STATIONS OF THE CROSS FOR RELIGIOUS
Introduction
To be
followers of Jesus is to have a desire to be like Jesus crucified. As
religious, we must yearn for nothing but to suffer, be despised and made little
of by others. This yearning has to be such that our hearts become one with
Jesus Christ and the sufferings of humanity
also become our sufferings.
All the trials and
adversities that come our way on
our journey of consecrated life become sure means of our way
of the cross. All our activities and efforts must lead us to reach this goal of
our Calvary.
At times our focus could seem
to be deviating from the purpose of our committed life by temptations of
power, attachments and self-interest. It is time for us today to repent and
return to the Father, like the prodigal
son, making an act of contrition saying:
O my God, behold me at
your feet asking for your forgiveness from the bottom of my heart for failing
to live my life as a truly committed religious. Look with pity upon me and
forgive me all my sins! I resolve to
follow your way of the cross for the sake of your love for me! Amen
Hymn: God of mercy and compassion,
Look with pity upon
me,
Father, let me call
Thee Father,
’Tis Thy child returns
to Thee.
Jesus, Lord, I ask for mercy;
Let me not implore in vain;
All my sins, I now detest them,
Never will I sin again.
By
my sins I have deserved
Death
and endless misery!
Hell
with all its pains and torments,
And
for all eternity!
1. Jesus is
condemned to Death
We adore you,
O Christ, and we bless you -
Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world!
“The verdict of Pilate was that their
demand should be granted. So he released the man who had been imprisoned for
rebellion and murder, for whom they asked, and he handed Jesus over to them to
deal with as they wished” (Luke 23:24-25).
Pilate condemned Jesus because of his vanity. He was worried
about what others would think of him. Caiaphas condemned Jesus because of his
pride. He wanted his way to be followed, no matter what it was and where it would lead. Herod condemned Jesus because of
his insensitivity. He was indifferent
to anything that failed to entertain or interest him.
How quick we are to
condemn others! Which of these most
often drives us forward: Vanity?
Prestige? Pride? Or sensuality?
What can we as Religious do about it? Do we imitate the loving manner in Jesus accepted the Father’s will? What is our reaction when
others turn against us, humiliate us, and cause us great pain?
Let us pray: God our Father, your son, Jesus, was condemned to
death by civil and religious authorities for proclaiming nothing but the
truth! Instil your love in our hearts so
that we may not yield to the temptations
of vanity, pride and self-indulgence but
be ever faithful to our call to be like Jesus and never condemn or degrade any
one of our brothers and sisters.
Have
mercy on us O Lord, Have mercy on us!
Holy Mother, Mary, obtain for us
that the wounds of Jesus our Lord may be
impressed upon our hearts as we all sing
the hymn, TO BE LIKE JESUS -
To be like
Jesus, to be like Jesus
all I ask to
be like him.
All throu’
life’s journey from earth to glory all I ask to be like him!
2. Jesus takes up his cross
We adore you,
O Christ, and we bless you -
Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world!
“And carrying the cross himself, he
went out to what is called the Place of the Skull, in Hebrew, Golgotha” (John
19:17).
What a contrast between
the two thieves crucified with Christ!
The bad thief ridicules Jesus for accepting his cross. We can presume
that the bad thief intended to get out of his punishment by accusing Jesus and
pleasing the authorities. What crosses do we reject? Do we accuse others or
please those in authority just in order
to escape from the punishments we deserve? Are we faithful to Jesus who has
said, “If you wish to come after me, you must deny your very self, take up your
cross and follow in my footsteps”?
Let us pray: Eternal
Father, Jesus, accepted the cross and still carries it in our persecuted
brothers and sisters throughout the world. As Consecrated persons, we too
at times experience in our community
life many crosses; fear, worry, and frustration greatly weigh us down, rendering us handicapped; they prevent us from being able to care for
others and love unconditionally. Help us to follow Jesus by accepting our daily
crosses, aware of all the persecuted and impoverished people on Earth.
