden with the Cross, covered with wounds and blood, and
driven through the streets by savage executioners! What unspeakable
pangs her most tender heart must have experienced! How earnestly did
she desire to die instead of Jesus, or at least with Him!
O Jesus, O Mary, I am the cause of the pains that pierced your hearts.
Would that my heart might experience some of your sufferings. O
Mother, let me share in thy sufferings and those of they Son, that I may
obtain the grace of a happy death.

Prayer: Create in me a clean heart, O God;  and renew a right spirit within me.  Cast me not away from thy presence;  and take not thy holy spirit from me.  Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation and uphold me with thy free spirit.  (Psalm 51:10-)

 

Thursday

Simon of Cyrene is forced to help carry the cross

Cross. How pleased would Jesus have been, had Simon offered his
services of his own accord. However, Simon was not invited by Christ
as you are. He says: “Take up your cross and follow Me.” Nevertheless
you recoil, and carry it grudgingly.
O Jesus, whosoever does not take up his cross and follow Thee, is not worthy

of Thee. Behold, I cheerfully join Thee on the way of the cross. I
desire to carry it with all patience until death, that I may prove worthy of
Thee.

Prayer:    Christ is in our midst – He is and always shall be.

 

Friday

Veronica wipes the face of Jesus

Moved by compassion, Veronica presents her veil to Jesus, to wipe His
disfigured face. He imprints on it His holy countenance, and returns it to
her as a recompense. Shall Christ reward you in like manner? Then you
too must do Him a service. But you do a service to Christ every time
you perform a work of mercy towards your neighbor: for He says:
“What you have done to the least of My brethren, you have done to Me.”
Dearest Jesus, what return shall I make Thee for all Thy benefits?
Behold, I consecrate myself entirely to Thy service. My whole heart I
give to Thee; stamp on it Thy holy image, that I may never forget Thee.

Prayer:  And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.  *Romans 8:28

 

Saturday

Jesus falls the second time

Overwhelmed by the weight of the Cross, Jesus falls again to the ground.
But the cruel executioners do not permit Him to rest a moment. With
thrusts and blows they urge Him onward. With what cruelty Jesus in
treated and trampled under foot! Remember, compassionate soul, that
your sins caused Jesus this painful fall.
Have mercy on me, O Jesus, and help me never to fall into my former
sins. From this moment I will strive sincerely never to sin again. But
Thou, O Jesus, strengthen me with Thy grace, that I may faithfully carry
out my resolution.

 

Prayer:   We adore Thee O Christ and we bless Thee for by Thy Holy Cross Thou hast redeemed the world.