Suffering With Joy

Fifth Station: Simon of Cyrene

March 14, 2010

Christ Carrying the Cross, Hieronymous Bosch (b. ca. 1450, 's-Hertogenbosch, d. 1516, 's-Hertogenbosch), Oil on panel, Palacio Real, Madrid

Simon of Cyrene is Forced to Take Up the Cross

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

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

And as they led Him away, they laid hold of one Simon of Cyrene, a passer-by, and forced Him to take up the cross of Jesus. And they laid the cross on him to carry after Jesus.¹

V.  Whoever does not carry his cross and come after Me.

R.  Cannot be my disciple.²

Let Us Pray

Receive our prayers, O Lord, / and be appeased, / and in Thy mercy subdue to Thy service even our rebellious wills. / Through Christ our Lord.  Amen.³

Hymn:  For the sins of His own nation, saw Him hang in desolation, till His spirit forth He sent.

¹ Mt. 27: 32, Mk. 15: 21, Lk. 23: 26. ² Lk. 14: 27.  ³ Secret, Saturday of Fourth Week in Lent.

*****

The Secret prayer is very old in the celebration of the traditional Roman liturgy.  The celebrant says it in a low voice at the end of the Offertory because the choir is singing the offertory during this time.  Even at a Low Mass the Secret is said quietly.  It was called “secret” because it is the only prayer in the traditional liturgy that is said this way.  It is part of the Propers of the Mass.

*****

The painting above shows Simon of Cyrene helping Jesus carry the Cross.  Dating from Bosch’s mid-to-late period, this portrait of Christ draws the viewer into His eyes for an enduring devotional image.  The Blessed Mother collapses into the arms of St. John in the distance.

Tags: Blessed Virgin, Stations of the Cross