The Fourteenth Station: Jesus Is Laid in the Tomb

The Fourteenth Station:

Jesus Is Laid in the Tomb

We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You. (genuflect)

Because by Your Holy Cross You have redeemed the world.



The Shroud of Turin



Reflection:

Joseph or Aramathea took the body of Jesus, and wrapping it in a clean linen cloth he laid it in his new tomb, which he had hewn out of rock. Then he rolled a large stone against the entrance of the tomb and departed (Mt. 27:59-60).

Meditation:

I will praise You, O Lord, for You drew me clear and did not let my enemies rejoice over me
O Lord, my God, I cried out to You and You healed me.
O Lord, You brought me up from the lower world;
You preserved me from among those going down into the pit.
Sing praise to the Lord, you his faithful ones, and give thanks to His Holy Name.
For His anger lasts but a moment; His good will is for a lifetime.
At nightfall, weeping enters in, but with dawn comes rejoicing. (Ps. 30:2-6)

Pray:
Almighty and eternal God, on the edge of sadness when all seemed lost, You restored to us
the Savior we thought defeated and conquered. Help us, we beg You, so to empty ourselves of self
concern that we might see Your hand in every failure and Your victory in every defeat. These things
we ask in the name of Your Son, Jesus Christ, Who lives and reigns forever with You in the unity of
the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Sing: (in preparation for the Fourteenth Station).
Jesus, Risen, be our lover
In your Food and in our brother.
Lead us home to heaven with You.

The Thirteenth Station: The Body of Jesus Is Taken Down From The Cross

The Thirteenth Station:

 The Body of Jesus Is Taken Down From The Cross

We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You. (genuflect)

Because by Your Holy Cross You have redeemed the world.

Pieta' at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, Springfield, IL

Reflection:
When the soldiers came to Jesus, they saw that He was already dead so chat they did not break His
legs, but one of them opened His side with a lance, and immediately there came out blood and water.
Joseph of Aramathea, because he was a disciple of Jesus (although a secret one for fear of the Jews),
besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus. And Pilate gave permission. (Jn. 19:33-34 and 38a.)

Meditation:

O My people. I will open your graves and have you rise from them,

And I will bring you back to your land.

Then you shall know that I am the Lord!

O My people! I will put My spirit in you that you may live.

You shall know then that I am the Lord.

I have promised it,

And I will do it, says the Lord. (Ezek. 37:12-14)

Pray:
Beloved Savior, You returned to the Father all that He had given You, so that He might
restore all to You a hundredfold in the glorious resurrection. Help us, we beg You, to give generously of ourselves in all that we do for You so that like You we might be made perfect in a new resurrection. Amen.

Sing: (in preparation for the Fourteenth Station).
Sing: Jesus, Lord, Your gift accepted,
In three days You resurrected.
You did first what we shall do.

The Twelfth Station: Jesus Dies On The Cross

The Twelfth Station:

Jesus Dies On The Cross

We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You. (genuflect)

Because by Your Holy Cross You have redeemed the world.

Reflection:
It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.
And the sun was darkened, and the curtain of the temple was torn in the middle. Jesus cried out with
a loud voice and said, "It is finished. Father, into Your hands I commend my spirit.' Then, bowing
His head, he died. (Lk. 23:44-46, Jn 19:30b)

Meditation:
My people, what have I done to you ?
Or in what way have I offended you?
Answer me.
What more should I have done, and did not do?
I led you out of the land of Egypt, and you prepared a cross for Me.
I opened the Red Sea before you and you opened My side with a lance.
I gave You a royal sceptre, and You have given me a crown of thorns.
With great power I lifted you up, and you have hung Me upon a cross.
My people, what have I done to you, or in what have I offended you>
Answer me. (from the Reproaches of Good Friday)

Pray:
Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come.

Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread,

and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen (stand)

Sing: (in preparation for the Thirteenth Station).

Stunned and stricken. Mary, Mother in your arms was placed our Brother,

Full of grace" now filled with grief.



The Eleventh Station:

Jesus is Nailed to the Cross

We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You. (genuflect)

Because by Your Holy Cross You have redeemed the world.