Have mercy on us O Lord - Have mercy on us!
Holy Mother, obtain for me that the
wounds of Jesus my Lord
Holy Mother Mary, obtain for us that
the wounds of Jesus our Lord may be impressed on our
hearts as we sing the hymn: IF
YOU WISH TO BE MY DISCIPLE -
If you wish to
be my disciple,
Take up your
cross and follow me!
Whoever loves his life will only lose it.
It’s only sacrifice that brings one gain.
If you wish to
be my disciple,
Take up your
cross and follow me!
3. Jesus falls the first time
We adore you,
O Christ, and we bless you -
Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world!
“No slave is greater than his master.
If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they
will also keep yours. And they will do all these things to you on account of my
name” (John 15:20-21).
Jesus’ followers were distressed when they saw Him condemned,
scourged and burdened with the cross. When he fell under the weight of the cross his disciples
lost all their hope and ran away. When setbacks and failures in life test our faith in Jesus, do we easily give in to doubts and disappointments?
Let us pray: God, our Father,
Jesus has fallen under the cross of our sins and weaknesses, but he gets up and
keeps trudging on his fearful journey
precisely to free us from our sins and weaknesses. Henceforth, when we tend to hold back from following Jesus
fearing that we would fall too, strengthen
our resolve to live out the commitment
of consecrated life, renouncing sin and evil, freed of all selfishness!
Empower us with the courageous and surrendering spirit of Jesus!
Have mercy on us O Lord - Have mercy on us!
Holy Mother, Mary, obtain
for us that the wounds of Jesus our Lord may be impressed upon our hearts as we all sing the hymn:
PRECIOUS LORD
When my way
groweth drear,
Precious Lord
linger near,
When my life
is almost gone,
hear my cry,
hear my call,
Hold my hand,
lest I fall
Take my hand,
previous Lord, lead me on.
4. Jesus meets his mother
We adore you,
O Christ, and we bless you -
Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world!
“When Jesus saw his mother and the
disciple there whom he loved, he said to his mother, ‘Woman, behold, your son.’
Then he said to the disciple, ‘Behold, your mother’” (John 19:26-27).
There is nothing more miserable than a mother seeing her child
being lead to a horrible death. Her heart was pierced with sorrow as
Simeon had foretold. She simply put her faith in the Father and encouraged her
beloved Son in his mission all throughout his ministry. Now on the way to Calvary she
strengthens his difficult journey with
her prayerful presence. She knew well what it meant to follow the will of the
Father, having said “Yes” to Him and declaring herself his handmaid at the Annunciation.
Are we faithful on an ongoing basis to the “Yes” we have said to the Lord at the time of our religious commitment?
Let us pray:
Lord Jesus, on your way to Calvary a sword of sorrow pierced the loving heart
of your mother as foretold by Simeon. Grant that we who look back on her
sorrows with compassion might receive the healing fruits of your sufferings.
Teach us to accept others as they are and to love them whenever they encounter problems in life.
Have mercy on us O Lord - Have mercy on us! Holy Mother, Mary, obtain for us that the wounds of Jesus our Lord may be impressed upon our hearts as we all sing the hymn NO MAN CAN
LIVE LIKE AN ISLAND
Be
with us Mary along the way,
Guide every step we take.
Lead us to Jesus your loving son,
Come with us,
Mary come
Come with us
Mary, come with us Mary, come with us Maisie
5. Simon helps Jesus carry His cross
We adore you,
O Christ, and we bless you -
Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world!
“As they were going out, they met a
Cyrenean named Simon; this man they pressed into service to carry his cross”
(Matthew 27:32).
Simon’s human nature, like ours, was an obstacle to the idea of carrying the cross with
Christ. Seeing the situation of Jesus and his cross he was not willing to
respond positively to the order of the soldiers to help Jesus. He was however forced to accept it. What
about us? Are we stuck in that moment of indecision, unwilling to say a clear Yes or No to the cross?
