Ministry1

MEDITATIONS
ACT OF CONTRITION Oh my God, my Redeemer, behold me here at Thy feet. From the bottom of my heart I am sorry for all my sins, because by them I have offended Thee, Who art infinitely good. I will die rather than offend thee again.
I. Jesus is Condemned to Death. Leader: We adore Thee, O Christ, and we praise Thee. Response: Because by Thy holy Cross, Thou hast redeemed the world Jesus, the most innocent of beings, is condemned to death, yes, to the shameful death of the cross. In order to remain a friend of Caesar, Pilate delivers Jesus into the hands of His enemies. Oh fearful crime, to condemn Innocence to death and to displease God in order to please men. Jesus is Condemned to Death. *Meditation:* Lord Jesus, often I judge others and fail to be understanding or loving. Help me to see the people in my life through your eyes, not the eyes of a Pontius Pilate. Our Father.... Hail Mary.... Glory Be to the Father.... Leader - Jesus Christ Crucified. Response - Have mercy on Us. Leader - May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, Rest in peace. Response - Amen.
II. Jesus receives His Cross Leader: We adore Thee, O Christ, and we praise Thee. Response: Because by Thy holy Cross, Thou hast redeemed the world. When our divine Redeemer beheld the Cross, He most willingly reached out to it with His bleeding arms. He embraced it lovingly, kissed it tenderly, took it on His bruised shoulders, and, exhausted as He was, He carried it joyfully Jesus receives His Cross *Meditation:* Lord Jesus, you embraced your cross to redeem the world. Help me to embrace the crosses in my life -- the hardships, struggles, disappointments, pain. Only by recognizing my own weakness, can I discover your strength. Our Father.... Hail Mary.... Glory Be to the Father.... Leader - Jesus Christ Crucified. Response - Have mercy on Us. Leader - May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, Rest in peace. Response - Amen.
III. Jesus Falls the First Time Beneath the Cross. Leader- We adore Thee, O Christ, and we praise Thee. Response- Because by Thy holy Cross, Thou hast redeemed the world. Carrying the Cross, our dear Savior was so weakened with its heavy weight that He fell exhausted to the ground. The Cross was light and sweet to Him, but our sins made it so heavy and hard to carry. Jesus Falls the First Time Beneath the Cross. *Meditation:* Lord Jesus, you know how often I fall trying to follow you. Yet you are always there to life me up. Help me always to trust in your loving care for me Our Father.... Hail Mary.... Glory Be to the Father.... Leader - Jesus Christ Crucified. Response - Have mercy on Us. Leader - May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, Rest in peace. Response - Amen
IV. Jesus Meets His Mother Leader- We adore Thee, O Christ, and we praise Thee. Response- Because by Thy holy Cross, Thou hast redeemed the world. How sad and how painful must it have been for Mary to behold her beloved Son laden with the Cross, covered with wounds and blood, and driven through the streets by savage executioners! What unspeakable pangs her most tender heart must have experienced! How earnestly did she desire to die instead of Jesus, or at least with Him! Jesus Meets His Mother Meditation: Lord Jesus, your mother Mary's grief was surpassed by her love for you. So often you come to me in others and their love gives me new life. Help me to see how often you love me through the people in my life. Our Father.... Hail Mary.... Glory be to the Father.... Leader - Jesus Christ Crucified. Response - Have mercy on Us. Leader - May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, Rest in peace. Response - Amen.