Reflection:
When they came to Golgotha, the place called the Skull, they crucified Jesus and the robbers, one on
His right and the other on His left. And Jesus said, “ Father, forgive them, for they do not know what
they are doing.” (Lk. 23:33-34; Jn. 19:18)
Meditation:
My God. My God, why have You forsaken Me,

Far from my prayer, far from the words of my cry?
O my God, I cry out by day, and You answer not;
I cry out by night, and there is no relief for Me.
All my bones are racked.
My heart has become like wax melting away within My chest.
My throat is dried up like baked clay, My tongue cleaves to My jaws;
They have pierced My hands and My feet;
I can count all My bones. (Ps. 22: 2-3, 15-16, 17b)
Pray:
Let us pray. Lord and Savior, You have told us that we too must accept crucifixion if we are to accept resurrection with You. Help us to rejoicein the sufferings that come with the fulfillment of our daily duties, seeing in them the royal road of the cross to the resurrection.
Amen.

Sing (in preparation for the Twelfth Station):
Life eternal, death defiant,
Bowed his head — the world was silent,
Through His death came life anew.



The Tenth Station: Jesus is Stripped of His Clothes

The Tenth Station:

 Jesus is Stripped of His Clothes

We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You. (genuflect)

Because by Your Holy Cross You have redeemed the world.

Reflection:
They gave Jesus wine to drink mixed with sail but when He had tasted it, He would not drink. Then
after they had crucified him, they divided His clothes, casting lots, to fulfill what was spoken
through the prophet, "They divided my clothes among them, and upon my garments they cast lots "
(Mt. 27:34-35)
Meditation:
Happy is the man whom God chastises!
Do not reject the punishment of the Almighty.
For He wounds, but He binds up; He smites, but His hands give healing.
Insult has broken My heart, and I am weak;
I looked for comforters, and I found none.
Rather they put gall in My food, and in My thirst they gave Me vinegar to drink (Job 5:17-18; Ps. 69:21-22).
Pray:
Lord Jesus Christ, stripped of everything, You stood exposed to the jeers and contempt of the people whom You loved. Clothe us with genuine love of others, so that nothing we suffer may ever fill our hearts with hatred or bitterness.
Amen.
Sing (in preparation for the Eleventh Station):
Pierced the hands that blessed and cured us,
Pierced the feet that walked to free us,
Walked the hill of Calvary.

The Ninth Station: Jesus Falls a Third Time

The Ninth Station:

Jesus Falls a Third Time

We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You. (genuflect)

Because by Your Holy Cross You have redeemed the world.

Reflection:
I lie prostrate in the dust; give Me life according to Your word. I declared My ways, and You answered Me; teach Me your commands. Make me understand the way of Your precepts, and I will mediate on Your wondrous deeds. My soul weeps for sorrow; strengthen Me with Your words (Ps. 119:25- 28).

Meditation:
The Lord is my light and my salvation;
Whom should I fear?
The Lord is my life's refuge,
Of whom should I be afraid?
When evildoers come at Me to devour My flesh.
My foes and My enemies themselves stumble and fall .
Though an army encamp against Me,
My heart will not fear;
Though war be waged upon Me, even then will I trust. (Ps. 27:I- 3)

Pray.
Almighty and eternal God, You permitted your Son to be weakened, crushed, and profaned so that He might rise from the dead freed from ravages of sin. Help us to accept weaknesses and failings as forerunners of our glorious resurrection in union with your Son.
Amen.



Sing (in preparation for the Tenth Station):
Stripped and jeered by his own nation,
Jesus stood m desolation,
Giving all He bad to give.

The Eighth Station

Jesus Meets the Women of Jerusalem

We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You. (genuflect)

Because by Your Holy Cross You have redeemed the world.

Reflection:
There was following Jesus a great crowd of people, and among them were some women who were be-
wailing and lamenting Him. Jesus turning to them said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for Me,
but weep for yourselves and for your children (Luke 23:27-28)."
Meditation:
Come, all you who pass by the way,
Look and see whether there is any suffering like My suffering,
Suffering with which the Lord has afflicted Me on the day of his blazing wrath.
At this I weep, My eyes run with tears:
Far from Me are all who could console Me,
Far away are any who might revive Me (Lam. 1:12-16).

Pray:
Beloved Jesus, with tears of pity these women of Jerusalem responded to You, broken, bruised, and beaten, on the road to Calvary. Deepen our faith, we beg Vow. so that we may see You in our brothers and sisters, bruised by our envy, beaten down by injustice, and broken by our greed and our indifference. Amen.

Sing (in preparation for the Ninth Station):
Jesus fell again in weakness,
Stumbling as we do, to lead us,
Through our sorrow and our pain.



The Seventh Station: Jesus Falls the Second Time

The Seventh Station

Jesus Falls the Second Time

We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You. (genuflect)

Because by Your Holy Cross You have redeemed the world.

