THIRTEENTH STATION
Jesus Dies on the Cross
V.Adoramus
te, Christe, et benedicimus tibi.
We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you.
R.Quia
per sanctam crucem tuam redemisti mundum.
Because by your holy Cross you have redeemed the world.
From the Gospel according to Mk 15,34.36-37
And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice: Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?' which means: My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?' And one ran and, filling a sponge full of vinegar, put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink, saying: "Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to take him down". And Jesus uttered a loud cry, and breathed his last.
MEDITATION
Never more than in the hour of his death, the most important hour in human history, has Jesus been closer to us. In the final moment, just like us, Jesus is powerless, overcome by anguish. We die all alone. The nails pierce his flesh, but even more his spirit. Could it be that the Father has abandoned him? He is in pain for the sorrow of his Mother, chosen to give life to a Son that she has to watch as he dies. Still, in love and in obedience, Jesus accepts the Father's designs. He knows that without the gift of his life our death would be without hope; the darkness of despair would not become light; suffering would not be changed into consolation, into hope of eternity.
PRAYER
Thank you, Jesus,
for having conquered our death by your death:
grant that the crosses of all those who, like you,
die at the hands of others,
will be turned into trees of life.
Thank you, Jesus,
for having made the cross,
that place of suffering and death,
the sign of our reconciliation with the Father;
grant that your sacrifice
will dry all the tears that are in the world,
especially the tears of those who, like your Mother,
bears the cross of the death of someone innocent.
To you, Jesus,
your head lying on the wood and no sign of life
on your face, be adoring and grateful praise,
on the day that sets,
and on the day of inextinguishable light.
R.Amen.
All:
Pater noster, qui es in cælis:
sanctificetur nomen tuum;
adveniat regnum tuum;
fiat voluntas tua, sicut in cælo, et in terra.
Panem nostrum cotidianum da nobis hodie;
et dimitte nobis debita nostra,
sicut et nos dimittimus debitoribus nostris;
et ne nos inducas in tentationem;
sed libera nos a malo.
Fac me
vere tecum flere,
Crucifixo condolere,
donec ego vixero.
Let me
mingle tears with you,
mourning him who mourned for me,
all the days that I may live.