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| Stations of the Cross
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| The
Eighth Station |
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Jesus
Greets the Holy Women |
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V.
We adore thee, O Christ, and we bless thee:
(genuflect)
R.
Because by thy holy Cross thou hast redeemed the world.
THE
READING: (St. Luke 23:27-28, 31)
There
followed him a great company of people, and of women which bewailed and
lamented him. But Jesus, turning unto them said, Daughters of
Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves and for your
children. For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall
be done in a dry?
V.
I did go before thee in the pillar of cloud, and
thou hast led me unto the judgment hall of Pilate.
R.
Holy and Immortal, have mercy upon us.
Let us
pray:
Almighty
and everlasting God, who hatest nothing that thou hast made, and dost
forgive the sins of all those who are penitent; Create and make in us
new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and
acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of thee, the God of all mercy,
perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord (who
liveth and reigneth with thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one
God, world without end). Amen.
V.
O Savior of the world, who by thy Cross and Precious Blood hast redeemed
us:
R.
Save us and help us, we humbly beseech thee, O Lord.
| Reflection:
At
the sight of the sufferings of Jesus the Holy Women are so pierced
with grief that they cry out and bewail Him, careless what happens
to them by so doing. Jesus, turning to them, said, "Daughters
of Jerusalem, weep not over Me, but weep for yourselves and for your
children."
Ah!
can it be, O Lord, that I shall prove one of those sinful children
for whom Thou biddest their mothers to weep. "Weep not for
Me," He said, "for I am the Lamb of God, and am making
atonement at My own will for the sins of the world. I am suffering
now, but I shall triumph; and, when I triumph, those souls for whom
I am dying, will either be my dearest friends or my deadliest
enemies." Is it possible? O my Lord, can I grasp the terrible
thought that Thou really didst weep for me--weep for me, as Thou
didst weep over Jerusalem? Is it possible that I am one of the
reprobate? possible that I shall lose by Thy passion and death, not
gain by it? Oh, withdraw not from me. I am in a very bad way. I have
so much evil in me. I have so little of an earnest, brave spirit to
set against that evil. O Lord, what will become of me? It is so
difficult for me to drive away the Evil Spirit from my heart. Thou
alone canst effectually cast him out. |
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