THE WAY OF THE CROSS SOLEMN STATIONS OF THE CROSS The Celebrant and Minister carrying the cross (and optional Ministers carrying candles) enter from the either the Narthex or the Sacristy and proceed to the front of the Sanctuary. The Lector goes to the ambo. Meanwhile, two verses of the hymn “Stabat Mater/At the Cross” will be sung. Stabat Mater dolorosa Juxta Crucem lacrimosa, Dum pendebat Filius. At the cross her station keeping, Stood the mournful Mother weeping, Close to Jesus to the last. CELEBRANT: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. R/. Amen. CELEBRANT: The Lord Jesus says, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily and follow Me." Let us pause for a moment, and in silence before God let us name the cross that we bear. Let us name the cross that this community bears. Let us name one of the many crosses onto which the poor, the oppressed and the sick are daily nailed. Let us pray. All pause for a moment of silent recollection. CELEBRANT: God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, give us the courage to take up the cross, and so to walk with Christ from death to life. As we recall his sacred passion, death and resurrection, stir up within us the Holy Spirit and guide our feet into the way of peace. We ask this through Christ our Lord. R/. Amen. LECTOR: Jesus came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives; and the disciples followed him. When he reached the place, he said to them, "Pray that you may not come into the time of trial." Then he withdrew from them about a stone's throw, knelt down, and prayed, "Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me; yet, not my will, but yours be done." Then an angel from heaven appeared to him and gave him strength. In his anguish he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down on the ground. When he got up from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping because of grief and he said to them, "Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you may not come into the time of trial." While he was still speaking, suddenly a crowd came, and the one called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him; but Jesus said to him, "Judas is it with a kiss that you are betraying the Son of Man?" Then they seized him and led him away. But Peter was following at a distance. CELEBRANT: Come! Let us walk the way of the cross. Let us listen to the ancient story of life meeting death, of love struggling to overcome hate, of violence losing its power to peace. Let us cry out to God with Christ suffering and give God glory with the risen Savior! As the celebrant moves toward the First Station, two more verses of “Stabat Mater/At the Cross” will be sung. Through her heart, His sorrow sharing, All His bitter anguish bearing, Now at length the sword had pass'd. Oh, how sad and sore distress'd Was that Mother highly blest Of the sole-begotten One! STATION I CELEBRANT: The First Station, Pilate Condemns Jesus to Die All genuflect We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you. R/. Because by your holy cross, you have redeemed the world. LECTOR: Pilate, wanting to release Jesus, addressed the crowd again; but they kept shouting, "Crucify, crucify him!" He said to them, "Why, what evil has he done? I have found in him no ground for the sentence of death; I will therefore have him flogged and then release him." But they kept urgently demanding with loud shouts that Jesus should be crucified; and their voices prevailed. So Pilate gave his verdict that their demand should be granted. He released the man they asked for, the one who had been put in prison for insurrection and murder, and he handed Jesus over. All kneel and pause for an appropriate amount of silence. CELEBRANT: God of justice, Judge of all humanity, the face of Christ is bruised and the body of Christ is beaten every time we fail to do what is right when we are encouraged to do wrong. Give us the courage of Jesus to hold fast to what is true and just. ALL: Lord Jesus, often I judge others and fail to be understanding or loving. Help me to see the people in my life through your eyes, not the eyes of Pontius Pilate. I love You Jesus, my love; grant that I may love you always and then do with me as You will. All stand and sing: Christ above in torment hangs; She beneath beholds the pangs Of her dying glorious Son. STATION II CELEBRANT: The Second Station, Jesus Accepts His Cross All genuflect We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you. R/. Because by your holy cross, you have redeemed the world. LECTOR: Now it was the day of Preparation for the Passover; and it was about noon. They took Jesus; and carrying the cross by himself, he went out to what is called The Place of the Skull, which in Hebrew is called Golgotha. All kneel and pause for an appropriate amount of silence. CELEBRANT: God of those the world deems lost, you are always near to those whom others condemn and cast off. Give us the strength to walk with all whom this world marches toward death, that we may see in them Jesus on his way to the cross. ALL: Lord Jesus, you embraced your cross to redeem the world. Help me to embrace the crosses in my life-the hardships, struggles, disappointments, pain. Only by recognizing my own weakness, can I discover your strength. I love you Jesus, my love; grant that I may love you always and then do with me as you will. All stand and sing: Is there one who would not weep, Whelm'd in miseries so deep Christ's dear Mother to behold? STATION III CELEBRANT: The Third Station, Jesus Falls the First Time All genuflect We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you. R/. Because by your holy cross, you have redeemed the world. LECTOR: Jesus said, "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! See, your house is left to you, desolate. For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, 'Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord."' All kneel and pause for an appropriate amount of silence. CELEBRANT: God of those crushed under the weight of hatred and violence, you freely choose to be likewise crushed. Give us the power to suffer with those who have no choice that they may never go down alone. ALL: Lord Jesus, you know how often I fall trying to follow you. Yet you are always there to lift me up. Help me always to trust in your loving care for me. I love you Jesus, my love; grant that I may love you always and then do with me as you will. All stand and sing: Can the human heart refrain From partaking in her pain, In that Mother's pain untold? STATION IV CELEBRANT: The Fourth Station, Jesus Meets His Afflicted Mother All genuflect We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you. R/. Because by your holy cross, you have redeemed the world. LECTOR: The child Jesus' father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, "This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed-and a sword will pierce your own soul too." All kneel and pause for an appropriate amount of silence. CELEBRANT: God of our mothers, God of Joseph and of Mary, you know in your heart the pain of losing a child to violence. Be with those whose children suffer in any way. ALL: Lord Jesus, your mother Mary’s grief was surpassed by her love for you. So often you come to me in others and their love gives me new life. Help me to see how often you love me through the people in my life. I love you Jesus, my love; grant that I may love you always and then do with me as you will. All stand and sing: Bruis'd, derided, curs'd, defil'd, She beheld her tender child All with bloody scourges rent. STATION V CELEBRANT: The Fifth Station, Simon Helps Carry the Cross All genuflect We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you. R/. Because by your holy cross, you have redeemed the world. LECTOR: After mocking Jesus, the soldiers stripped him of the purple cloak and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out to crucify him. They compelled a passer-by, who was coming in from the country, to carry his cross; it was Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus. All kneel and pause for an appropriate amount of silence.