Unwilling to accept the values of Jesus
in our daily life, do we remember the
commitment we made to Jesus to walk shoulder to shoulder with him, carrying the cross up the hill, along the way helping those in need physically,
emotionally and spiritually?
Let us pray: Lord Jesus,
help us to see you in the sufferings and shortcomings of our lives and thus share your Cross. Empower us to carry the burdens
of others and lighten their journey. Help us to follow you and give of
our time and energy to help you in our fellow religious reach their destination.
Have mercy on us O Lord - Have mercy on us!
Holy Mother,
Mary, obtain for us that the wounds of Jesus our Lord may be impressed
upon our hearts as we all sing the hymn MAKE ME A CHANNEL OF YOUR PEACE
Make me a
channel of your peace!
Where there is
despair in life let me bring hope;
Where there is
darkness only light;
And where
there’s sadness ever joy.
6. Veronica wipes the face of Jesus
We adore you,
O Christ, and we bless you.
Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
“Above all, let your love for one
another be intense, because love covers a multitude of sins” (Peter[L1]
4:8).
At this stage of his
suffering and fatigue, Jesus needed a little comfort and human warmth.
Veronica noticed it. She chose to fulfil that need with her charitable act of
wiping his disfigured face.
Charity can cover up a multitude of
sins and it is the bedrock of all
Committed life. Of all the people in the crowd, she dared stand
out because of her charitable heart.
Jesus left the imprint of his image
for Veronica and today he shows it to
us, too, in the faces of the hungry, the thirsty, the sick, and the dying. Do we always treasure that image, and
touch it with compassion? The sufferings of Jesus pain us; but have we translated that pain into action? Or are we in the
company of those who merely stood on the sidelines and wept?
Let us pray.
Merciful Father, we feel your love and understanding in the consolation and
support we receive from one another in our community. Help us also to
extend this love and support to all those who are in need especially the least
and the most alienated people. Help us to see your face amid the mystery
of suffering and, like Veronica, willingly lend a helping hand, a listening ear
and a ready shoulder to those who are
struggling with life.
Have mercy on us O Lord - Have mercy on us!
Holy
Mother, Mary, obtain for us that the
wounds of Jesus our Lord may be
impressed upon our hearts as we all sing
the hymn WHATSOEVER YOU DO
Whatsoever you
do to the least of my brothers,
That you do
unto me!
Whatsoever you
do to the least of my sisters,
That you do
unto me!
When I was
hungry, you gave me to eat;
When I was
thirsty, you gave me drink,
Now enter into
the home of my Father!
7. Jesus falls a second time
We adore you,
O Christ, and we bless you.
Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
“Though he was in the form of God, he
did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. Rather, he emptied
himself, taking the form of a slave. Coming in human likeness, and found human in appearance, he humbled
himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross” (Philippians 2:6-8).
How could this happen to the God
who created the universe? Jesus didn’t carry the cross with physical perfection
or Divine power. He carried it like any other human being, and so he fell under
its weight over and over again. How
often do we try to make others perfect in
community life? Do we realize that Jesus doesn’t expect perfection but
humility and sacrifice? Are we aware that to become holier we have to rise
again and again whenever we fall?.
Let us pray. Lord
Jesus, You shared our broken humanity and accepted our guilt. You also
made us aware that pride can bring about our downfall, causing us to turn back
from the way along which you choose to lead us. Help us see our human
weaknesses where the perspective of your strength and glory that dwell and work in us. Help us to be humble, simple and
obedient like you even to the point of death.
Have mercy
on us O Lord - Have mercy on us!
Holy Mother, Mary, obtain for us
that the wounds of Jesus our Lord may be
impressed upon our hearts as we all sing
the hymn MAKE ME A SERVANT
Make me a servant, humble and meek.
Lord let me
lift up those who are weak;
And may the
prayer of my heart always be:
Make me a
servant, make me a servant,
Make me a
servant, today!
8. Jesus meets the women
We adore you,
O Christ, and we bless you.
Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
“A large crowd of people followed
Jesus, including many women who mourned and lamented him. Jesus turned to them
and said, ‘Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep instead for
yourselves and for your children’” (Luke 23:27-28).
The women weep, deeply moved as they seeing the pitiful
condition in which Jesus makes his way to Calvary. We too are deeply moved
but often content with reciting some prayers. We also promise Jesus that we would take up our crosses and
follow him. Do we also actualize it in our life of commitment? Jesus told the
women not to weep for him but for others. Jesus carried not his cross but ours.
We are called to wipe out the sorrows and tears of the world.
Let us pray.
Lord Jesus, with tears of pity these women of Jerusalem responded to you,
broken, bruised, and beaten, on the road to Calvary. Deepen our faith, so
that we may see you in this world which is in need of liberation from all kinds
of divisions and comfort those who mourn. May the power of your spirit move us
to weep for our brothers and sisters, bruised by our
envy, beaten by injustice, and broken by
our greed and our indifference and to strive to work for their liberation.
Have mercy on us O Lord - Have mercy on us!
Holy Mother, Mary, obtain for us
that the wounds of Jesus our Lord may be
impressed upon our hearts as we all sing
the hymn THE WORLD STANDS IN NEED OF
LIBERATION
The world
stands in need of liberation, my Lord -
It still has
to feel your power.
The blind and
the deaf, the dumb and the maimed,
All need to
feel your healing touch.
The world
stands in need of liberation, my Lord -
It still has
to feel your power.
9. Jesus falls a third time
We adore you,
O Christ, and we bless you.
Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
“Your opponent the devil is prowling
around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, steadfast
in faith, knowing that your fellow believers throughout the world undergo the
same sufferings” (1 Peter 5:8-9).
The physical weakness of Jesus is
seen more clearly at his third fall. Satan took revenge upon Jesus and took delight in each of his falls even though he failed to
tempt him in the desert; but for now he does seem to be convinced of his success.
We are called to give ourselves to
Jesus and his people. Tempted by Satan we may feel unworthy of our calling and
at times think that we are too weak to bear the burdens of Consecrated life. Thus we give Satan reason to
think that he is winning over us. We
have to get up again and again from our falls into sin and foil the plans of
our enemy, the devil, recalling the words of Saint Paul, “My grace is enough
for you, for in weakness power reaches perfection.”
Let us pray:
God our Father, you permitted your Son
to be weakened, crushed and prone to falling down again and again so that he might rise
from each of his falls in order to die
and thus free us from the ravages of sin. Help
us to accept our weaknesses, wounds and failings as invitations to a glorious resurrection in union with Jesus.
Have
mercy on us O Lord - Have mercy on us!
Holy Mother, Mary, obtain for us
that the wounds of Jesus our Lord may be
impressed upon our hearts as we all sing
the hymn PRECIOUS LORD
Precious Lord,
take my hand.
Lead me on, let me stand.
I am tired, I am weak, and worn.
Through the storm, through the night,
Lead me on to the light.
Take my hand, precious Lord,
Lead me home.
10. Jesus is stripped of his garments
We adore you,
O Christ, and we bless you.
Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
“When the soldiers had crucified
Jesus, they took his clothes and divided them into four shares, a share for
each soldier” (John 19:23).
In his supreme humility
and love, Jesus accepted the stripping of his garments that he was so brazenly
subjected to: stripped bare, for the
entire world to see! It was humiliating,
yet he accepted it as part of the mission. Do we, likewise, strip ourselves of
our selfishness and lack of courage?
Let us pray: Lord Jesus,
stripped of everything, you stood exposed to the jeers and contempt of the very
people you loved. Clothe us with your mercy and genuine love for others, so that nothing we suffer may ever
fill our hearts with hatred or bitterness. Let our wounds transform us so
that we do not transmit them to others. Help us share your reconciliation
and forgiveness with all.
Have
mercy on us O Lord - Have mercy on us!
