Sunday<\/p>\n
*This week meditations on the Stations of the Cross\u00a0 (Jesus on the way to Calvary) by Catholic St. Francis of Assisi<\/p>\n
V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we praise Thee.
\nR. Because by Thy holy Cross, Thou hast redeemed the world.<\/p>\n
Jesus Accepts Sentence
\nJesus, the most innocent of beings, is condemned to death, yes, to the
\nshameful death of the cross. In order to remain a friend of Caesar, Pilate
\ndelivers Jesus into the hands of His enemies. O fearful crime, to
\ncondemn Innocence to death and to displease God in order to please
\nmen.
\nO innocent Jesus, I have sinned and I am guilty of eternal death; but that
\nI may Live, Thou dost gladly accept the unjust sentence of death. For
\nwhom then shall I henceforth live if not for Thee, my Lord? If I desire to
\nplease men, I can not be Thy servant. Let me, therefore,<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Prayer:\u00a0 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.\u00a0 (Matthew 7:21)<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Monday<\/p>\n
Jesus takes the Cross<\/p>\n
When our divine Redeemer beheld the Cross, He most willingly reached
\nout to it with His bleeding arms. He embraced it lovingly, kissed it
\ntenderly, took it on His bruised shoulders, and, exhausted as He was, He
\ncarried it joyfully.
\nO my Jesus, I can not be Thy friend and follower if I refuse to carry my
\ncross. O beloved cross, I embrace Thee, I kiss Thee, I joyfully accept
\nThee from the hand of my God. Far be it from me to glory in anything
\nsave in the Cross of my Lord and Redeemer. By it the world shall<\/p>\n
Prayer:\u00a0 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.\u00a0 (Phil 4:13)<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Tuesday<\/p>\n
Jesus falls the first time<\/p>\n
Carrying the Cross, our dear Savior was so weakened with its heavy
\nweight that He fell exhausted to the ground. The Cross was light and
\nsweet to Him, but our sins made it so heavy and hard to carry.
\nBeloved Jesus, Thou didst carry the burden and the heavy weight of my
\nsins. Should I then not bear in union with Thee my light burden of
\nsuffering, and accept the sweet yoke of Thy commandments? Thy yoke
\nis sweet and Thy burden is light. I willingly accept it. I will take up my
\ncross and follow Thee.<\/p>\n
Prayer:\u00a0 Glory to Jesus Christ…glory forever!<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Wednesday<\/p>\n
Jesus Greets His mother<\/p>\n
How sad and how painful must it have been for Mary to behold her
\nbeloved Son laden with the Cross, covered with wounds and blood, and
\ndriven through the streets by savage executioners! What unspeakable
\npangs her most tender heart must have experienced! How earnestly did
\nshe desire to die instead of Jesus, or at least with Him!
\nO Jesus, O Mary, I am the cause of the pains that pierced your hearts.
\nWould that my heart might experience some of your sufferings. O
\nMother, let me share in thy sufferings and those of they Son, that I may
\nobtain the grace of a happy death.<\/p>\n
Prayer: Create in me a clean heart, O God;\u00a0 and renew a right spirit within me.\u00a0 Cast me not away from thy presence;\u00a0 and take not thy holy spirit from me.\u00a0 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation and uphold me with thy free spirit.\u00a0 (Psalm 51:10-)<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Thursday<\/p>\n
Simon of Cyrene is forced to help carry the cross<\/p>\n
Cross. How pleased would Jesus have been, had Simon offered his
\nservices of his own accord. However, Simon was not invited by Christ
\nas you are. He says: \u201cTake up your cross and follow Me.\u201d Nevertheless
\nyou recoil, and carry it grudgingly.
\nO Jesus, whosoever does not take up his cross and follow Thee, is not\u00a0worthy<\/p>\n
of Thee. Behold, I cheerfully join Thee on the way of the cross. I
\ndesire to carry it with all patience until death, that I may prove worthy of
\nThee.<\/p>\n
Prayer:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Christ is in our midst \u2013 He is and always shall be.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Friday<\/p>\n
Veronica wipes the face of Jesus<\/p>\n
Moved by compassion, Veronica presents her veil to Jesus, to wipe His
\ndisfigured face. He imprints on it His holy countenance, and returns it to
\nher as a recompense. Shall Christ reward you in like manner? Then you
\ntoo must do Him a service. But you do a service to Christ every time
\nyou perform a work of mercy towards your neighbor: for He says:
\n\u201cWhat you have done to the least of My brethren, you have done to Me.\u201d
\nDearest Jesus, what return shall I make Thee for all Thy benefits?
\nBehold, I consecrate myself entirely to Thy service. My whole heart I
\ngive to Thee; stamp on it Thy holy image, that I may never forget Thee.<\/p>\n
Prayer:\u00a0 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.\u00a0 *Romans 8:28<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Saturday<\/p>\n
Jesus falls the second time<\/p>\n
Overwhelmed by the weight of the Cross, Jesus falls again to the ground.
\nBut the cruel executioners do not permit Him to rest a moment. With
\nthrusts and blows they urge Him onward. With what cruelty Jesus in
\ntreated and trampled under foot! Remember, compassionate soul, that
\nyour sins caused Jesus this painful fall.
\nHave mercy on me, O Jesus, and help me never to fall into my former
\nsins. From this moment I will strive sincerely never to sin again. But
\nThou, O Jesus, strengthen me with Thy grace, that I may faithfully carry
\nout my resolution.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Prayer:\u00a0\u00a0 We adore Thee O Christ and we bless Thee for by Thy Holy Cross Thou hast redeemed the world.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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