Suffering With Joy

First Station – Condemned to Death

March 9, 2010

Pilate's First Interrogation of Christ, 1308-1311, Duccio di Buoninsegna, (b. ca. 1255, Siena, d. 1319, Siena), Tempera on wood, Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, Siena

The subject of each Station of the Cross can suffice for an entire meditation.  When we attended Stations as schoolchildren on every Friday during Lent, I often felt this way: “No, stop, I’m not ready to go to the next Station yet.”  At that time I didn’t know about the practice of meditation.  It seems that children could benefit from learning about meditation so they can form the habit of considering thoughtfully the mysteries of Faith and develop a habit of contemplating episodes in the life of Christ more deeply.

This is the first Station of my favorite Stations of the Cross.

Jesus is Condemned to Death

V.  We adore Thee O Christ and we praise Thee.

R.  Because by Thy holy cross Thou hast redeemed the world.¹

And in the morning the chief priests and the whole council, binding Jesus, led Him away and delivered Him to Pilate.  And they all condemned Him and said: He is guilty of death.  And Pilate sat in the place of judgment and delivered Him to them to be crucified.²

V.  God spared not His only Son.

R.  But delivered Him up for all of us.³

Let us Pray.

O Lord, Jesus Christ, / who didst come down to earth from the bosom of the Father in heaven, / and didst shed Thy precious blood for the remission of our sins; / we humbly beseech Thee, that on the day of judgment we may be found worthy to be on Thy right hand / and to hear Thy words: Come ye blessed of My Father! / Who livest and reignest forever and ever. Amen.⁴

Hymn: Who, on Christ’s dear mother gazing pierced by anguish so amazing, born of woman would not weep?

¹ Tract of the votive Mass of the Holy Cross. ² Mark 15:1, Matt. 26:66, and Jn. 19: 16. ³ First antiphon of Lauds for Good Friday. (Rom. 8: 32). ⁴ Collect, votive Mass of the Passion of the Lord.

*****

Votive Masses are prayed for some private devotion or in special circumstances.  They can be said on days when a feast is not celebrated (ferias), but may not be prayed during Lent and the Octaves of Easter and Pentecost.

Tags: Stations of the Cross

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