|
~*+*~STATIONS OF THE CROSS~*+*~(`GOOD FRIDAY`)
~*+*~STATIONS OF THE CROSS~*+*~
Note:
Stations are places where people wait while they are going from one place to another. A school-bus stop is like a station. People wait at train stations or bus stations or airports. Think of some stations where you have been.
Stations are also places where people take time to think about Jesus as he went to die on a cross. They are "Stations of the Cross." They show us how much Jesus loved us.
by Victor Hoagland, C.P.
The Stations of the Cross is a popular devotion used by individuals or groups who wish through prayer and reflection to follow Jesus Christ on his way to Calvary. Many Christians practice the devotion, but the Stations holds a special significance among Roman Catholics. It is one of the most important devotions honoring the passion of Jesus.
What matters most in the Stations of the Cross is to follow Jesus Christ in his passion and to see ourselves mirrored in him. To face life's dark side in ourselves and in our world, we need images of hope, and Jesus offers images of hope in his passion. By accompanying him on the Way of the Cross, we gain his courageous patience and learn to trust in God who delivers us from evil.
Pray the Stations of the Cross
You do not have to think of all of the Stations of the Cross on one day. You may want to stay at one Station with Jesus for a few days before you move to another Station. Whatever you decide, Jesus is with you and he loves you.
~*+*~STATIONS OF THE CROSS~*+*~
Opening Prayer
Mary, my Mother, you were the first to live the Way of the Cross.
You felt every pain and every humiliation. You were unafraid of the
ridicule heaped upon you by the crowds. Your eyes were ever on Jesus
and His Pain. Is that the secret of your miraculous strength? How did your
loving heart bear such a burden and such a weight? As you watched Him
stumble and fall, were you tortured by the memory of all the yesterdays-
His birth, His hidden life and His ministry?
You were so desirous of everyone loving Him. What a heartache it was
to see so many hate Him - hate with a diabolical fury. Take my hand as I
make this Way of the Cross. Inspire me with those thoughts that will make
me realize how much He loves me. Give me light to apply each station to my
daily life and to remember my neighbor's needs in this Way of the Pain.
Obtain for me the grace to understand the mystery, the wisdom
and the Divine love as I go from scene to scene. Grant that my heart, like
yours, may be pierced through by the sight of His sorrow and the misery and
that I may determine never to offend Him again. What a price He paid to
cover my sins, to open the gates of heaven for me and to fill my soul with His
own Spirit . Sweet Mother, let us travel this way together and grant that the
love in my poor heart may give you some slight consolation.
(Click here for full text view of Stations Of The Cross)
`STATIONS OF THE CROSS`
Click on PLAY arrow for short video clip on The Crucifixion of Jesus!
Amen.
~*+*~
The First Station:
Jesus Is Condemned To Death
First Station: Look at Jesus
Jesus is standing before angry people who are yelling and saying mean, hurtful things to him. They scream at him. Some of them tell lies about him, saying that he did bad things.
But Jesus stays quiet, even though he knows that he will be hurt. He knows that God is with him. He even asks God to help him forgive the people who are yelling and telling lies about him.
Look at Your Heart
Has anyone ever said mean or hurtful things about you, or has anyone ever told a lie about you? If someone did that to you, look at your heart and see how you felt. Maybe you were scared, or hurt, or maybe you felt very angry.
When you see how you felt, show your heart to Jesus. See Jesus loving you when you show him what happens in your heart. Then, when you are ready, you can ask Jesus to help him make your heart more like his. Maybe you want to ask Jesus to help you to remember that God is always with you.
~*+*~
The Second Station:
Jesus Carries His Cross
Second Station: Look at Jesus
When the soldiers put a big, heavy cross on Jesus' shoulders, Jesus doesn't fight with them or say angry words to them. He knows that he has to carry this cross a long way, and he knows that the way will be very hard for him at times. But Jesus knows that God is with him, and he asks God to help him to carry this cross, even though it is heavy.
Look at Your Heart
Have you ever had something happen that was very hard for you? Sometimes children are very sick, or someone in their family is very sick. Sometimes adults or older children do not treat younger children nicely. Sometimes we just can't have things the way we want them.
Take some time to look at what your heart is like when this happens. Then, when you see what your heart is like, show your heart to Jesus. See Jesus loving you when you show him what happens in your heart. When you are ready, you can ask Jesus to help make your heart more like his.