Reflection:

It was our weaknesses that He carried, our sufferings that He endured, while we thought of Him as
stricken, as One struck by God and afflicted. But He was pierced for our offenses, crushed for our sins*
upon Him was the punishment that makes us whole, by His stripes we were healed. We had all gone
astray like sheep, each following his own way; but the Lord laid upon Him the guilt of us all. (Is.53:4-6)

Meditation:
Though he was harshly treated,
He submitted and opened not his mouth;
Like a lamb led to the slaughter or a sheep before the shearers,
He was silent and uttered no cry.
When he was cut off from the land of the living, and smitten for the sin of his people,
A grave was assigned him among the wicked and a burial place with evildoers,
Though he had done no wrong nor spoken any falsehood. (Is. 53:7,9)

Pray:
You shared in our weaknesses and accepted our guilt. Grant us the favor of rejoicing over our human weaknesses, so that in all we do, Your strength, dwelling in us, may be shown to all others.
Amen.

Sing (in preparation for the Eighth Station):
May our sympathy for Jesus
Turn to those who here now need us,
May we see Christ bruised in them.

The Sixth Station: Veronica Wipes the Face of Jesus

The Sixth Station

Veronica Wipes the Face of Jesus

We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You. (genuflect)

Because by Your Holy Cross You have redeemed the world.

Reflection:
"Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You; or thirsty, and give You drink? And when did we
see You a stranger, and take You in; or naked, and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in
prison, and come to You?" And answering the King will say to them, "Amen, I say to you, as long as
you did it for one of these, the least of My brethren, you did it for Me." (Mt. 25:37- 40)

Meditation:
A faithful friend is a sturdy shelter;
He who finds one finds a treasure.
A faithful friend is beyond price, no sum can balance his worth.
A faithful friend is a life-saving remedy, such as he who fears God finds;
For he who fears God behaves accordingly,
And his friend will be like himself. (Sir 6:14-17)

Pray:
Almighty and ever-loving God, we feel Your love and understanding in the consolation and support we

receive from one another. Give us, we beg You, the courage and dedication to sacrifice and suffer with those who are in need, the least of your people. Amen.

Sing (in preparation for the Seventh Station):
Prostrate on the dust He crumbled,
Flogged in Body He resembled
All our brothers poor and scorned

The Fifth Station: Simon of Cyrene Helps Jesus to Carry His Cross

The Fifth Station

Simon of Cyrene Helps Jesus to Carry His Cross

We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You. (genuflect)

Because by Your Holy Cross You have redeemed the world.

Reflection:

And when they had mocked Jesus, they took the purple cloak off and put His own clothes on Him.
and they led Him out to be crucified. Then they forced a certain passer-by, Simon of Cyrene, coming from the country, to take up His cross. They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha, a name meaning the place of the skull'. (Mk 15:20-22)




Meditation:
With a loud voice I cry out to the Lord,

With a loud voice I beseech the Lord.
My complaint I pour out before Him; before Him I lay bare my distress.
When my spirit is faint within me, you know my path.
In the way along which I walk they have hid a trap for me.
I look to the right to see, but there is no one who pays me heed.
I have lost all means of escape;
There is no one who cares for my life. (Ps. 141:2-5)

Pray:
Lord Jesus Christ, help us to see in the sufferings and shortcomings of our lives a share in Your Cross; strengthen and console us in the belief that we bear all things in union with You, Who have taken upon Yourself even our guilt. Amen.

Sing (in preparation for the Sixth Station):
Brave but trembling came the woman,
None but she would flaunt the Roman,
Moved by love beyond her fear.

The Fourth Station: Jesus Meets His Afflicted Mother

The Fourth Station

Jesus Meets His Afflicted Mother

We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You. (genuflect)

Because by Your Holy Cross You have redeemed the world.

Reflection:

Now there were standing by the cross of Jesus, His Mother and His Mother's sister, Mary of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus, therefore, saw His Mother and the disciple standing by, whom He

loved, He said to His Mother, "Woman, behold, your Son." Then He said to the disciple, "Behold,

your Mother." And from that hour the disciple took Her into his home. (Jn 19:25-27)

(kneel and pause)

Meditation:

To what can I compare you, O daughter Jerusalem ?

What example can I show you for your comfort, virgin daughter Sion?

For great as the sea is your distress;

who can heal you? (Lam. 2:13)




Pray:

Let us pray. O blessed Lord, at your passion a sword of sorrow pierced the loving heart of your mother

as Simeon had foretold. Grant that we who look back on her sorrows with compassion might receive

the healing fruits of your sufferings .