Holy Mother, Mary, obtain for us that the wounds of Jesus our Lord may be impressed upon our hearts as we all sing the hymn WERE
YOU THERE
Were you there when
they stripped him of his clothes? (2)
Ooh sometimes it
causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble, tremble, trembleWere you there when
they stripped him of his clothes?
11. Jesus is nailed to the cross
We adore you,
O Christ, and we bless you.
Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
“They crucified him, and with him two
others, one on either side, with Jesus in the middle” (John 19:18).
The commitment of Jesus is perpetuated for eternity with three
nails. He knew he must go through with
it, and go through he lovingly did – all
for our sake!
Following our Master’s example, we
too are committed to the consecrated way of life with the three nails of the
evangelical counsels of poverty,
chastity and obedience. At times the word “commitment” frightens us because it
cannot be undone or even sidetracked and so
we accept it. Are we really faithful to our commitment? Do we lay our
hand on the plough and turn back? Or do we
allow the seed that Jesus planted in our
hearts, with His own sweat and blood, grow and produce a rich harvest?
Let us pray. Lord
and Saviour, Jesus Christ, you told us that we too must accept crucifixion and
death if we are to rise with you. Help us to experience the sufferings of
life as a means to purify ourselves, seeing in them the perfect way of the
cross to the resurrection. Give us the
grace we need to produce a rich harvest of mercy, compassion and self-sacrifice
with the seeds of your sacrifice on the cross. May we ever persevere in seeking and listening to you!
Have mercy on us O Lord - Have
mercy on us!
Holy Mother, Mary,
obtain for us that the wounds of
Jesus our Lord may be impressed
upon our hearts as we all sing the hymn WERE YOU THERE
Were you there when
they nailed him to the cross? (3)
Oh
sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble, tremble, tremble!
Were
you there when they nailed him to the cross?
12. Jesus dies on the cross
We adore you,
O Christ, and we bless you.
Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
“Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed
his last. The veil of the sanctuary was torn in two from top to bottom” (Matthew
15:37-38).
The death of Jesus on the cross was a loud proclamation of the
new way of doing service. “If one of you
wants to be great, he must be the servant of the rest; and if one of your wants
to be the first, he must be the slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not
come to be served; he came to serve and to give his life to redeem many people”
(Mark 10:43-45) .
Let us Pray: Lord Jesus, help
us to proclaim the memorial of your death on the cross by surrendering
ourselves into your hands through a
meaningful participation in the daily Eucharist.. Let the celebration of your
death become for us a sacrament of our dying to ourselves in loving one
another, in a bond of unity.
Have mercy on us O Lord - Have mercy on us!
Holy Mother,
Mary, obtain for us that the wounds of
Jesus our Lord may be impressed
upon our hearts as we all sing the hymn INTO YOUR HANDS
Into your
hands we commend our spirits oh Lord
Into your
hands we commend our hearts
For we must
die to ourselves in loving you
Into your
hands we commend our love.
Oh God my God,
why have you gone from me?
Far from my
prayer, far from my cry?
To you I call,
and you never answer me.
You send no
comfort and I don’t know why!
13. Jesus is taken down from the cross
We adore you,
O Christ, and we bless you.
Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
“Now there was a virtuous and
righteous man named Joseph who, though he was a member of the council, had not
consented to their plan of action. He came from the Jewish town of Arimathea
and was awaiting the Kingdom of God. He went to Pilate and asked for the body of
Jesus” (Luke 23:50-52).
Mary received into her arms the
lifeless body of the child she had
borne, fed, clothed, listened to and loved. She accompanied him from birth to
death. She is as much a mother to us as she was to Jesus, holding his body to her bosom. We shall ask her intercession that
we may not turn our eyes from the tears of the mothers whose children are dying
on the street.
Let us pray. Lord
Jesus, You were brutally put to death but gently taken down from the cross.
