Stations of the Cross meditations, Part III

Our Kenosis teens prepared these Stations of the Cross meditations during this Holy Week. We hope and pray that they present you an opportunity for fruitful reflection during this Triduum.

Eleventh Station: Jesus is nailed to the cross.

Leader: We adore you O Christ and we bless you.
All: Because by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.

The nails pierced the median nerves. Pain shoots not just through Christ’s hands and arms but through His entire body. These nerves. This body. The same sensory system that allows us to feel joy, is causing such great physical pain.

Lord, the depth of Your suffering is only a shadow of Your love for me. When I am sorrowful or happy, these are only a glimpse of the profundity of Your plan for me. A plan for happiness, for eternity.

Jesus, help me to accept the grace You offer to bear my own pains, with my eyes always heavenward towards the point of it all.

Our Father … Hail Mary … Glory Be …

Twelfth Station: Jesus dies on the cross.

Leader: We adore you O Christ and we bless you.
All: Because by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.

Dear Jesus, You died on the cross for love of us. You forgave those who hate You, and even as You died, You prayed for them. You taught us that there is no greater love than to give up one’s life for one’s friend. Even when we are treated unfairly and we feel like we are alone, help us to know you are there, encouraging us and teaching us to love those who sin against us.

Our Father … Hail Mary … Glory Be …

Thirteenth Station: Jesus is taken down from the cross.

Leader: We adore you O Christ and we bless you.

All: Because by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.

Lord, as Your body was taken down from the cross – bloody, bruised, pierced, wounded – you were surrounded by Your mother Mary, your disciple John and Joseph of Arimathea. The world would look at Your body and shun the blood, the violence, the mangled limbs. But the eyes of faith of those who surrounded You most closely told a different story. This was no meaningless death, no waste of a life. It was a sacrifice of love. Each nail mark radiated the pure light of love. Each mark of blood represented infinite sacrifice. Each wound poured forth a gift – a fruit of love given to the end.

While looking at Your body, most would walk away in disgust, yet Your disciples, along with their grief, could experience even a glimmer of joy, knowing they were loved to the end. Please give us the grace to look at You and Your sacrifice with eyes of faith and hope and to embrace the fruit of suffering in our own lives.

Our Father … Hail Mary … Glory Be …

Fourteenth Station: Jesus is laid in the tomb.

Leader: We adore you O Christ and we bless you.
All: Because by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.

When You laid in the tomb, the earth mourned, the trees wept, the seas wept and the land barren. At this moment the world stood still and the cosmos paused, but Your body laid waiting for the victory. Oh, the anguish, darkness, and emptiness we all feel at times, Lord, You knew in the tomb. The joy You knew in what was about to be accomplished. You allow us Lord at times to experience emptiness in order to purify the gift. Teach me Lord to find joy in the emptiness as You did.

Our Father … Hail Mary … Glory Be …

Stations of the Cross meditations, Part II

Today we continue the meditations written by Kenosis: Teen Disciples for Love and Life.

Sixth Station: Veronica wipes the face of Jesus.
Leader: We adore you O Christ and we bless you.All: Because by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.

Dear Jesus, thank you for the example set by Veronica to console the injured and abused in their weakest times. Help us to follow in her footsteps and not be afraid to do what we know is right and to help those in need. Like Veronica, give us the courage to stand up for the voiceless souls who are mistreated and condemned and to wipe away any hurt that may be stained on their hearts.

Our Father … Hail Mary … Glory Be …

Seventh Station: Jesus falls a second time.

Leader: We adore you O Christ and we bless you.
All: Becaus
e by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.

Jesus accepts another fall. God’s own flesh is torn open, and He is humiliated by His children. Even knowing the suffering that would follow, He accepts another fall, not to force His children into salvation, but open the invitation to us, even in our sinfulness. Though He falls, He is able to get back up with the hope that just one of His children will get to enter heaven.

Jesus, fighting for the salvation of souls is demanding and exhausting. We are often humiliated, and when we aren’t it is because we were too afraid to stick up for You. Help us to persevere even after we fall. Help us suffer toward Your cross of our own salvation. Help us to fight for what is true and not to count the cost. Amen.

Our Father … Hail Mary … Glory Be …

Eighth Station: Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem.

Leader: We adore you O Christ and we bless you.
All: Because by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.

