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| Stations of the Cross
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| The
Eleventh Station |
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Jesus
is Nailed to the Cross |
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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 23:33-34; St. John
19:19)
When
they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they
crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other
on the left. Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know
not what they do... And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the
cross. And the writing was, JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE
JEWS.
V.
I did smite the kings of the Canaanites for thy
sake, and thou hast smitten my head with a reed.
R.
Holy and Immortal, have mercy upon us.
Let us
pray:
Almighty
God, whose Son our Savior Jesus Christ was lifted high upon the Cross,
that he might draw the whole world unto himself; Mercifully grant that
we, who glory in the mystery of our redemption, may have grace to take
up our cross and follow him (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:
The
Cross is laid on the ground, and Jesus stretched upon it, and then,
swaying heavily to and fro, it is, after much exertion, jerked into
the hole ready to receive it. Or, as others think, it is set
upright, and Jesus is raised up and fastened to it. As the savage
executioners drive in the huge nails, He offers Himself to the
Eternal Father, as a ransom for the world. The blows are struck--the
blood gushes forth.
Yes,
they set up the Cross on high, and they placed a ladder against it,
and, having stripped Him of His garments, made Him mount. With His
hands feebly grasping its sides and cross-woods, and His feet
slowly, uncertainly, with much effort, with many slips, mounting up,
the soldiers propped Him on each side, or He would have fallen. When
he reached the projection where His sacred feet were to be, He
turned round with sweet modesty and gentleness towards the fierce
rabble, stretching out His arms, as if He would embrace them. Then
He lovingly placed the backs of His hands close against the
transverse beam, waiting for the executioners to come with their
sharp nails and heavy hammers to dig into the palms of His hands,
and to fasten them secure to the wood. There He hung, a perplexity
to the multitude, a terror to evil spirits, the wonder, the awe, yet
the joy, the adoration of the Holy Angels. |
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