Everyone's Way of the Cross Clarence Enzler Ave Maria Press Notre

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Everyone’s Way of the Cross THE FIRST STATION: JESUS IS CONDEMED Clarence Enzler Ave Maria Press KNEEL Notre Dame, IN Presider: We adore you, O Christ, and we www.avemariapress.com praise you. Assembly: Because by your holy cross you Introduction have redeemed the world. Christ speaks: STAND These fourteen steps that you are now about to walk Christ speaks: you do not take alone. In Pilate’s hands, my other self, I walk with you. I see my Father’s will. Though you are you, and I am I, Though Pilate is unjust, yet we are truly one – He has earthly power over me. one Christ. And therefore And so the Son of God obeys. My way of the cross two thousand years ago If I can bow to my Father’s will, and your “way” now can you also submit, even in the face of are also one. injustice? But note this difference. My life was incomplete until I crowned it I reply: by My death. My Jesus, Lord, Your fourteen steps Obedience cost you your life. will only be complete For me it cost an act of will- no more- when you have crowned them and yet how hard it is for me to bend. by your life. Remove the blinders from my eyes that I may see that it is you alone whom I WE SING: At the cross her station keeping, obey. stood the mournful Mother weeping, Lord, it is you. close to Jesus to the last. WE SING: Through her heart, His sorrow sharing, all His bitter anguish bearing, now at length the sword has passed.

THE SECOND STATION: JESUS TAKES HIS THE THIRD STATION: JESUS FALLS THE FIRST CROSS TIME

KNEEL KNEEL Presider: We adore you, O Christ, and we Presider: We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you. praise you. Assembly: Because by your holy cross you Assembly: Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world. have redeemed the world. STAND STAND

Christ speaks: Christ speaks: This cross, this chunk of tree, The God who made the universe, and holds is what my Father chose for me. it in existence by his will alone, The crosses you must bear becomes a man, too weak to bear are largely products of your daily life. a piece of timber’s weight. And yet my Father chose them, too, for you. How human in his weakness is the Son of Receive them from his hands. God.

Take heart, my other self, My Father willed it thus. I will not let your burdens grow I could not be your model otherwise. one ounce too heavy for your strength. If you would be my other self, I reply: you also must accept without complaint My Jesus Lord, your human frailties. I take my daily cross. I welcome the monotony I reply: that often marks my day, Lord Jesus, how can I refuse? discomforts of all kinds, I willingly accept my weaknesses, the summer’s heat, the winter’s cold, my irritations and my moods, my disappointments, tensions, setbacks, my headaches and fatigue, cares. all my defects of body, mind, and soul. Remind me often that Because they are your will for me, in carrying my cross, these “handicaps” of my humanity, I carry yours with you. I gladly suffer them. And though I bear a sliver only Make me content with all my discontents, of your cross, but give me strength You carry all of mine, except a sliver, to struggle after you. in return WE SING: Christ above in torment hangs, WE SING: O how sad and sore distressed, she beneath beholds the pangs, was the Mother highly blest, of her dying, glorious Son. of the sole begotten One. THE FOURTH STATION: JESUS MEETS HIS THE FIFTH STATION: SIMON HELPS JESUS MOTHER KNEEL KNEEL Presider: We adore you, O Christ, and we Presider: We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you. praise you. Assembly: Because by your holy cross you Assembly: Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world. have redeemed the world. STAND STAND Christ speaks: Christ speaks: My strength is gone; My mother sees me whipped. I can no longer bear the cross alone. She sees me kicked and driven like a beast. And so the legionnaires She counts my every wound. Make Simon give me aid. But though her soul cries out in agony, no protest or complaint This Simon is like you, my other self. escapes her lips Give me your strength. or even enters her thoughts. Each time you lift some burden from She shares my martyrdom- another’s back, and I share hers. you lift as with your very hand We hide no pain, no sorrow, the cross’s awful weight from each other’s eyes. that crushes me. This is my Father’s will. I reply: I reply: My Jesus, Lord, Lord, make me realize I know what you are telling me. that every time I wipe a dish, To watch the pain of those we love pick up an object off the floor, is harder than to bear our own. assist a child in some small task, To carry my cross after you, or give another preference I, too, must stand and watch in traffic or the store; the sufferings of my dear ones- each time I feed the hungry, the heartaches, sicknesses, and grief clothe the naked, of those I love. teach the ignorant, or lend my hand in any way- And I must let them watch mine, too. it matters not to whom- I do believe- my name is Simon. for those who love you And the kindness I extend to them All things work together unto good. I really give to you.