Amen.



Sing (in preparation for the Fifth Station):
Simon stopped in hesitation,

Not foreseeing his proud station,

Called to bear the Cross of Christ.

The Third Station: Jesus Falls the First Time

The Third Station

Jesus Falls The First Time

We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You. (genuflect)

Because by Your holy Cross You have redeemed the world.

Reflection:

If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before you. If you were of the world, the world would love what is its own. Because you are not of this world, but I have chosen you out the world, therefore the world hates you.

Remember the word that I have spoken to you: No servant is greater than his Master. If they have persecuted me, they will persecute you also. (John 15: 18-20). (kneel and pause)



Meditation:

Why are your clothes red,

and your garments like those of the wine presser?

“The wine press I have trodden alone,

and of my people there was no one with me.

I trod them in my anger, and I trampled them down in my wrath;

their blood spurted on my garments and I stained all my clothes.

I looked about, but there was no one to help,

I was appalled that there was no one to lend support;

so my own arm brought about the victory." (Is. 63:2-5)

Pray:
O God, to free us from sin and weakness your Son, Jesus Christ, embraced His fearful passion and crucifixion. Strengthen us in our baptismal resolutions by which we renounced sin and Satan, so that through the passion of this life's sufferings we might rise to a new life of joyful service free of all selfishness. Amen.



Sing (in preparation for the Fourth Station):

Jesus met His grieving Mother,

She who made the Lord our Brother;

Now the sword her heart has pierced.

The Second Station

The Second Station

Jesus Carries His Cross

 We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You. (genuflect)
 Because by Your holy Cross You have redeemed the world.

Reflection:



"Behold Your King!"

 And Pilate said to the Jews, "Behold, your king!" But they cried out, "Away with Him! Away with

Him! Crucify Him!" Pilate said to them, "Shall I crucify your king?" The chief priests answered,

"We have no king but Caesar." Then he handed Him over to them to be crucified. And so they took

Jesus and led him away, bearing the cross for Himself. (John 19:14-17)


Meditation:

Who would believe what we have heard?

To whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?

He grew up like a sapling before him, like a shoot

From the parched earth;

There was in him no stately bearing to make us look at him,

No appearance that would attract us to him.

He was rejected and avoided by men,

A man of suffering, accustomed to infirmity,

One of those from whom men turn away, and we held him in no esteem. (Is. 53:1-3)

Pray:

Father in heaven, your Son, Jesus Christ, still carries His Cross in His persecuted brothers and sisters throughout the world. Make us feel the needs of all persons so that we might as Jesus Himself. Amen


Sing (in preparation for the Third Station):

Weakened, prodded, cursed and fallen,

His whole Body bruised and swollen,

Jesus tripped and lay in pain.

Stations of the Cross Jesus is Condemned to Death

Comment: 

Before each station the Minister indicates the following prayer with a genuflection-

 We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you.

All Respond:

Because by Your Holy Cross You have redeemed the world.



First Station



The First Station (Traditional) Jesus is Condemned to Death:

"The chief priests with the elders and the scribes, that is, the whole Sanhedrin, held a council. They bound Jesus, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate. Pilate questioned him, "Are you the king of the Jews?" He said to him in reply, "You say so." The chief priests accused him of many things. Again Pilate questioned him, "Have you no answer? See how many things they accuse you of." Jesus gave him no further answer, so that Pilate was amazed.... Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released Barrabas... [and] handed [Jesus] over to be crucified.   (Mark 15: 1-5, 15)

Minister:  Lord, grant us discernment that we may see as you see, not as the world sees.

Reflection: Book 3; CHAPTER 36
Against Vain Judgments

"My Child, anchor your soul firmly upon God, and do not fear man's

judgment, when conscience pronounces you holy and innocent.

It is good and blessed thus to suffer; nor will it be grievous to
the humble hearted, and to those which trust in God more than in
themselves....



"Who art you, that you should be afraid of a man that shall die? (Is 51:12)  Today he is, and to-morrow his place is not found upon the earth.

Fear God, and you shall not be afraid before the terrors and threats of men.

What can any man do against you by words or deeds? He hurts himself more than you.  He shall not escape the judgment of God, no matter his station in life. 

Always have God before your eyes, and do not contend with fretful words (2 Tim 2:14). And if for the present you seem to give way, and to suffer undeserved confusion, do not be angry at this, nor by impatience, lest you diminish your reward; but rather look up to Me in heaven, for I am able to deliver you

from all confusion and hurt, and to render to every man according to his works." (Mt 16:27)

--------------

Until next time, be imitators of Christ!