“A large crowd of people followed Jesus, including many women who mourned and lamented him. Jesus turned to them and said, ‘Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep instead for your children.” – Luke 23:27-28

Jesus, walking along the road to His death and carrying the heavy wooden cross, is still able to maintain a kind and loving presence to those around Him. If you think about the last time you had a bad day, did you act in a similar manner? Chances are, you were grumpy, annoyed, and tried hard to close yourself off to the rest of the world. Jesus, though, sets us the perfect example of how to remain joyful in our sufferings. Instead of reacting with bitterness to these poor women, He reaches out to them and comforts them even when He is the one who is in most need of comfort.

Jesus, help me to always imitate Your joyful and kindly demeanor, even if I’m going through the most difficult of times.

Our Father … Hail Mary … Glory Be …

Ninth Station: Jesus falls a third time.

Leader: We adore you O Christ and we bless you.
All: Because by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.

Lord, you have fallen again. The crown of thorns pushes more forcefully into your head. The weight of the wood crushes your shoulders. Passersby mock and scorn You. In the pain and humiliation You say, “Yes.” You say yes to loving the world – each person unique, unrepeatable, loved into existence. You say yes to every moment of pain, physical and emotional, knowing that it will bear fruit. You see a young man in 2,000 years receiving forgiveness in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and you say yes. You see a woman living several centuries away whose child is dying, and you say yes. You say yes so that all those who follow You can suffer with meaning. You say yes so that every man and woman can live eternally with You. Even when it means repeatedly falling, you stand again to say yes.

Jesus, we ask for the grace to unite our yes with Yours, that You will open our suffering to Your own and to Your incredible love.

Our Father … Hail Mary … Glory Be …

Tenth Station: Jesus is stripped of His garments.

Leader: We adore you O Christ and we bless you.
All: Because by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.

Oh Lord, how is it that our God would take on our flesh to suffer and personally take on our guilt? Your poured Your life out like a libation. You gave Your life as a selfless gift in order to open our hearts to receive that gift. Still Lord, you allow Yourself to be stripped of all in order that You can give all. Lord, teach me to get rid of all attachments in order that I may be a total gift to You and to others. There are times, Lord, when I have nothing to give, but teach me to give that nothing. Jesus, it must have given You great joy to know at the moment Your cloak was stripped from Your body, Your complete selfless gift would change my heart this very moment. Thank you for the gift.

Our Father … Hail Mary … Glory Be …

Stations of the Cross meditations, Part I

Once again, Kenosis: Teen Disciples for Love and Life spent the Holy Week meeting creating meditations on the Stations of the Cross. This time we asked that the meditations focus on the joy and fruitfulness of suffering. And once again, the meditations are too good not to share. I hope they give you an opportunity for fruitful prayer as we prepare for the Triduum.

First Station: Jesus is condemned to death.

Leader: We adore you O Christ and we bless you.
All: Because by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.

“And he said to the Jews, ‘Behold your king!’ They cried out, ‘Take him away, take him away! Crucify him!’ Pilate said to them, ‘Shall I

crucify your king?’ The chief priests answered, ‘We have no king but Caesar.’ Then he handed him over to them to be crucified.” – John 19:14-16.

Jesus, knowing he was completely innocent of any crime, accepts the fate that the Jews and the Romans dictate. He knows that by doing this he will have to suffer greatly, and yet He continues anyway because He places the good of each of us above His own comfort. His words in the garden echo in our memory, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me, yet, not as I will but as You will.”

Jesus, help us to show this same selflessness that you did, even in the face of situations that cause us harm.

Our Father … Hail Mary … Glory Be …

Second Station: Jesus takes up His cross.

Leader: We adore you O Christ and we bless you.
All: Because by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.

Dearest Jesus, Your example of self-gift and humility inspires us to give of ourselves and offer up our sufferings to You. Through Your willingness to accept Your cross, You gave us a model to follow and a way to face our struggles with joy and hope in our hearts.

Our Father … Hail Mary … Glory Be …

Third Station: Jesus falls the first time.

Leader: We adore you O Christ and we bless you.

All: Because by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.

