Stations of the Cross / Jesus Takes Up His Cross

Photographed by Maureen Polizzi
St Joseph's Oratory, Montreal

Jesus Takes Up His Cross 

~ STAND ~

LEADER:   WE ADORE THEE O CHRIST AND WE PRAISE THEE;      

 ~ GENUFLECT ~ 

ALL:   BECAUSE BY THY HOLY CROSS, THOU HAST REDEEMED THE WORLD.

~ STAND ~

LEADER:  THE HEAVY CROSS IS PLACED UPON THE SHOULDER OF JESUS

MVC-082S
AND HE ACCEPTS IT FREELY, WITHOUT COMPLAINT. HIS WILLFUL OBEDIENCE TO ACCEPT THE CROSS PLEASES HIS ALMIGHTY FATHER. PROVOKED BY THOSE IN THE CROWD WHO DESPISE JESUS, THE ROMAN SOLDIERS HURRY OUR LORD TO BEGIN HIS AGONIZING WALK TO CALVARY, PUSHING AND STRIKING HIM OFTEN TO APPEASE THEM. THROUGH ALL OF HIS SUFFERING, IT IS NOT THE BRUTALITY OF THE SOLDIERS OR THE WEIGHT OF THE CROSS TEARING INTO HIS SHOULDER THAT CAUSES JESUS SUCH TORMENT, BUT THE WEIGHT OF OUR SINS. COUNTLESS SINS COMMITTED BY ALL OF US, BY ALL OF MANKIND, FROM THE DAWN OF CREATION UNTIL THE END OF TIME..            

~ KNEEL ~

ALL:      ALMIGHTY GOD AND FATHER, THROUGH MARY IMMACULATE, I OFFER THEE THE MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD OF THY DIVINE SON JESUS, WITH ALL HIS PERFECT LOVE AND HUMILITY.  I UNITE IT WITH THE BITTER SORROW JESUS BORE AS HE STOOD BEFORE PILATE IN LOVING OBEDIENCE TO THEE, QUIETLY AWAITING HIS CONDEMNATION.  I PRAY DEAR FATHER, BY THE INFINITE MERITS OF THIS LIFE GIVING SACRIFICE, TO PROVE MYSELF A TRUE CHILD OF THINE.  I WISH TO BE SIMPLE, UNASSUMING AND UNPRETENTIOUS, NEVER TO ACT SUPERIOR TO OTHERS, OR MAKE OTHERS FEEL INFERIOR.  I IMPLORE THEE TO HELP ME THINK OFTEN OF MY COMPLETE DEPENDENCE UPON THEE FOR ALL THINGS.  BY THY HEAVENLY GRACES ALMIGHTY  FATHER, MAY I ENDEAVOR ALWAYS TO PRACTICE THE VIRTUE OF HUMILITY IN MY LIFE.

OUR FATHER¼HAIL MARY¼GLORY BE¼

LORD JESUS CRUCIFIED, HAVE MERCY ON ME, A WRETCHED SINNER.

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