I
Pilate brought Jesus outside and said to the people,Look at your king.
At this they shouted,Away with him. Crucify him. Then Pilate handed
Jesus over to
be crucified. Behold your king, says Pilate. Away with him, the people
shout. And they sent you to your death. Lord Jesus, Word made flesh,
Light for our dark world, God come to save us, may we never send you
away. Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be
II
Jesus was led away, and
carrying the Cross by himself, went out to what is called the Place
of the Skull, Golgotha. You were led to Calvary, Lord, carrying the
cross by yourself. Yet was the cross only yours,or was it also mine you
bore? By your holy cross, O Jesus, make me strong and able to take up
the
cross I must bear. Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be..
III
Jesus emptied himself,
111and took the form of a slave, being born in the likeness of men. He
112humbled himself, to death and a Cross. How strange to see you fall
as anyone does who cannot go on. And yet you rise again to take the few
steps more you can. By your first fall, O Jesus, give your risen
grace to those who fall and cannot rise. Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory
Be..
IV
Simeon said to Mary his mother: This child is destined to be the
downfall and the rise of
many in Israel, a sign that will be opposed. And you yourself shall be
pierced with a sword, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be
laid bare. O Mother of my Savior, you stand beside your Son. With love
beyond all telling, you share his grief as one. How shall I know
your sorrow, your tears beyond compare? Deep in my heart stand
watching,
and call my memory there. Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be..
V
A man named Simon ofCyrene, was coming in from the fields, and they
pressed him into service to carry the Cross. Simon, coming in from the
fields, was
pressed to carry your cross. Did he come to know you, Lord, walking
by your side? By your meeting with the Cyrenean, may we find you in the
stranger, and in the needy we meet. Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory
Be..
VI
He who welcomes you welcomes me; and he who welcomes me, welcomes him
who sent me. And I promise that whoever gives a cup of cold water will
not want for a
reward. A woman named Veronica kindly washed your face with a towel.
Such a simple thing! A towel, a cup of water, a loving word. By your
meeting with Veronica, Lord, help us value such small things, so
great when given in your name.Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be..
VII
But I am a worm and no man; the scorn of all, despised by the people.
All who see me scoff at me. Can God fall, a mighty God, whose hands
uphold all that is? By your second fall, O Lord, remember how weak we
are, remember our helplessness, remember our human frailty, and come to
our assistance.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be..
VIII
A great crowd of people
followed him,including women who beat their breasts and lamented
over him. Women wept as you passed and you said, Weep not for me but
for
your children. Keep the grace of this meeting alive in our hearts,
Lord. Keep us concerned for humanity's children. Our Father, Hail
Mary,
Glory Be..
IX
I am like water pouredout; all my bones are racked. You have brought me
down to the dust of death. Like water poured out, your strength is
gone. You fall as if
to the dust of death. By your third fall, O Lord, give us courage
before our trials and patience to go on. Help us in our need. Our
Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be..
X
They stripped off his clothes and began to mock him saying: All hail,
king of the Jews!
They divided your garments and cast lots for your clothes. Stripped of
all dignity, you had nothing of your own. By your despoilment, O Lord,
clothe us in your mercy which is rich beyond words. Our Father, Hail
Mary, Glory Be..
XI
After carrying his Cross, Jesus came to the Place of the Skull (in
Hebrew, Golgotha). There they crucified him and two others with him.
Nailed to the cross, you know how many feel who, bound by circumstance,
year by year get nowhere. By your riven hands and feet, Lord, help
those fixed to a cross by long illness or misfortune. Our Father, Hail
Mary, Glory Be..
XII
Jesus said, I thirst! and
they gave him wine. It is finished! he cried, and gave up his
spirit.Once the prophet said: Who can believe our report? God's
Servant, crushed in sorrow, pierced for our offenses! Shall we not
stand watching, Lord, mourning the sins you bear, rejoicing in the
pardon you bestow? Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be ..
XIII
When the soldiers came to
Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs.
But one of the soldiers thrust a lance into his side, and blood and
water flowed out. Resting in your mother's arms when taken from the
cross, you died trusting a Father's care, faithful unto death. By
yourholy death, O Lord, give us an unfailing trust in God, commend us
to
your Father's hands. Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be..
XIV
Joseph of Arimethea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus, and wrapped it
in perfumed oils. Then
he buried Jesus in a tomb close at hand. You were buried in a garden
tomb, like a seed fallen into the ground, waiting to rise again. Lord,
help us rise again after dying with you. May all who have fallen asleep
rise again. Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be..