Jesus Is Nailed to the 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:  TWO ROMAN SOLDIERS GRAB JESUS, QUICKLY THROW HIM  DOWN ONTO THE CROSS AND WITH GREAT FORCE, PULL HIS ARMS ALONG THE PETIBULUM. ONE OF THE EXECUTIONERS DRIVES THE FIRST NAIL THROUGH HIS RIGHT WRIST AND INTO THE CROSS. HERE, HIS NERVES ARE SEVERED AND HIS BONES DISLOCATE, YET, OUT OF LOVING OBEDIENCE TO HIS FATHER, JESUS REMAINS IN DEEPEST SILENCE, NOT ALLOWING A MURMUR TO ESCAPE HIS LIPS. OUR LORD NOW FEELS HIS LEFT WRIST BEING NAILED TO THE CROSS. HE AGAIN REMAINS SILENT AND PRAYS AS HE HEARS THE HAMMER RESOUND DEEPLY INTO THE EARTH. EVERY SHOCK CAUSES HIS THORN CROWNED HEAD TO COME IN VIOLENT CONTACT WITH THE CROSS. THE EXECUTIONERS PLACE OUR LORDS LEFT FOOT ONTO HIS RIGHT FOOT AND DRIVE A NAIL COMPLETELY THROUGH THEM. HIS BLOOD IS EVERYWHERE. ON THE CROSS, ON THE GROUND, EVEN ON THE EXECUTIONERS AND ROMAN SOLDIERS WHO WERE HOLDING HIM DOWN. THE SOLDIERS STAND THE CROSS UPRIGHT AND DROP IT INTO A HOLE IN THE GROUND. THE SUDDEN JARRING MOTION CAUSES JESUS EXTREME PAIN AS HIS BODY PULLS AGAINST THE NAILS IN HIS HANDS AND FEET.          

~ KNEEL ~

ALL: ALMIGHTY GOD AND FATHER, THROUGH MARY IMMACULATE, I OFFER THEE THE MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD OF THY DIVINE SON JESUS, THAT FLOWED IN ABUNDANCE FROM THE WOUNDS IN HIS HANDS AND FEET. I UNITE THIS OFFERING WITH THE UNSPEAKABLE PAIN AND SUFFERING HE ENDURED WHEN THE SOLDIERS TORE THROUGH HIS FLESH WITH A SWIFT AND CALLOUS BRUTALITY. BY THE INFINITE MERITS OF THE THREE NAILS THAT PIERCED THY BELOVED SON  HANDS AND FEET, I ASK THEE TO ASSIST ME IN ATTAINING THE VIRTUE OF FORTITUDE  GRANT MY SOUL A RELENTLESS VIGOR IN THE PRACTICE OF VIRTUE, THAT I MAY ALWAYS  OVERCOME LUKE WARMNESS IN THY SERVICE.  HELP ME TO ACCUSTOM MYSELF TO THE EXACT FULFILLMENT OF MY DAILY DUTY  DESPITE ANY DIFFICULTIES THAT MAY ARISE.  MAKE MY SOUL VALIANT IN EVERY TYPE OF DANGER AND AGAINST ANY TYPE OF ENEMY.

OUR FATHER¼HAIL MARY¼GLORY BE¼

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

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