~*+*~
The Third Station:
Jesus Falls the First Time
Third Station: Look at Jesus
Jesus is so tired as he walks along the road with the heavy cross on his shoulders. The cross keeps pushing into his shoulder, and the stones on the road hurt his feet. People yell and push him; the soldiers shout for him to move faster.
Then Jesus falls, and the soldiers yell at him more. How tired Jesus is! Jesus prays in his heart, "God, help me remember that you are here."
Look at Your Heart
Did you ever fall when you were playing, or when you were helping with something? Falling really hurts, doesn't it? When people make mistakes, it is like falling. And when that happens, their heart sometimes feels like it is hurt.
Can you remember a time when you fell, when your heart felt hurt? As you remember that time, and look at how your heart felt, show your heart to Jesus. See Jesus loving you as you show him your heart. When you are ready, you can ask Jesus to help make your heart more like his
~*+*~
The Fourth Station:
Jesus Meets His Afflicted Mother
Fourth Station: Look at Jesus
As Jesus walks slowly with the cross on his shoulders, a woman comes up to him. It's Jesus' mother, Mary. How sad for them to see each other now. Mary feels so sad because she sees how much he is suffering, and Jesus sees the sadness Mary feels. Even though they both know that God is with them, they can't even say anything to each other, because they are so sad.
Look at Your Heart
Have you ever been very sad, or do you know someone who has been very sad? Being sad can really hurt someone's heart a lot, can' it? Sometimes our hearts are sad because we cannot be with someone we love.
If you can remember a time when you were very sad, show Jesus what your heart looked like when you felt that way. Picture Jesus loving you when you show him your sad heart. Then, when you are ready, you can ask Jesus to help make your heart more like his.
~*+*~
The Fifth Station:
Simon Helps Jesus Carry His Cross
Fifth Station: Look at Jesus
Jesus is so tired that the soldiers know he cannot carry the heavy cross by him. So they look around and see someone who looks strong enough to help Jesus carry this cross. This person's name is Simon.
Jesus just looks at Simon and quietly whispers, "Thank you" to Simon. Then they continue on the long road, carrying the cross together.
Look at Your Heart
Sometimes helping someone can be difficult, for so many different reasons. Maybe you haven't finished something that you like to do, when someone asks you for help. Or maybe you just don't feel like helping that person.
Can you think of a time when you were asked to help someone and did not want to help? Show Jesus what it was like when that happened, and picture Jesus loving you as you show him your heart. Maybe you can even hear Jesus whisper, "Thank you for helping." When you are ready, you can ask Jesus to help you to have a helping heart.
~*+*~
The Sixth Station:
Veronica Wipes the Face of Jesus
Sixth Station: Look at Jesus
Jesus is hot, tired, and sweating. His hair is all tangled, and he is covered in dust from the long walk.
Suddenly, a woman pushes her way out of the crowd and stands in front of Jesus. She takes a clean cloth and gently wipes Jesus' face. Jesus is so thankful that he leaves a picture of his face on her cloth.
Look at Your Heart
Have you ever helped someone? Have you ever done something that helped someone feel better? Sometimes you may have done something that you thought was very small or unimportant: bringing a glass of water or juice to someone, or even giving someone a helping hand with a chore. Maybe you just smiled at someone who looked sad!
As you think of the times you helped, show Jesus your heart. As you picture Jesus loving you, maybe you can also picture Jesus leaving a picture of his face on your heart. What a wonderful heart you have!
~*+*~
The Seventh Station:
Jesus Falls A Second Time
Seventh Station: Look at Jesus
How very tired, weak, and sad Jesus is now. Even though he keeps trying to walk with the heavy cross, he just can't keep going.
The noise from the crowd and from the soldiers makes him feel even worse. Then Jesus falls, because he just can't take another step.
Look at Your Heart
Have you ever had a hard time with something? Maybe you can't do something the way you want, or you feel as if you keep messing up on something? How does your heart feel when that happens? Maybe your heart feels the way Jesus' heart felt when he fell this second time.
When you show Jesus how your heart felt, picture Jesus loving you. Jesus knows how your heart felt; his heart probably felt the same way.
~*+*~
The Eighth Station:
Jesus Speaks to the Holy Women
Eighth Station: Look at Jesus
After Jesus gets up, he continues on the road carrying his heavy cross. He passes some women who are crying because they are so sad to see Jesus suffer.