Where Are You When You Are Not Present to Yourself?

Thomas a'Kempis advises us that self reflection is a good use of our time.  To do otherwise is to waste that time,  and to lose opportunities for Grace.  In short, Thomas is warning us that as we spend time on the pursuits of the affairs of others...especially to the point where we are ignoring our spiritual growth in Christ, we are acting vain and foolish.  Why go for the crumbs when you can have the cake?  If we practice now, that what we pray and hope to become as His disciples, then we will "get there" ready and willing and able to be His instrument.

Until next time, Be Imitators of Christ!

Book 2, Chapter V.  The Consideration of One’s Self

We cannot trust too much in ourselves, because we are often lacking grace and understanding. There is little light within us, and what light we do have we quickly lose by our own negligence.

We often do not perceive how inwardly blind we are.

We often do evil and then make that evil worse by excusing ourselves.

We often are moved by passion* and mistake it for zeal.

We pick out little faults in others and over look great faults in ourselves.

We are quick enough  in assigning guilt and making lists of what we suffer at the hands of others, but we think little of what others have to bear from us.

Whenever you measure your own deeds, be careful to not judge harshly or even to measure others at all(Luke 6:37-38).

2. The spiritually-minded disciple prefers self-reflective care before all other cares; and whoever diligently attends to the interior self easily keeps silence concerning others.

You will never be spiritually minded and godly unless you are silent concerning other’s affairs and take full heed to yours.

If you think wholly upon yourself and upon God, what you see outside of your life shall move you little.

Where are you when you are not present to yourself? And when you have considered all these outward things, what has it profited you, this neglecting of yourself (Mt 16:26)?

If you would have peace and true union within, you must set aside all other distractions, and turn your gaze only upon yourself alone.

3. You will make great progress if you keep yourself free from worldly cares.
However, if you set a value upon any of these worldly things you will lamentably fail. 

Let nothing be great, nothing high, nothing pleasing, nothing acceptable to you, except God Himself or the things that come from God.

Think it all vanity whatsoever consolation comes to you from any creature.

The soul that loves God  does not look to anything that is beneath God. God alone is eternal and incomprehensible, filling all things, the solace of the soul, and the true joy of the heart.

*[A short note on language: the word "passion" in The Imitation of Christ, as used below, is a negative. In modern usage, we see "having a passion" for something as a positive, and this is where Thomas uses the word "zeal." Passion, as used above, is that negative connotation more toward obsessive, unhealthy interest.]

How Can Purity & Simplicity Penetrate Heaven?

Book 2, Chapter 4: Of a pure mind and simple intention

In this chapter, Thomas keeps it simple and pure. So I'll keep it simple as well. Thomas lays out for us how these two virtues make our walk in holiness self evident.  The purity of fine music, or as evidenced by the beauty of nature can quickly deliver us into the presense of Almighty God.  As easily as a bird in flight. The only thing holding us back from the journey is --our selves.

With two wings is a disciple lifted above earthly things: that is, with
simplicity and purity.

Simplicity ought to be in the intention, purity in the affection.

Simplicity reaches towards God, purity takes hold of Him and tastes Him (John 6:35; Matt 26:26-27).

You will not be hindered by good action if you are free from unhealthy affections. If you reach after and seek only the will of God and the benefit of your neighbor, you will enjoy inward liberty.

When your heart is right, then every creature will act as a mirror of life and a book of holy doctrine. There is no creature so small and vile that cannot yet manifest to us the goodness of God (Rm 8:19; Ps 98:4-8; Acts 9:18).

2. If you were good and pure within, then you would you look upon
all things without hurt and understand them rightly.

A pure heart penetrates heaven and hell.

As you are inwardly, so you judge outwardly. If there is any joy in the world surely the disciple who is of pure heart possesses this joy, and if there is tribulation and anguish anywhere, the evil conscience feels the best of it (Rm 11:9).

As iron cast into the fire loses rust and is made all glowing, so the believer who turns wholly to God is freed from laziness and changed into a new disciple (Prv 27:17; 1Cor 3:13-15)

3. When a believer begins to grow lukewarm (Rev 3:16), the fear of a little labor develops, and soon outward consolation is accepted; but when the task is set to conquer one’s self and to walk courageously in the way of God, then you may count as nothing those things which before seemed to be so difficult to you.

Until next time,  Be Imitators of Christ!
tim