WE SING: Is there one who would not weep, WE SING: Can the human heart refrain, whelmed in miseries so deep, from partaking in her pain, Christ’s dear mother to behold? in that Mother’s pain untold? THE SIXTH STATION: VERONICA HELPS THE SEVENTH STATION: JESUS FALLS A JESUS SECOND TIME

Christ speaks: Christ speaks: Can you be brave enough, my other self, This seventh step, my other self, to wipe my bloody face? Is one that tests your will. From this fall learn to preserve in doing Where is my face, you ask? good. The time will come At home whenever eyes fill up with tears, When all your efforts seem to fail at work when tensions rise, and you think, on playgrounds, in the slums, “I can’t go on.” the courts, the hospitals, the jails- Then turn to me, wherever suffering exists- my heavy-laden one, my face is there. and I will give you rest. And there I look for you to wipe away my Trust me and carry on. blood and tears. I reply: Give me your courage, Lord. I reply: When failure presses heavily on me Lord, what you ask is hard. and I am desolate, It calls for courage and self-sacrifice, stretch out your hand And I am weak. to lift me up. Please give me strength. I know I must not cease, Don’t let me run away because of fear. but persevere in doing good. Lord, live in me and act in me and love in But help me, Lord. me. Alone there’s nothing I can do. And not in me alone – in all of us- With you, I can do anything you ask. So that we may reveal no more your bloody I will. But your glorious face on earth. WE SING: For the sins of His own nation, WE SING: Bruised, derided, saw Him hang in desolation, cursed, defiled, till His spirit forth he sent. she beheld her tender Child, all with bloody scourges rent.

THE EIGHTH STATION: JESUS CONSOLES THE THE NINTH STATION: JESUS FALLS A THIRD WOMEN TIME

Christ speaks: Christ speaks: How often had I longed to take Completely drained of strength the children of Jerusalem I lie, collapsed, upon the cobblestones. and gather them to me. My body cannot move. But they refused. No blows, no kicks, can rouse it up.

But now these women weep for me And yet my will is mine. and my heart mourns for them- And so is yours. mourns for their sorrows that will come. I comfort those who seek to solace me. Know this my other self, How gentle can you be, my other self? Your body may be broken, but no force on How kind? earth And none in hell can take away your will. I reply: Your will is yours. My Jesus, Your compassion in your passion I reply: is beyond compare. My Lord, Lord, teach me, help me learn. I see you take a moment’s rest then rise and When I would snap at those who hurt me stagger on. with their ridicule, So I can do- those who misunderstand, or hinder me because my will in mine. with some unguided helpfulness, When all my strength is gone and guilt and those who intrude upon my privacy- self-reproach then help me curb my tongue. press me to earth and seem to hold me fast, May gentleness become my cloak. protect me form the sin of Judas- Lord, make me kind like you. save me from despair! Lord, never let me feel that any sin of mine WE SING: O thou Mother fount of love, is greater than your love. touch my spirit from above, No matter what my past has been I can make my heart from thine accord. begin anew.

WE SING: Make me feel as thou has felt; make my soul to glow and melt, with the love of Christ, my Lord. THE TENTH STATION: JESUS IS STRIPPED OF THE ELEVENTH STATION: JESUS IS HIS CLOTHES CRUCIFIED