Jesus’ first fall shows the weight of the cross, how heavy our sings are. How much more joyful we should be, then, that such a burden has been lifted from our shoulders. His falling and rising shows that He is with us at every moment, even when we fall. He is with us, helping us carry our crosses, and just as He didn’t give up on us on His way to Calvary, He doesn’t give up on us now. The fall wasn’t the greatest pain He endured for our sake, but it shows us that He is with us not only in our greatest trials, but also smaller ones. Jesus’ rise after His fall points to His resurrection, which is the ultimate example of hope because of suffering.

Our Father … Hail Mary … Glory Be …

Fourth Station: Jesus meets His mother.

Leader: We adore you O Christ and we bless you.
All: Because by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.

As Mary looks at her suffering Son, her heart burns with desolation. The angel Gabriel had promised that her Son would redeem the world, but now He is walking from the sinful world to His death. It is at this moment that Mary reflects on the joy of her first yes at the Annunciation, and the grace that has come from the suffering she has endured. If her small suffering in saying yes to God could make God flesh, what could limit the power of the suffering of God? Mary is able to trust that he agony, united to her Son’s plays an active part in the salvation of the world.

Mary, help us to see how God has used our suffering to make Himself visible to our family and those around us. Help us in our agony to know that Jesus is meeting us with a deep understanding of the sufferings of our heart.

Our Father … Hail Mary … Glory Be …

Fifth Station: Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus to carry His cross.

Leader: We adore you O Christ and we bless you.
All: Because by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.

It was not long into the journey up the hill that it was recognized that our Christ was not going to make it on His own. The soldiers pressed Simon of Cyrene into helping. How blessed was Simon to be allowed the great honor to share in the suffering of the Lord.

But we can be sure that this is not how he felt. At least, not initially. What overwhelming joy, would Simon have, when Christ rises, and His true nature is known, that he played some small part.

Each time I suffer, I am given the opportunity to join in the suffering of Christ. But too often I cannot see beyond my broken heart. I refuse to see beyond the unfairness of my situation.

Lord, take my heart, all my suffering, all my faults, all my talents. Help me to focus them towards You; towards joining them with Your way of the cross; towards uniting with You in the Eucharist. Only in placing them in You, can they be transformed in the Resurrection into JOY. Please not let it be after the fact that I see the beauty and fruitfulness of this suffering.

Our Father … Hail Mary … Glory Be …

The Vatican's Stations of the Cross

Pope Benedict XVI chose a married couple from Italy to write this year's Stations of the Cross meditations for Good Friday at the Colosseum. The meditations will follow the traditional stations but focus on the family.

Danilo and Annamaria Zanzucchi are members of Focolare, the lay movement which Bl. Chiara "Luce" Badano was also a member.

Stations of the Cross with meditations by Kenosis teens, Part III

On Tuesday night during our Kenosis: Teen Disciples for Love and Life meeting, pairs of high school students were assigned a particular station of the cross, with the task of writing a meditation through the lens of self-gift. The first ten Stations were written by high school students, and the remaining four were written by young adult leaders.

You can read Stations I-V here, and Stations VI-X here.

Eleventh Station: Jesus is nailed to the cross.

Leader: We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you.
All: Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

As I think about the nails piercing Your skin, I think about how sin pierces my life. What choices do I make that drive those nails further into Your hands and feet? You gave Yourself completely for my sake, suffering without complaint. Following Your example, help me to accept suffering and take opportunities to give of myself.

Our Father … Hail Mary … Glory Be …

Twelfth Station: Jesus dies on the cross.

Leader: We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you.
All: Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

In silence You suffered for me. In anguish beyond human comprehension, Your silence spoke the deafening truth of not just acceptance of this cross, but a choice, a desire. A King who chose to humble Himself, be broken, to bear every pain and affliction, to offer every ounce of Yourself … for me. Your eyes never left me, your heart burning with a love so deep and a thirst so unquenchable for my soul … it suffered everything. In this ugliness, there is beauty, and in this suffering, there is love. Love. A love so pure and true it gave all, and continues to again and again. Oh my sweet Jesus, allow my eyes to never leave You. My Lord and my God, I deserve not the greatness of your gift, but in humility allow me to accept Your love and offer the imperfect love of my own heart in return. My beloved, I love You … and everything shall I suffer, for in the love of Christ, nothing have I to fear.

Our Father … Hail Mary … Glory Be …

Thirteenth Station: Jesus is taken down from the cross.

