Thursday, December 5, 2013

An Advent Stations of the Cross

The First Station – Jesus Is Condemned to Death

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

Mary looked at Jesus as Pilate washed his hands and sent her Son off to be crucified. Was this the little Baby she had waited for with so much longing for nine months? Now she was awaiting His death.

Glory Be...

The Second Station – Jesus Takes up His Cross

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

Mary watched as the soldiers placed the heavy cross on Jesus' shoulders. Was this the little Baby Who had reached out to her with tiny hands? Now He reached out to take up His cross.

Glory Be...

The Third Station – Jesus Falls the First Time

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

Mary watched as Jesus stumbled and fell to the ground under the weight of the cross. Was this the little Child Who had fallen as He took His first steps and Whom she had lifted up and snuggled? Now she saw Him with His face in the dirt with no loving hand to help Him up.

Glory Be...

The Fourth Station – Jesus Meets His Mother

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

Mary pushed her way through the crowd and approached her Son. Was this the little Boy Who had so often looked at her with loving eyes and a big smile? Now He was in pain, and she could do nothing for Him except touch His face and express her love before He was forced too move on.

Glory Be...

The Fifth Station – Simon of Cyrene Helps Jesus Carry the Cross

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

Mary looked on as Jesus struggled beneath the cross and the soldiers wondered whether He would die before He reached Calvary. Was this the little One she had helped so often as He grew up? She could not help Him now, but she watched as the soldiers pulled a man from the crowd and made him take up the cross behind Jesus.

Glory Be...

The Sixth Station – 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.

Mary noticed that Jesus' beautiful face was covered in sweat, blood, and dust. Was this the little Boy Whose face she had washed so often and so gently? She watched gratefully as a women walked up to Jesus and carefully wiped His face.

Glory Be...

The Seventh Station – Jesus Falls a Second Time

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

Mary saw Jesus stumble and fall a second time as the weight of the cross became too much for Him. Was this the little Boy she had so often comforted when He fell while at play? Now she could only cry and pray as she saw Him struggle to His feet.

Glory Be...

The Eighth Station – Jesus Meets the Women of Jerusalem

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

Mary heard Jesus speak to a few of the women who had gathered to mourn for Him. Was this the little Boy Who had so often uttered such surprising and wonderful things? Now she listened as Jesus told the women not to weep for Him but for themselves and their children.

Glory Be...

The Ninth Station – Jesus Falls a Third Time

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

Mary was almost overwhelmed with sorrow when she saw Jesus fall a third time. Was this the little Child she had always cared for so tenderly? Now she was helpless as the soldiers dragged Him to His feet and pushed Him forward.

Glory Be...

The Tenth Station – 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.

Mary watched in horror as the soldiers stripped Jesus. Was this the little Child Whose clothing she had lovingly woven and Whom she had dressed with such care? Now His wounds opened up as the soldiers tore His garments from His precious body.

Glory Be...

The Eleventh Station – 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.

Mary saw the long, thick, sharp nails driven through her Son's hands and feet as He was attached to the cross. Was this the little Child Whose tiny hands she had held and Whose tiny feet she had tickled to make Him giggle? Now she felt as though she, too, was being pierced with those nails as her Son's pain touched the very depths of her being.

Glory Be...

The Twelfth Station – Jesus Dies on the Cross

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

Mary watched Jesus suffer for hours; then she heard Him pray, "Father, into Your hands, I commend My Spirit." Was this the little Baby to Whom she had given birth that night so long ago in a stable in Bethlehem? Now she saw Him bow His head and breathe His last.

Glory Be...

The Thirteenth Station – 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.

Mary received her Son, her dear Jesus, into her arms and held His body close to her heart. Was this the little One she had cradled so many times? Now He was dead, and her heart was breaking.

Glory Be...

The Fourteen Station – 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.

Mary prepared Jesus' body for burial, washing Him, anointing Him, and wrapping Him in a shroud. Was this the little Baby she had once wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in the manger? Now He was lying in the tomb.

Glory Be...

Even as the men rolled the stone in front of Jesus' tomb, Mary wiped the tears from her eyes. Her Son had made a promise. He told her that in three days He would rise again. She believed Him, and now she looked forward to the time when they would be together again, rejoicing in the promise He was sure to keep.

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