But instead of thinking only of him and how bad he feels, Jesus tells the women not to keep crying because of him. He tells them, instead, to take care of others, and especially to take care of their children.
Look at Your Heart
Sometimes it is easy to just think about ourselves -- about what is not going the way we want it, or about problems that we have. It is very hard, then, to think about other people. How does your heart look when you do that, when you think only about your?
Show your heart to Jesus, and picture Jesus loving you with your heart that way. When you are ready, can you ask Jesus to help you have a heart like his, a heart that thinks about other people and remembers other people? That's the kind of heart Jesus has.
~*+*~
The Ninth Station:
Jesus Falls the Third Time
Ninth Station: Look at Jesus
Jesus is so tired now that he can hardly take another step. It is hard for him to breathe. He has been walking a long time along the dusty road, and he has no energy left. He just can't go on anymore.
Then Jesus falls down in the street for the third time. He is so very tired. Jesus asks God to help him. And Jesus gets up again, even though it is hard for him to do.
Look at Your Heart
When we have really tried to do our best, and have not been able to succeed, it is easy to feel like Jesus did. Sometimes other people just keep yelling about something we do, or sometimes other people make fun of the way we do something.
Can you remember a time when you felt this tired in your heart, when you seemed to be having a sad or hard time with someone or something? Look at how your heart felt, and show your heart to Jesus. When you are ready, ask God to help you when you feel this way.
~*+*~
The Tenth Station:
Jesus is Stripped of His Garments
Tenth Station: Look at Jesus
Finally Jesus reaches the hill that is the end of the road he has to walk. Jesus knows that he will die here. But before he dies, the soldiers will do more to him. They pull off his long robe, and almost all his clothes are taken from him.
Jesus stands in front of the crowd with only a small piece of cloth covering part of his body. Jesus asks God to help him remember that he is not alone, that God is with him through all this.
Look at Your Heart
Is it hard for you to share or to give away something that you like? Do you sometimes like to keep everything for your? Do you ever let something of yours be the reason for bad feelings or bad words between you and someone else?
If you remember a time when something like this happened, remember how your heart felt. Then, show your heart to Jesus. You can ask Jesus to help you to have a heart that is like his heart.
~*+*~
The Eleventh Station:
Jesus is Nailed to the Cross
Eleventh Station: Look at Jesus
How much Jesus hurts as the soldiers nail him to the cross. He hurts all over; he is tired and thirsty; he knows that he is going to die. But he looks at the people who have hurt him and, instead of saying bad things to those people, Jesus asks God to forgive them.
He looks at his mother and tells her to take care of others. Even when he is dying, Jesus is thinking of other people.
Look at Your Heart
Can you think of a time when someone hurt you with unkind words or actions? Was it hard for you to forgive that person?
Jesus knows that forgiving is hard to do. That's why Jesus will help to change your heart when you ask him to help you to forgive someone. See how your heart looks after you ask Jesus to do this.
~*+*~
The Twelfth Station:
Jesus Dies on the Cross
Twelfth Station: Look at Jesus
Finally, after the long walk, after falling three times, after having the men beat him, after being nailed to the cross and suffering on the cross, Jesus bows his head and dies.
Now this part of his life is over. There is nothing left for Jesus to give or to do. Jesus has given his life for all of us.
Look at Your Heart
Did you ever feel that you wanted to make something better, or that if you only tried harder, something would change that you want to change? Or maybe you felt that you did not try hard enough at something, and something bad happened.
If you can think of a time like that, then show Jesus your heart, and let him love you. When you are ready, you can ask Jesus to help your heart be more like his heart.
~*+*~
The Thirteenth Station:
Jesus is Taken Down From the Cross
Thirteenth Station: Look at Jesus
Now Jesus' lifeless body is taken down from the cross. No more pain or suffering for Jesus; all the pain is over. Mary, Jesus' mother, holds him tenderly in her arms. How sad she is.
And how sad Jesus' friends are. They are crying as they hold his body.
Look at Your Heart
Is there someone you love who has died? When you remember that person, how does your heart look?
You can show your heart to Jesus, and show Jesus what you miss about the person who died. Jesus knows what your heart looks like, and loves you when you show him your heart. He can even help your heart become more like his.