Leader: We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you.
All: Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

Lord, in the moment Your life was exhausted completely, Your body became lifeless and limp upon the cross. You poured Yourself out completely. Your body emptied in full continues to bless us. Your death only emphasizes our need for You. This moment so complete is felt throughout eternity. This gift, freely given, not taken. This gift, faithfully given, foreshadowed in the Last Supper. This gift, totally given, through humiliation to the last drop of blood. This gift, fruitfully given, is already drawing us to a fuller communion with You. Joseph has given of himself in preparing without fear a grave for You. This gift, source of all true gifts.

Lord, help me to keep Your gift of self at the center of all my actions. You became lifeless so that my life can be a full gift.

Our Father … Hail Mary … Glory Be …

Fourteenth Station: Jesus is laid in the tomb.

Leader: We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you.
All: Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

Oh Jesus, what a gift you gave to us. You took upon the guilt of us all. You allowed sin to destroy You, in order to conquer it. You subjected Yourself to death in order to free us from it. As You laid in the tomb, the world now experiences life without You. The world grows dark, and sadness prevails. How often do we feel that life is void of You. Lord, what is it that needs to die in us? What is it that we need to lay in the tomb? What needs to die in us?

As a seed dies in order to spring forth life for a plant, let us die to self in order that we may have life in You. We lay ourselves in the tomb next to You, knowing that in You is life.

Our Father … Hail Mary … Glory Be …

Stations of the Cross, with meditations by Kenosis teens, Part II

On Tuesday night during our Kenosis: Teen Disciples for Love and Life meeting, pairs of high school students were assigned a particular station of the cross, with the task of writing a meditation through the lens of self-gift. The first ten Stations were written by high school students, and the remaining four were written by young adult leaders.

You can read Stations I-V here.

Sixth Station: Veronica wipes the face of Jesus.

Leader: We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you.
All: Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

Think of Veronica’s self-gift to Jesus. By taking care of Jesus, she risks everything. Many of Jesus’ followers did not stay with Him on His way to Calvary, but Veronica had the courage and faith not only to follow Him, but to comfort Him and wipe His face. Like Veronica, we should be able to care for others and follow Jesus no matter what others might say or do. Whether this means doing something as simple as what Veronica did for Jesus, or doing something as powerful as what Jesus did for us by dying on the cross, let us pray that God will give us the strength to be a self-gift to others.

Our Father … Hail Mary … Glory Be …

Seventh Station: Jesus falls a second time.

Leader: We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you.
All: Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

Dear Jesus,
Even though you are tired and weak, and you couldn’t walk another step, you persevered and saved the world. Even though there was much pain, sadness and mockery; even though you had the power to stop it all, you still carried your cross.

Through our difficulties, troubles and failures, you taught us to pick up our cross and follow you.

Our Father … Hail Mary … Glory Be …

Eighth Station: Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem.

Leader: We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you.
All: Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

“Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children” (Luke 23:29). Christ, it is easy to think of the cross on your back, the thorns on your head, and your children who rejected you, and feel sorrow. Help us to increase in this sorrow. Let your suffering surround our hearts so that we may be united to the crucifixion. Let our tears bring us conversion. Allow your example to inspire our souls to only illuminate your love to the world. Lord, let us die to ourselves, find joy in our suffering, and suffocate the lust of the world with the love of Christ.

Our Father … Hail Mary … Glory Be …

Ninth Station: Jesus falls a third time.

Leader: We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you.
All: Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

After meeting the women of Jerusalem, Jesus continues on His journey to Calvary. He once again falters under the weight of the wooden beam and falls to the ground for a third time, crushed as the cross lands right on top of Him. It was, however, not the cross itself which weighed Him down, but instead the sins of you and me that made His trek so arduous. His self-gift even during the final, most difficult and humiliating times of His life is the reason for our salvation.

Dear Jesus, help us to realize how much we have hurt you, and give us the strength to overcome any humiliating trials for your sake. We ask this through your name. Amen.

Our Father … Hail Mary … Glory Be …

Tenth Station: Jesus is stripped of his garments.

Leader: We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you.
All: Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

Exhausted. Abandoned. Humiliated. As I finally reach the top of the hill, the soldiers command me to drop my cross. I am almost happy to drop it, because its weight is crushing me. Just when I think I can be humiliated no more, the soldiers rip my garments off of my broken body. As I fall to the ground, I see God’s children laugh at me and gamble on my bloody clothing, as I lay here dying. And yet, I still love them. Even though they try to take everything from me, they cannot take away my will of love for them. My torn, broken body is my gift. Through my body, through my love, through sacrifice, I will save humanity, no matter what the cost.

