Way of the Cross Way of the Cross
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Clifton Cathedral Way of the Cross Way of the Cross Acknowledgements We wish to thank the following for permission to include their copyright material in this booklet to be used for private devotion or liturgical worship. The scriptural text from the Jerusalem Bible © 1966.1967 and 1968 by Darton Longman & Todd Limited and Doubleday & Company Inc., and used by permission of the publishers. The Stations in the Cathedral Church of Saints Peter and Paul, Clifton were designed and executed by artist William Mitchell and the Station titles were approved by the Sacred Congregation for Divine Worship in 1973. Photographs, refections, and layout of this publication © Peter Harrison 2015 With the exception of the above, ownership of all material rests with the publisher. We remind readers that the duplicating or copying of any copyright text or image, even for private use is an infringement of the law of copyright. Additional information about the Cathedral can be found on the website: www.cliftoncathedral.org.uk Enquiries telephone 0117 973 8411 [Mon-Fri 09:30-16:00 hrs] The Administrator Cathedral House Clifton Park Bristol BS8 3BX United Kingdom 2 – Clifton Cathedral Liturgy – 2015 2015 – Clifton Cathedral Liturgy – 3 Way of the Cross Introduction From earliest times Christians have visited the Holy Land to follow in the footsteps of the Lord, tracing the road to Calvary – pausing for prayer and recollection with the Lord in his passion, and rejoicing with him in his resurrection. The Via dolorosa – Way of the Cross – is in Jerusalem but throughout the centuries Jesus’ disciples have followed the Stations of the Cross in their Cathedrals, and parish churches. At various periods there have been as many as thirty-six Stations, recalling the various points of the Lord’s last journey. In the Sixteenth Century just fourteen Stations were chosen, which will be familiar to many. In 1973, With the approval of the Church authority, a new set of fourteen Stations was chosen for the Cathedral Church of Saints Peter and Paul, in Clifton. Beginning with the Last Supper and taking us through the events of the Lord’s passion and death as recorded in the scriptures, and ending with the risen Lord once again with his disciples breaking bread with them and now glorifed. Many ecumenical Christian communities have been inspired to follow the Way of the Cross and to refect in prayer on the signifcance of the Lord’s passion and resurrection. Using the Text The text is simply presented for you to use as you feel suits your situation, whether at a time of personal prayer or in the liturgical celebrations of the Way of the Cross. Do make time for quiet recollection as time allows. The use of music, or a processional hymn to suit the occasion may enhance the spirit of the celebration. 2 – Clifton Cathedral Liturgy – 2015 2015 – Clifton Cathedral Liturgy – 3 Way of the Cross 1 – Jesus Shares the Last Supper with His Disciples Now as they were eating, Jesus took some bread and when he had said the blessing, he broke it and gave it to the disciples. ‘Take it and eat’, he said, ‘this is my body’. Then he took the cup, and when he had returned thanks he gave it to them. ‘Drink all you from this’, he said, ‘for this is my blood, the blood of the Covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins’. Matthew 26: 26–28 4 – Clifton Cathedral Liturgy – 2015 2015 – Clifton Cathedral Liturgy – 5 Way of the Cross Reflection Lord, the world is hungry, and we too hunger and thirst for the food and drink that you offer us in friendship and forgiveness. This is the covenant, your promise of love and of mercy, of fellowship and salvation. How can we even begin to be worthy of your love? Yet it is so, it is your promise: ‘Take it and eat… Take it and drink all of you… for the forgiveness of sin’. [Pause] [As you move to the next Station] O Lord, it is you who are my portion and cup; it is you yourself who are my prize. The lot marked out for me is my delight: welcome indeed the heritage that falls to me! Psalm 15 (16) 4 – Clifton Cathedral Liturgy – 2015 2015 – Clifton Cathedral Liturgy – 5 Way of the Cross 2 – Jesus Prays in the Garden Jesus then left to make his way as usual to the Mount of Olives, with the disciples following. When they reached the place he said to them, ‘Pray not to be put to the test’. Then he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw away, and knelt down and prayed. ‘Father,’ he said, ‘if you are willing, take this cup away from me. Nevertheless, let your will be done not mine’. When he rose from prayer he went to his disciples and found them sleeping for sheer grief. ‘Why are you asleep?’ he said to them, ‘get up and pray not to be put to the test’. Luke 22: 39–46 6 – Clifton Cathedral Liturgy – 2015 2015 – Clifton Cathedral Liturgy – 7 Way of the Cross Reflection Lord, as we follow you to the Mount of Olives, the darkness of evening comes upon us. We grow weary, distracted and find it difficult to pray and stay awake. Lord, for you this is a moment of terror and personal fear as you turn to God and pray: ‘Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me. Nevertheless, let your will be done not mine’. This is an intimate moment, a quiet moment of strength in the midst of the fear and surrounding darkness. Help us to draw strength in spirit from your example in prayer, and in suffering. [Pause] [As you move to the next Station] Lord my God, I call for help by day; I cry at night before you. Let my prayer come into your presence. O turn your ear to my cry. Psalm 87 (88) 6 – Clifton Cathedral Liturgy – 2015 2015 – Clifton Cathedral Liturgy – 7 Way of the Cross 3 – Jesus Betrayed and Arrested Judas, one of the Twelve, appeared, and with him a large number of men armed with swords and clubs, sent by the Chief Priests and elders of the people. Now the traitor had arranged a sign with them. ‘The one I kiss,’ he said, ‘he is the man. Take him in charge’. So he went straight to Jesus and said, ‘Greetings, Rabbi’ and kissed him. Jesus said to him, ‘My friend, do what you are here for’. Then they came forward, seized Jesus and took him in charge…Then all the disciples deserted him and ran away. Matthew 26: 47–50,56 8 – Clifton Cathedral Liturgy – 2015 2015 – Clifton Cathedral Liturgy – 9 Way of the Cross Reflection Lord, the chosen friend, the one who has been paid in silver coin greets you with his embrace. They seize you roughly and come with swords and clubs to take you away. The dread moment has come. Are there times when we have betrayed you? Times in life when we chose another way rather than the way you have chosen? It is so easy to run away, to play you false, to turn aside without noticing what is happening. [Pause] [As you move to the next Station] They surround me all the day like a flood, they assail me all together Friend and neighbour you have taken away: my one companion is darkness. Psalm 87 (88) 8 – Clifton Cathedral Liturgy – 2015 2015 – Clifton Cathedral Liturgy – 9 Way of the Cross 4 – Jesus is Disowned by Peter They seized Jesus and led him away, and they took him to the High Priest’s house. Peter followed at a distance. They had lit a fire in the middle of the courtyard and Peter sat down among them, and as he was sitting there by the blaze a servant-girl saw him, and peered at him, and said, ‘This person was with him too.’ But he denied it. ‘Woman,’ he said, ‘I do not know him.’ Shortly afterwards someone else saw him and said, ‘You are another of them.’ But Peter replied, ‘I am not, my friend.’ About an hour later another man insisted, saying, ‘this fellow was certainly with him. Why he is a Galilean’. ‘My friend,’ said Peter, ‘I do not know what you are talking about.’ At that instant, while he was still speaking, the cock crew, and the Lord turned and looked straight at Peter, and Peter remembered what the Lord had said to him: ‘Before the cock crows today, you will have disowned me three times.’ And he went outside and wept bitterly. Luke 22: 54–62 10 – Clifton Cathedral Liturgy – 2015 2015 – Clifton Cathedral Liturgy – 11 Way of the Cross Reflection We follow at a distance, like the apostle Peter uncertain, even fearful. Curious to know what the outcome is to be. Once we were so certain, so confident and pleased to be known as disciples of Jesus, but now, too often we are afraid to be openly true to the teaching and example of Jesus, the Master. In the darkness at the edge of the firelight, challenged, we profess not to know him. But dawn is coming, the sound of cock crowing and there is the Master looking straight at me: ‘ Do you love me?’ he asks. ‘You know that I love you…’ [Pause] [As you move to the next Station] You have taken away my friends and made me hateful in their sight. Imprisoned I cannot escape; my eyes are sunken with grief.