~*+*~
The Fourteenth Station:
Jesus is Laid in the Sepulcher
Fourteenth Station: Look at Jesus
Jesus' friends wash his body and wrap it in a clean sheet. They touch his body gently, and then they put his body into a tomb. When they are finished, they push a very large stone over the entrance, so that no one can go inside.
Now there is darkness in the tomb where Jesus' body lies, and all of his friends go home because they are very sad and tired.
Look at Your Heart
Can you remember a time when you were very sad to say "Good-bye" to someone? Maybe you were leaving the person for only a short time, or maybe it was for a long time. Maybe you said "Good-bye" to someone you loved when that person died.
Take a few moments to think about one of those times you were sad saying "Good-bye," and show Jesus how your heart felt then. Try to picture Jesus loving you, and being with you with your sad heart. Let Jesus love you a lot; Jesus knows how sad your heart is.
~*+*~
The Fifteenth Station:
Jesus rises from the dead!
Fifteenth Station: Look at Jesus
What a wonderful surprise for his friends when they see that he is alive. His body is like a new kind of body -- full of light! And he is no longer tired, sad, or suffering. He has no more pain.
Yes, he is alive in a new and special way. Jesus will live forever, now, in this new and special way.
Look at Your Heart
Have you ever taken time to thank God for your life, for some of the good things you have been able to do, for some of the people in your life, or for some of the good things that people have done for you? When you get up in the morning, do you say "Thanks" to God for your life and for the wonderful things you can see, hear, feel, taste, or smell?
How does your heart look when your heart is full of thanks? Take time to show your thankful heart to Jesus, and let Jesus let his love touch you.
~*~+~*~
Personal Prayer
My Jesus, You were laid to rest in a stranger's tomb. You were born with nothing of this world's goods and You died detached from everything. When You came into the world, men slept and angels sang and now as You leave it, Creation is silent and only a few weep. Both events were clothed in obscurity. The majority of men live in such a way. Most of us live and die knowing and known by only a few. Were You trying to tell us, dear Jesus, how very important our lives are just because we are accomplishing the Father's Will? Will we ever learn the lesson of humility that makes us content with who we are, where we are and what we are?
Will our Faith ever be strong enough to see power in weakness and good in the sufferings of our lives? Will our Hope be trusting enough to rely on Your Providence even when we have nowhere to lay our head? Will our Love ever be strong enough not to take scandal in the cross?
My Jesus, hide my soul in Your heart as You lie in the Sepulcher alone. Let my heart be as a fire to keep you warm. Let my desire to know and love You be like a torch to light up the darkness. Let my soul sing softly a hymn of repentant love as the hours pass and Your Resurrection is at hand. Let me rejoice, dear Jesus, with all the Angels in a hymn of praise and thanksgiving for so great a love- so great a God- so great a day!
Amen
~*+*~
Closing Prayer
My Jesus, I have traveled Your Way of the cross.
It seems so real and I feel so ashamed. I complain of my
sufferings and find obedience to the Father's Will difficult. My Mind
bogged down by the poverty, sickness, starvation, greed and hatred
in the world.
There are many innocent people who suffer so unjustly. There are
those born with physical and mental defects. Do we understand that
You continue to carry Your cross in the minds and bodies of each
human being?
Help me to see the Father's Will in every incident of my daily
life. This is what You did - you saw the Father's Will in Your persecutors,
Your enemies and your pain.
You saw a beauty in the Cross and embraced it as a desired treasure.
My worldly mind is dulled by injustice and suffering and I
lose sight of the glory that is to come. Help me to trust the Father
and to realize that there is something great behind the most insignificant
suffering. There is Someone lifting my cross to fit my shoulders - there
is Divine Wisdom in all the petty annoyances that irk my soul
every day.
Teach me the lessons contained in my Cross,
the wisdom of its necessity, the beauty of its variety and the
fortitude that accompanies even the smallest cross.
Mary, My Mother, obtain for me the grace to be Jesus
to my neighbor and to see my neighbor
in Jesus.
Amen!
Various unknown authors
©*2010*
Lay`out, Graphics & Video
Presented by ~'MJB'~
~~~+~~~
RePost:©*2011*
Never Ending Circle Of Love`
`Janie/mjfb1954`
'Repost*©*2012*
`GOOD FRIDAY` Of Easter Holy Week`
Jesus Forgives All Sins Of The World!
I Humbly Thank You, Dear Lord!
By Janie a.k.a.~'MJB'~
|