Father, do not abandon me now. Give me the strength to embrace my suffering and to die at the hands of your children. I know they are made for so much more than this.

Dear Jesus: how many times do I take your sacrifice for granted? You gave everything for us in love – your emotions, your spirit, and finally your body. Help me to be your hands and feet, and to give myself in love to everyone I meet.

Our Father … Hail Mary … Glory Be …

The Stations of the Cross, with meditations written by Kenosis teens, Part I

Last night during our Kenosis: Teen Disciples for Love and Life meeting, pairs of high school students were assigned a particular station of the cross, with the task of writing a meditation through the lens of self-gift. (Kenosis is a Greek word signifying self-emptying or self-gift, and this key principle in Theology of the Body highlights a beautiful perspective from which to view Holy Week).

The meditations were so extraordinary, so compelling, that they simply had to be shared. Over the next couple of days, I will post the meditations. The first ten Stations were written by high school students, and the remaining four were written by young adult leaders.

First Station: Jesus is condemned to death.

Leader: We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you.
All: Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

Dear Jesus,
Out of love of us, you were condemned to death, even in your innocence. You willingly allowed yourself to go through so much suffering, pain, sweat and tears all for me. Your loving example helps me realize your unlimited love for all people and instills in my heart a special bond with others, even if it may be difficult. In my suffering, guide me to accept everything that comes my way and to glorify your heavenly name, even when it may be hard.

Our Father … Hail Mary … Glory Be …

Second Station: Jesus takes up his cross.

Leader: We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you.
All: Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

Jesus carried the burden of the world when He carried His cross. He took upon Himself the weight of the sins of the world. Not one did He leave out. He did not think, “I am taking up this cross for everyone but Judas.” And He did not think, “This is only for the prostitutes.” No. He gave His whole life to us. We live because He sacrificed for us His whole being. Even so, Jesus continues to sacrifice Himself for us. The miracle of His life did not end at the Ascension; it merely had begun. Jesus takes the burdens of our hurt and our sin and carries it for us daily. Jesus is never going into retirement. His gift of self is daily and constant. We can learn from this that true love is unstoppable and never fails.

Our Father … Hail Mary … Glory Be …

Third Station: Jesus falls the first time.

Leader: We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you.
All: Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

Complete and utter vulnerability. That is what Christ gives us. He sacrificed Himself, body and soul. There is a great and powerful love that comes from Jesus’ first fall. The God of the universe became flesh through the incarnation, and was willing to give His life for our sins! In taking the dive into this selfless love, He was willing to fall. Willing to allow His foreign, human body to show its weakness in front of His own creation. His love is so great, that He was wiling to give Himself to the clutches of death – God, subjecting Himself to our own human death. By showing this weakness, He truly defined love as the love we try to live today. Help us remember this sacrifice, this love, and reciprocate our own humanity and faults. Help up make ourselves completely vulnerable before Christ by allowing Him to help us when we fall.

Our Father … Hail Mary … Glory Be …

Fourth Station: Jesus meets His Mother.

Leader: We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you.
All: Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

Jesus, even in your suffering you gave of yourself to comfort your mother in her own suffering. Your selfless gift of love in the moment you met your mother shows us how truly far reaching your love is. Even in the moments when our actions cause you pain, you are still there comforting us.

Mother Mary, by understanding that the gift of your Son would bring the world eternal life and salvation, you made a true gift of self donation. You have helped us understand how to make a true sacrifice.

Our Father … Hail Mary … Glory Be …

Fifth Station: Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus to carry His cross.

Leader: We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you.
All: Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

Simon, an innocent bystander in the crowd, is randomly selected by Roman guards to help Jesus carry His cross. Although Simon didn’t have any say in the matter, he assisted Jesus anyways without complaining. He selflessly gave his time and energy in helping someone he didn’t even know personally.

Dear Lord, help us to be like Simon by putting the good of others before our own personal well-being. Give us the strength to help others with their crosses. As Pope Benedict XVI said, “God’s love for us is fundamental for our lives.” Help us to show that love to others as Simon of Cyrene showed it to Jesus. Amen.

Our Father … Hail Mary … Glory Be ...