V. Simon Helps Carry the Cross Leader- We adore Thee, O Christ, and we praise Thee. Response- Because by Thy Holy Cross, Thou hast redeemed the world. Simon of Cyrene was forced to help our exhausted Savior carry His Cross. How pleased would Jesus have been, had Simon offered his services of his own accord. However, Simon was not invited by Christ as you are. He says: “Take up your cross and follow Me.” Nevertheless you recoil, and carry it grudgingly. Simon Helps Carry the Cross *Meditation:* Lord Jesus, sometimes I am indifferent to the needs of others in my life. I even neglect those whom I love. Help me to see that loving others is the surest way to find you in my life. Our Father.... Hail Mary.... Glory be to the Father.... Leader - Jesus Christ Crucified. Response - Have mercy on Us. Leader - May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, Rest in peace. Response - Amen
VI. Veronica Wipes the Face of Jesus Leader- We adore Thee, O Christ, and we praise Thee. Response - Because by Thy holy Cross, Thou hast redeemed the world. Moved by compassion, Veronica presents her veil to Jesus, to wipe His disfigured face. He imprints on it His holy countenance, and returns it to her as a recompense. Shall Christ reward you in like manner? Then you too must do Him a service. But you do a service to Christ every time you perform a work of mercy towards your neighbor: for He says: “What you have done to the least of My brethren, you have done to Me.” Veronica Wipes the Face of Jesus *Meditation:* Lord Jesus, at times I am afraid to reach out to others. I do nothing when I should act, I say nothing when I should speak out. Give me a deeper and more courageous faith. Help me to trust that you are with me. Our Father.... Hail Mary.... Glory be to the Father.... Leader - Jesus Christ Crucified. Response - Have mercy on Us. Leader - May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, Rest in peace. Response - Amen.
VII. Jesus Falls the Second Time Leader - We adore Thee, O Christ, and we praise Thee. Response - Because by Thy holy Cross, Thou hast redeemed the world. Overwhelmed by the weight of the Cross, Jesus falls again to the ground. But the cruel executioners do not permit Him to rest a moment. With thrusts and blows they urge Him onward. With what cruelty Jesus in treated and trampled under foot! Remember, compassionate soul, that your sins caused Jesus this painful fall. Jesus Falls the Second Time *Meditation:* Lord Jesus, failure and disappointment sometimes lead me to despair. I hide behind my pride and self-pity, withdrawing from you and others. Give me the hope I need and help me never to be afraid to begin again. Our Father.... Hail Mary.... Glory be to the Father.... Leader - Jesus Christ Crucified. Response - Have Mercy on Us. Leader - May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, Rest in peace. Response- Amen.
VIII. Jesus Speaks to the Women Leader - We adore Thee, O Christ, and we praise Thee. Response - Because by Thy holy Cross, Thou hast redeemed the world. Moved by compassion, these devoted women weep over our suffering Savior. But He turns to them and says: “Weep not for Me, but weep for yourselves and your children. Weep for your sins and those of your children; for they are the cause of My suffering.” You also must weep over your sins, for there is nothing more pleasing to our Lord and more useful to yourself than the tears you shed out of contrition for your sins. Jesus Speaks to the Women *Meditation:* Lord Jesus, your great compassion for others overwhelms me. I feel petty and selfish when I think of you and the way you love. Help me to pour out my love, that you might fill me with your love. Our Father.... Hail Mary.... Glory be to the Father.... Leader - Jesus Christ Crucified. Response - Have Mercy on Us. Leader - May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, Rest in peace. Response - Amen.
IX. Jesus Falls the Third Time Leader - We adore Thee, O Christ, and we praise Thee. Response - Because by Thy holy Cross, Thou hast redeemed the world. Exhausted at the foot of Calvary, Jesus falls for the third time to the ground. How painfully must have been reopened all the wounds of His tender body by these repeated falls. And how enormous must my sins be, to cause Jesus to fall so painfully. Had not Jesus taken my sins upon Himself, they would have plunged me into the abyss of Hell. Jesus Falls the Third Time *Meditation:* Lord Jesus, your failing strength makes me see how helpless I am. Without you, I can do nothing. Help me to rely on your strength, to see how much I need you. Our Father.... Hail Mary.... Glory be to the Father.... Leader - Jesus Christ Crucified. Response - Have Mercy on Us. Leader - May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, Rest in peace. Response - Amen.
X. Jesus is Stripped of His Garments Leader - We adore Thee, O Christ, and we praise Thee. Response - Because by Thy holy Cross, Thou hast redeemed the world. Arriving on Calvary, Jesus was cruelly deprived of His garments. How painful the stripping must have been, because the garments adhered to His mangled body, so that in removing them parts of the flesh were torn away. Jesus is deprived of His garments that He may die possessed of nothing. How happy shall not I die after laying aside my evil habits and tendencies! Jesus is Stripped of His Garments *Meditation:* Lord Jesus, seeing you so cruelly humiliated makes me realize how I cling to my accomplishments, my possessions, my way. Help me to let go of those things in my life that prevent me from growing closer to you and others Our Father.... Hail Mary.... Glory be to the Father.... Leader - Jesus Christ Crucified. Response - Have Mercy on Us. Leader - May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, Rest in peace. Response - Amen.