Your suffering and pain are ended, and you are placed in the lap of your mother. The dirt and blood
are wiped away with much care and love. Help us to look for the good in others
and wipe away the dirt of sadness that we may become more and more gentle,
loving persons through our greater appreciation for each other. May the grief
of your mother, Mary, on seeing your lifeless body enter into our hearts, making
us sympathetic with suffering.
Have mercy on us O Lord - Have mercy on us!
Holy Mother, Mary, obtain for us
that the wounds of Jesus our Lord may be
impressed upon our hearts as we all sing
the hymn MAKE ME A CHANNEL OF YOUR PEACE
Make me a channel of your peace.
Where there’s despair in life let me bring hope,
Where there is darkness, only light,
And where there’s sadness, ever joy!
Oh, Master, grant that I may never seek,
So much to be consoled, as to console.
To be understood, as to understand,
To be loved as to love with all my soul!
14. Jesus is laid In the Tomb
We adore you,
O Christ, and we bless you.
Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
“Taking the body, Joseph wrapped it in clean linen and laid it
in the new tomb that he had hewn in the
rock. Then he rolled a huge stone across the entrance to the tomb and departed”
(Matthew 27:59-60).
The King of kings was laid to rest but the rest was only temporary. Jesus’ life on earth was very
short, yet so full that it could not be silenced for
long! He touched so many people
especially the sick, the poor, the suffering, and requested us to do the same.
We shall leave behind in his tomb the shrouds of all our fears and follow him as
faithful followers to witness as his disciples.
Let us pray:
Lord Jesus, at the height of your suffering, when all seemed lost, you were laid to rest in
the tomb for a short period of time. Help us to so empty
ourselves of self-concern and false images that we might see your hand in every
failure and your victory in every
defeat.
Have mercy on us O Lord - Have
mercy on us!
Holy Mother, Mary,
obtain for us that the wounds of
Jesus our Lord may be impressed
upon our hearts as we all sing the hymn WERE YOU THERE
Were you there when
they laid him in the tomb (2)
Oh sometimes it
causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble, tremble, trembleWere you there when
they laid him in the tomb.
Concluding Prayer
Heavenly Father, We thank you for
giving us your beloved Son Jesus Christ who accompanies us on our life’s
journey of the cross. He submitted himself to suffering, rejection and death to
make it possible for us to be fully alive. He has shown us the way to transform
our meaningless sufferings, and the hardships of our daily life to obtain
ultimate happiness.
Help us to break ourselves for the sake of the other and fall to
the ground like the grain of wheat that
we may produce new life in Jesus Christ. Guide us to bring good tidings to the
poor, the suffering and the sick who yearn for happiness and fulfillment in life.
We also thank you for the many gifts you have given us,
especially the gift of our vocation.
Send your Spirit mightily upon us so that we may respond to our call to
Religious Life with greater enthusiasm and love, by making ourselves faithful disciples of your Son by following
the example of Mary our Mother. Help us to surrender ourselves to your will and to bring the people who dwell
in darkness into the light of Jesus Christ. Make us generous in sharing
ourselves and our talents for the sake of your Kingdom on earth. We ask this
through Christ our Lord. Amen
Holy Mother, Mary, obtain for
us that the wounds of Jesus our
Lord may be impressed upon our hearts as
we all sing the hymn I HAVE DECIDED
1.
I have decided to
follow Jesus;
I have decided to follow Jesus;
I have decided to follow Jesus;
No turning back, no turning back.
I have decided to follow Jesus;
I have decided to follow Jesus;
No turning back, no turning back.
2.
The world behind me,
the cross before me;
The world behind me, the cross before me;
The world behind me, the cross before me;
No turning back, no turning back.
The world behind me, the cross before me;
The world behind me, the cross before me;
No turning back, no turning back.
3.
My cross I’ll carry,
till I see Jesus;
My cross I’ll carry, till I see Jesus;
My cross I’ll carry, till I see Jesus;
No turning back, no turning back.
My cross I’ll carry, till I see Jesus;
My cross I’ll carry, till I see Jesus;
No turning back, no turning back.
