Suffering With Joy

Third Station: Jesus Falls the First Time

March 12, 2010

The Way to Calvary, c. 1540, Jacopo Bassano (b. ca. 1515, Bassano, d. 1592, Bassano), Oil on canvas, National Gallery, London

Jesus Falls the First Time Under the Cross

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

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

Our Lord Jesus Christ humbled Himself unto death, even to the death of the cross.  For which cause God hath exalted Him and hath given Him a name that is above every name.  Come, let us adore and bow down before God, let us weep in the presence of the Lord who made us, for He is indeed the Lord our God. ¹

V.  Surely He hath borne our infirmities.

R.  And He hath carried our sorrows. ²

Let Us Pray

Grant, we beseech Thee, almighty God, / that we, who fail in so many adversities through our own weakness, / may take heart again through the pleading of the passion of Thine only-begotten Son. / Who liveth and reigneth forever and ever. Amen.³

Hymn: Bruised, derided, cursed, defiled, she beheld her tender child all with bloody scourges rent.

¹ Epistle of Palm Sunday (Philip. 2: 8-9) and Ps. 94: 6-7 of daily Matins. ² Is. 53:4. ^₃ Collect, Monday in Holy Week.

The Church encourages frequent meditation on the Passion of Christ to instill in us an attachment to Him, and love and gratitude for opening the gates of heaven to us.  By meditating on the Passion throughout the year, we can become attached to Christ and detached from sin.  As with all things related to the life of Christ, Mother Mary is never far away, so coupling the Stabat Mater with the Stations allows us to walk with her and honor her for suffering in union with Him.

Tags: Blessed Virgin, Stations of the Cross

Second Station: Jesus Takes Up His Cross

March 11, 2010

Christ Carrying the Cross, 1521, Michelangelo Buonarotti (b. 1475, Caprese, d. 1564, Roma), marble, Santa Maria sopra Minerva, Roma

Jesus Takes Up His Cross

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

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

And bearing His cross He went forth to that place which is called Calvary.  Hail, O Christ our King!  Thou alone hast had pity on the folly of our sins.  Obedient to the Father, Thou art led forth to be crucified, like an innocent lamb to the slaughter.  To Thee be glory; to Thee be triumph and victory; to Thee the crown of highest honor and acclaim! ¹

V.  The Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all.

R.  For the wickedness of his people He hath stricken Him.²

Let Us Pray

O Lord, who hast said: / My yoke is sweet and My burden is light: / grant that we may be able so to carry it as to obtain Thy grace. / Who livest and reignest forever and ever.  Amen.³

Hymn: Who, on Christ’s dear Mother thinking, such a cup of sorrow drinking,  would not share her sorrows deep?

¹ John 19: 17 and Alleluia verse (Paschal Time) of Votive Mass of the Passion of our Lord. ² Isaiah 53: 6 and 8. _³ Vesting prayer before Mass.

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Vesting Prayers: Prior to each Mass, the celebrant vests himself in the sacristy.  When putting on each vestment, he says a particular prayer applying to each one.  This prayer is said when the celebrant vests himself with the chasuble.

Tags: Stations of the Cross

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.

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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