Our Father…….
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen.
We glory in your cross, O Lord, for by virtue of the cross,
joy has come to the whole world.
1: JESUS IS CONDEMNED TO DIE
We adore you O Christ, and we praise you, because by your Holy Cross
you have redeemed the world.
Give us the grace to see, respect and love you in all people, both innocent and guilty. Change our hearts that we may see with new eyes those we might otherwise condemn.
Hail Mary, full of grace,
the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women,
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.
2: JESUS TAKES UP HIS CROSS
We adore you O Christ,
and we praise you,
because by your Holy Cross
you have redeemed the world.
You accepted your Cross, Lord Jesus, not because the punishment was deserved, but because it was the key
to unlock for us the way through to love and life.
May we, in faith and trust in our Heavenly Father, accept the crosses that are placed upon us through life. Strengthened by the Christ who has walked the way before us, may we be led into abundant life and Godly purpose.
Hail Mary, full of grace…
3: Jesus Falls for the First Time
We adore you O Christ,
and we praise you,
because by your Holy Cross
you have redeemed the world.
Soldiers man-handle him and drag him to his feet; head bowed,blood dripping from a thorny crown. Jesus, the cross you have been carrying is heavy. You are becoming weak and fall under its weight. When things get hard for me, sometimes I give up; I put things off. I give up too easily, and sometimes don't do my work as well as I know I can. When things seem unmanageable, give me the strength to persevere.
Hail Mary, full of grace…
4: JESUS MEETS HIS MOTHER
We adore you O Christ,
and we praise you,
All: because by your Holy Cross
you have redeemed the world.
Mother, Son; Son, Mother;
Jesus entrusted Mary his mother and John his disciple to each other’s care; Help us also to care for one another
and fill our homes with the spirit you share.
We give thanks -
for those ears that listen when no-one seems to hear;
for those arms that embrace us in our fear;
for those feet that walk with us when the going is tough;
for those shoulders for tears when life is rough.......
Blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus, and in him are blessed
all who mourn, and all who care for the terminally-ill;
all who find themselves in fearful situations;
all who are displaced.
Hail Mary, full of grace…
5: SIMON HELPS JESUS
We adore you O Christ, and we praise you, because by your Holy Cross
you have redeemed the world.
Why me? Why pick on me to carry this cross? I suppose I look strong, but even for someone as strong as me this cross is rough and heavy.
He doesn’t look like a criminal or a trouble-maker, but then, you don’t need to be; you only have to upset the Romans; that’s why I didn’t argue, “Carry this cross”......“Thank you”, he says, his eyes reflecting pain that is more than his own. I feel compelled to carry this further; not just today, but from now on.
Jesus - Simon carried your cross, and was privileged to share with you the burden of salvation; May we see you and serve you in the burdens of others.
Hail Mary, full of grace…
6: VERONICA WIPES THE FACE
OF JESUS
We adore you O Christ, and we praise you, because by your Holy Cross
you have redeemed the world.
She felt helpless, and couldn’t find a better way to alleviate Jesus’s suffering. Just a simple cloth to clear out the spittle, blood and sweat from His face.
Veronica’s simple gesture of love was authentic, selfless and unconditional.
Then, the Lord returned her cloth and His image was impressed on it.
Any act of kindness, if selflessly-offered,
allows others a glimpse of Christ’s image.
May our lives be an icon to others of God’s love.
Hail Mary, full of grace…
7: JESUS FALLS FOR THE SECOND TIME
We adore you O Christ, and we praise you, because by your Holy Cross
you have redeemed the world.
Jesus, from deep within yourself, you found the courage and strength to get up once again and continue the journey. Give us your strength to keep going even when hope is dim and our resolve is weak.
Hail Mary, full of grace…
8: JESUS MEETS THE WOMEN OF JERUSALEM
We adore you O Christ, and we praise you, because by your Holy Cross
you have redeemed the world.