XI. Jesus is Nailed to the Cross Leader - We adore Thee, O Christ, and we praise Thee. Response - Because by Thy holy Cross, Thou hast redeemed the world. Stripped of His garments, Jesus is violently thrown down on the Cross. His hands and His feet are nailed to it in the most cruel way. Jesus remains silent, because it so pleases His heavenly Father. He suffers patiently, because He suffers for you. How do you act in sufferings and trials? How fretful and impatient, how full of complaints are you! Jesus is Nailed to the Cross *Meditation:* Lord Jesus, I can never doubt your great love for me when I see you crucified. Help me to see your cross as the great sign of your love for me. Our Father.... Hail Mary.... Glory be to the Father.... Leader - Jesus Christ Crucified. Response - Have Mercy on Us. Leader - May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, Rest in peace. Response- Amen.
XII. Jesus Dies on the Cross Leader - We adore Thee, O Christ, and we praise Thee. Response - Because by Thy holy Cross, Thou hast redeemed the world. Behold Jesus crucified! Behold His wounds received for love of you! His whole appearance betokens love. His head is bent to kiss you. His arms are extended to embrace you. His heart is open to receive you. Oh what love! Jesus dies on the Cross, to preserve you from eternal death. Jesus Dies on the Cross *Meditation:* Lord Jesus, your broken and lifeless body calls me to deeper faith. You chose death, even death on the cross. Help me to see my crosses as ways of loving you. Our Father.... Hail Mary.... Glory be to the Father.... Leader - Jesus Christ Crucified. Response- Have Mercy on Us. Leader - May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, Rest in peace. Response - Amen.
XIII Jesus is Taken From the Cross and laid in Mary's Bosom. Leader - We adore Thee, O Christ, and we praise Thee. Response - Because by Thy holy Cross, Thou hast redeemed the world. Jesus did not descend from the Cross, but remained on it till His death. When taken down, He rested on the bosom of His beloved Mother as He had so often done in life. Persevere in your good resolutions, and do not flee from the cross. For he who perseveres till the end shall be saved. Consider, moreover, how pure the heart should be that receives the body and blood of Jesus Christ in the adorable Sacrament of the Altar. Jesus is Taken From the Cross and laid in Mary's Bosom. *Meditation:* Lord Jesus, seeing your body taken from the cross reminds me how fearful I am of letting go of my own life. I am frightened when I think of being unimportant, useless, helpless. Help me to place my life in your hands Our Father.... Hail Mary.... Glory be to the Father.... Leader - Jesus Christ Crucified. Response - Have Mercy on Us. Leader - May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, Rest in peace. Response - Amen.
XIV. Jesus is Laid in the Tomb Leader - We adore Thee, O Christ, and we praise Thee. Response - Because by Thy holy Cross, Thou hast redeemed the world. The body of Jesus is laid in a stranger’s tomb. He Who in this world had not whereon to rest His head, would have no grave of His own after death. You whose heart is still attached to this world, despise it that you may not perish with it. Jesus is Laid in the Tomb *Meditation:* Lord Jesus, when I see the great stone sealing your tomb, I feel alone and abandoned. Even though you sometimes seem distant or absent in my life, help me always to believe in your closeness and loving presence. Our Father.... Hail Mary.... Glory be to the Father.... Leader - Jesus Christ Crucified. Response - Have Mercy on Us. Leader - May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, Rest in peace. Response - Amen.
Look down upon me, good and gently Jesus, while before Thy face I humbly kneel; and with burning soul pray and beseech Thee to fix deep in my heart lively sentiments of faith, hope and charity, true contrition for my sins and a firm purpose of amendment. While with great love and tender pity I contemplate Thy five wounds, pondering over them within me, calling to mind the words which David, Thy prophet, said of Thee, my Jesus: “They have pierced My hands and My feet; they have numbered all My bones.”