Simon of Cyrene Helps Jesus Carry 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:  JESUS HAS LOST A GREAT AMOUNT OF BLOOD AND SWEAT, AND SO HIS PACE BEGINS TO SLOW CONSIDERABLY. THE SOLDIERS ARE FEARFUL THAT JESUS WILL NOT BE ABLE TO COMPLETE HIS WALK TO CALVARY, SO THEY GRAB A PAGAN FROM THE CROWD BY THE NAME OF SIMON, TO HELP HIM CARRY THE CROSS. AT FIRST SIMON REFUSES, BUT OUT OF FEAR THAT HE MAY BE PUNISHED BY THE ROMAN SOLDIERS, SIMON UNWILLINGLY HELPS JESUS CARRY THE CROSS. SHORTLY AFTER HOISTING PART OF THE CROSS ONTO HIS OWN SHOULDER, THE HEAVENLY GRACE OF OUR LORD TOUCHES SIMON'S HEART. HE BEGINS TO FEEL PITY AND CONCERN FOR JESUS AND SLOWLY COMMITS MORE AND MORE OF HIS STRENGTH TO HELP OUR LORD CARRY THE CROSS.          

 ~ KNEEL ~

ALL: ALMIGHTY GOD AND FATHER, THROUGH MARY IMMACULATE, I OFFER THEE THE MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD AND SWEAT OF THY DIVINE SON JESUS, POURED OUT FOR THE SALVATION OF SOULS. I UNITE THIS OFFERING WITH THE INDIGNANT REFUSAL OF SIMON THE CONTEMPT, THE BLASPHEMY, THE MANY SPITS AND CURSES OF THE CROWD JESUS WAS PAINFULLY SUBJECTED TO. BY THE INFINITE MERITS OF HIS SUFFERING, I PRAY DEAR FATHER,  FOR THE REPENTANCE OF UNBELIEVERS, THE EXPIATION OF ALL HERESIES, AND THE CONVERSION OF SINNERS  EVEN THE MOST HARDENED SINNERS. MAY MY DAILY SACRIFICES AND DEEDS BE ALWAYS APPLIED TOWARD THEIR CONVERSION AND THE CONVERSION OF THOSE WHO ARE MOST NEAR AND DEAR TO ME.

OUR FATHER¼HAIL MARY¼GLORY BE¼

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

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