Lord, open our hearts to the suffering of all. Give us the generosity of spirit to help us recognise their pain, the courage to challenge the systems
that place intolerable burdens on them, and the compassion to support them.
Hail Mary, full of grace…
9: JESUS FALLS A THIRD TIME
We adore you O Christ, and we praise you, because by your Holy Cross
you have redeemed the world.
Jesus, we come to your aid -
when we feed the hungry,
when we satisfy the thirsty;
when we clothe the naked; when we shelter the homeless;
when we accompany the lonely;
when we treat as human the beggar;
when we listen to the drunkard;
when we let the blind see through our eyes; when we speak-up for those without a voice; when we uphold the disabled; when we serve and value those on the edge.
Hail Mary, full of grace…
10: JESUS IS STRIPPED OF
HIS CLOTHING
We adore you O Christ, and we praise you, because by your Holy Cross
you have redeemed the world.
The final indignity - the clothes he is wearing are stripped from him.
He is left with nothing.
The wounds of false accusation
and hatred uncovered, clear for all
to see. Our Lady brought him thus
into the world through her labour in Bethlehem; now she experiences the labour of her son as he enters the birth-pangs of resurrection life. In Populorum Progressio, Pope Paul VI starkly challenged us that, “No one may appropriate surplus goods solely for his own private use when others lack the bare necessities of life.” Hearing these words, how am I challenged?
Do I have more than I need, whilst others go without?
Hail Mary, full of grace…
11: JESUS IS NAILED TO THE CROSS
We adore you O Christ, and we praise you, because by your Holy Cross
you have redeemed the world.
This is love; that you spoke words of comfort, forgave crowds screaming for your death, and soldiers who made it happen; walked with the unclean and unloved, shared wisdom, brought healing into lives, and challenged the status quo. This is love. That you walked a painful road to the Cross, shared living water, outpoured your blood,
and died for the sake of all.
Hail Mary, full of grace…
12: JESUS DIES ON THE CROSS
We adore you O Christ, and we praise you, cause by your Holy Cross
you have redeemed the world.
“I was an ordinary Legionary in Jerusalem. One chill, windy morning we nailed a Man to a cross. (It was a routine job). He died rather soon.
I remember throwing down a dice
(we were gambling for his clothes, they were blood-stained) and picking-up my trusty spear that had seen me through many a skirmish in Gaul and Libya, I thrust it into his side to make certain .
Water and blood trickled down the shaft gripped in my hands. I saw more - I wish I hadn’t. Looking into his deathless eyes I saw his heart was broken - for me.”
Hail Mary, full of grace…
13: JESUS IS TAKEN DOWN FROM THE CROSS
We adore you O Christ, and we praise you,because by your Holy Cross
you have redeemed the world.
What’s good about it? Outside Jerusalem, on a hill called Calvary
three wooden crosses filled with pain and misery. Then God himself turned out the light, mourning for his only Son that day, blacker than night.
The world stood still and waited:
“It is finished”, he cried,
bowed his head in obedience,
and died. What’s good about it?
He is what’s good about it.
Hail Mary, full of grace…
14: JESUS IS LAID IN THE TOMB
We adore you O Christ, and we praise you, because by your Holy Cross
you have redeemed the world.
Eternal God, in the cross of Jesus we see the cost of our sin
and the depth of your love:
in humble hope and fear
may we place at his feet
all that we have and all that we are,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Hail Mary, full of grace…
Our Father…….
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen.
God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us,
that your way may be known upon earth,
your saving power among all nations.
Almighty Father, look with mercy on this your family
for which our Lord Jesus Christ was content to be betrayed,
given up into the hands of sinners,
and to suffer death upon the cross;
who is alive and glorified with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Father, we commit
our struggles and sufferings into your Son's wounded hands,
our hopes and aspirations into his praying hands,
our poor and exploited into his just hands,
our stricken ones through the present Coronavirus into his caring hands,
and our living and departed into the hands of him
who holds the key to eternal life.