Christ speaks: Christ speaks: Behold, my other self, Can you imagine what a crucifixion is? the poorest king who ever lived. My executioners stretch my arms; Before my creatures I stand stripped. they hold my hand and wrist against the The cross-my deathbed- wood even this is not my own. and press the nail until it stabs my flesh. Yet who has ever been so rich? Then, with one heavy hammer smash, they drive it through – Possessing nothing, I own it all- and pain bursts like a bomb of fire in my My Father’s love. brain. They seize the other arm; and agony again If you, too, would own everything, explodes. be not solicitous about your food, your clothes your life. Then raising up my knees so that my feet are flat against the wood, I reply: they hammer them fast, too. My Lord, I offer you my all- I reply: whatever I possess, and more, myself. My God, Detach me from the craving for prestige, I look at you and think; position, wealth. Is my soul worth this much? Root out of me What can I give you in return? all trace of envy of my neighbor who has I here and now accept more than I. for all my life Release from me the vice of pride, whatever sickness, torment, agony may my longing to exalt myself, come. and lead me to the lowest place. To every cross I touch my lips. May I be poor in spirit, Lord, O blessed cross that lets me be – so that I can be rich in you. with you – a co-redeemer of humanity. WE SING: Holy Mother, pierce me through, WE SING: Let me share with thee His pain, in my heart each wound renew, who for all my sins was slain, of my Savior crucified. who for me in torment died. THE TWELVE STATION: JESUS DIES THE THIRTEENTH STATION: JESUS IS TAKEN DOWN FROM THE CROSS KNEEL Presider: We adore you, O Christ, and we KNEEL praise you. Presider: We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you. Assembly: Because by your holy cross you have Assembly: Because by your holy cross you redeemed the world. have redeemed the world. STAND STAND Christ speaks: Christ speaks: The sacrifice is done. The cross becomes a pulpit – Yes, my Mass is complete; “Forgive them, Father… but not my mother’s You will be with me in Paradise… and not yours, my other self. There is your mother…There…your son… I thirst… My mother still must cradle in her arms It is complete.” the lifeless body of the son she bore. To speak I have to raise myself You, too, must part from those you love, by pressing on my wrists and feet, and grief will come to you. and every move engulfs me in new waves of agony. In your bereavements think of this: A multitude of souls were saved by Mary’s And then, when I have borne enough, sharing in my Calvary. have emptied my humanity, Your grief can also be the price of souls. I let my mortal life depart. I reply: I beg you, Lord, I reply: Help me accept the partings that must My Jesus, God, come – from friends who go away, what can I say or do? my children leaving home, and most of all, my dear ones I offer you my death with all its pains, when you shall call them to yourself. accepting now the time and kind of death in store for me. Then give me grace to say; Not by a single instant would I lengthen my “As it pleased you, Lord, life’s span. to take them home, I offer you my death I bow to your most holy will. for my own sins And if by just one word and for those of all humanity. I might restore their lives against your will, I would not speak” My God! My God! Forsake us not. Grant them eternal joy. We know not what we do. WE SING: By the cross with thee to stay; WE SING: Let me mingle tears with thee, there with thee to weep and pray, mourning Him who mourned for me, all I ask of thee to give. all the days that I may live. THE FOURTEENTH STATION: JESUS IS WE SING: Virgin of all Virgins blest! BURIED Listen to my fond request: Let me share thy grief divine. KNEEL Presider: We adore you, O Christ, and we CONCLUSION praise you. Assembly: Because by your holy cross you Christ speaks: have redeemed the world. I told you at the start, my other self, STAND my life was not complete until I crowned it by My death. Christ speaks: Your “way” is not complete So ends my mortal life. unless you crown it by your life.

But now another life begins Accept each moment as it comes to you, for Mary, with faith and trust that all that happens and for Magdalen, has my mark on it. for Peter and for John, A simple fiat, this is all it takes; and you. a breathing in your heart, “I will it, Lord.” My life’s work is done. My work within and through my church So seek me not in far-off places. must now commence. I am close at hand. Your workbench, office, kitchen, I look to you, my other self. these are altars Day in, day out, from this time forth, where you offer love. be my apostle – And I am with you there. victim – saint. Go now! Take up your cross and with your life I reply: complete your way. My Jesus, Lord, you know my spirit is as willing as my flesh is weak.

The teaching you could not impart, the sufferings you could not bear, the works of love you could not do in your short time on earth, let me impart, and bear, and do through you.

But I am nothing, Lord. Help me!