Sunday

  •  This weeks meditations on Christ carrying the cross from writings of St. Francis of Assisi with a resolution to apply it in daily life.
  • 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:  Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle, be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray; and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God thrust into hell Satan and all the evil spirits who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls.  Amen.

Monday
Moved by compassion, these devoted women weep over our suffering
Savior. But He turns to them and says: “Weep not for Me, but weep for
yourselves and your children. Weep for your sins and those of your
children; for they are the cause of My suffering.” You also must weep
over your sins, for there is nothing more pleasing to our Lord and more
useful to yourself than the tears you shed out of contrition for your sins.
O Jesus, who shall give my eyes a torrent of tears, that I may day and
night weep over my sins? I beseech Thee by Thy bitter and bloody tears
to move my heart, so that tears may flow in abundance from my eyes,
and that I may weep over Thy sufferings and over my sins until death.

Prayer:   O my God! I offer Thee all my actions of this day for the intentions and for the glory of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. I desire to sanctify every beat of my heart, my every thought, my simplest works, by uniting them to its infinite merits; and I wish to make reparation for my sins by casting them into the furnace of Its Merciful Love. (Part of St. Therese morning offering)

 

Tuesday

Exhausted at the foot of Calvary, Jesus falls for the third time to the
ground. How painfully must have been reopened all the wounds of His
tender body by these repeated falls. And how enormous must my sins
be, to cause Jesus to fall so painfully. Had not Jesus taken my sins upon
Himself, they would have plunged me into the abyss of Hell.
Most merciful Jesus, I return Thee a thousand thanks for not permitting
me to die in my sins and fall into the abyss of Hell, as I have deserved so
often. Enkindle in me a sincere desire to amend my life. Let me never
again fall into sin, but grant me the grace of final perseverance.

Prayer: Blessed be the name of the Lord from henceforth and forever more.

Wednesday
Arriving on Calvary, Jesus was cruelly deprived of His garments. How
painful the stripping must have been, because the garments adhered to
His mangled body, so that in removing them parts of the flesh were torn
away. Jesus is deprived of His garments that He may die possessed of
nothing. How happy shall not I die after laying aside my evil habits and
tendencies!
Help me, O Jesus, to amend my life. Let it be renewed according to Thy
will and desire. However painful the correction may be to me, I will not
spare myself. With the assistance of Thy grace, I will refrain from all
sinful pleasure and vain amusement, that I may die happy and live
forever.

Prayer:  Queen of the most holy Rosary, pray for us.

 

Thursday
Stripped of His garments, Jesus is violently thrown down on the Cross.
His hands and His feet are nailed to it in the most cruel way. Jesus
remains silent, because it so pleases His heavenly Father. He suffers
patiently, because He suffers for you. How do you act in sufferings and
trials? How fretful and impatient, how full of complaints are you!  O Jesus, meek and patient Lamb, I renounce forever my impatience.
Crucify, O Lord, my flesh, with its evil desires and vices. Punish and
afflict me in this life, but spare me in the next. I resign myself altogether
to Thy holy will. May it be done in all things.

We praise Thee, we bless Thee, we worship Thee, we glorify Thee, we give thanks to Thee for Thy great  glory

Friday
Behold Jesus crucified! Behold His wounds received for love of you!
His whole appearance betokens love. His head is bent to kiss you. His
arms are extended to embrace you. His heart is open to receive you. Oh
what love! Jesus dies on the Cross, to preserve you from eternal death.
Most lovable Jesus, who will grant that I may die for love of Thee? I will
endeavor to die to the world and its vanities when I behold Thee on the
Cross covered with wounds and crowned with thorns. Merciful Jesus,
take me into Thy wounded heart, that I may despise all perishable things,
to live and die for Thee alone.

Prayer:    My God, I believe, I adore, I hope and I love Thee. I beg pardon for all those that do not believe, do not adore, do not hope and do not love Thee. Amen. (Fatima prayer)

 

Saturday
Jesus did not descend from the Cross, but remained on it till His death.
When taken down, He rested on the bosom of His beloved Mother as He
had so often done in life. Persevere in your good resolutions, and do not
flee from the cross. For he who perseveres till the end shall be saved.
Consider, moreover, how pure the heart should be that receives the body
and blood of Jesus Christ in the adorable Sacrament of the Altar.
O Lord Jesus crucified! I most earnestly entreat Thee: Help me do what
is right and let me not be separated from Thy Cross, for on it I desire to
live and to die. Create in me, O Lord, a clean heart, that I may worthily
receive Thee in Holy Communion, and that Thou mayest remain in me,
and I in Thee, for all eternity.

Prayer:  Jesus, Meek and Humble of Heart, make my heart like unto Thine.