Tenth Station, Jesus is crucified, Way of the Cross 2008

Way of the Cross - 20th Century
Society of the Divine Word Generalate Archives - Rome

TENTH STATION
Jesus is crucified

V/. Adoramus te, Christe, et benedicimus tibi.
R/. Quia per sanctam crucem tuam redemisti mundum.

From the Gospel according to Mark 15: 25, 31, 34

And it was the third hour when they crucified Jesus. The chief priests mocked him to one another with the scribes, saying, "He saved others, he cannot save himself". And at the ninth hour, Jesus cried with a loud voice, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?".

MEDITATION

Jesus, stripped of his garments, nailed to the Cross, prey to untold sufferings, mocked by his enemies, feels abandoned even by the Father. This is the hell deserved by our sins. Jesus remained on the Cross, he did not save himself.

In him were fulfilled the prophecies of the Suffering Servant: "He had no form or comeliness... no beauty... we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God... all we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is dumb" (Is 53: 2, 4, 6-7).

PRAYER

O Crucified Jesus, not only on Tabor, but even more on Calvary you revealed to us your true Face, the face of a love that endures to the end.

Sometimes, out of reverence, you are represented wearing a royal cloak even on the Cross. But we are not afraid to show you to the world just as you were, hanging upon the gibbet that Friday, from the sixth hour until the ninth hour.

As we contemplate you on the Cross, we are filled with shame over our unfaithfulness and with gratitude for your infinite mercy. O Lord, how much your love for us has cost you!

Putting our trust in the power that comes from your Passion, we promise never more to offend you. We wish one day to have the honour of being placed upon the cross ourselves, like Peter and Andrew. We are encouraged by the serenity and the joy that it has been granted us to see on the faces of your faithful servants, the martyrs of our age.

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 ut ardeat cor meum
in amando Christum Deum,
ut sibi complaceam.