Stations of the Cross, Second Station

Second Station

Jesus carries his Cross

We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You,
because by Your holy Cross You have redeemed the world.

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 to 17)

Reflection: 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 to 3)

Let us 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 readily help them as we would help Jesus himself. Amen.

Click on the picture for a link to an excellently-done corresponding page on the Catholic Stations of the Cross.

When Twins Are Too Quiet . . .

....at least it wasn't with Sharpies.

Stations of the Cross, First Station

First Station

Jesus is condemned to death


We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You,
because by Your holy Cross You have redeemed the world.

Again the high priest began to ask him, and said to him, "Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?" And Jesus said to him, "I am. And you shall see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power and coming with the clouds of heaven." But the high priest tore his garments and said, "What further need have we of witnesses? You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?" And they all condemned him as liable to death. ( Mark 14, 61 to 64)

Reflection: The kings of the earth rise up, and the princes conspire together against the Lord and against his Anointed. I will proclaim the decree of the Lord; the Lord said to me: 'You are my Son; this day I have begotten you. Ask of me and I will give you the nations for an inheritance and the ends of the earth for your possession." (Psalm 2, 2 & 7-8)

Let us pray: All-powerful and eternal God, for proclaiming the truth you Son, Jesus Christ, is condemned to death by crucifixion. Stir up your love in our hearts so that we might be ever faithful to all that You have told us, and fear nothing more than the loss of your friendship through sin. Amen.

Stations of the Cross, Opening Prayer

Over the next two weeks, I am going to reprint here the weekly devotional that our parish holds every Friday during Lent. This devotion can take many different forms, but essentially it is a meditation on the final hours of the life of Christ. It may have its origin in the pilgrimages that the faithful used to make to holy places, particularly Jerusalem.

I have chosen to share this because having attended Stations faithfully for the past, um...10? 15? years, these prayers and reflections have continued to impress themselves on me in different and deeper ways not only every year, but almost every time I read them. I hope that by sharing them, it can be a blessing for someone else as well. Please excuse any typos - my keyboard is acting up and some may slip past me.

Opening prayer

Jesus came with his disciples to a country place called Gethsemani, and he said to them, "Sit down here, while I go over yonder and pray." Then he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and he began to be saddened and exceedingly troubled. He said to them, "My soul is sad, even unto death. Wait here and watch with me." He went forward a little, and falling prostrate he prayed, saying, "Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass away from me; yet not as I will but as you will." (Mt. 26, 36 to 39)

Almighty and eternal Father, accept our prayer of thanksgiving for your Beloved Son, our Saviour and Lord. As we recall his Sacred Passion send the Spirit of Christ into our hearts, we beg You, so that whether we pray or work we might do all in union with Christ our Redeemer. Amen.

Irish Blessing

May those who love us, love us
And those who don't love us,
May God turn their hearts
And if he can't turn their hearts,
May he turn their ankles
So we will know them by their limping!