During Lent Christians celebrate the Stations of the Cross in devout commemoration of the death of the Lord Jesus Christ on the first Good Friday.
Today we pray the Way of the Cross for all.
PRAYERS;
On the day Jesus was crucified, let us remember all who have ever lived, who live, and all who will ever live until the Last Day. Let us pray for those most in need of our Savior's mercy.
To the melody of the ancient Stabat Mater hymn, let us pray or sing:
First Station: Jesus is condemned to death
Though he knew that Christ was blameless
Pilate in a deed most shameless
To the cross him did condemn
Second Station: Jesus takes up his cross
With contempt the rabble varmints
Robed the King in royal garments
To deride his royalty
Third Station: Jesus falls the first time
Weakened by the brutal flaying
Yet the wicked rule obeying
Jesus fell beneath the cross
Fourth station: Jesus meets his mother, Mary
When he met his holy Mother
Who had served him as no other
Eyes at eyes in silence gazed
Fifth Station: Simon helps Jesus carry the cross
Seeing Jesus in his meekness
Tremble from exhausted weakness
Simon helped him bear his cross
Sixth Station: Veronica wipes the face of Jesus
The image of his holy face
Never after was erased
From Veronica’s soothing cloth
Seventh Station: Jesus falls the second time
For the second time he stumbled
Flattened by the cross he crumbled
Yet he rose despite the pain
Eighth Station: Jesus speaks to the women of Jerusalem
Mothers of Jerusalem
Wept until he counselled them:
Save your weeping for your own
Ninth Station: Jesus falls the third time
Once again he tripped and fell
Still amid the taunts of hell
Rose and bore the cross again
Tenth Station: Jesus is stripped of his garments
Lily of all purity
How they shamed thy dignity
When they tore thy garments off
Eleventh Station: Jesus is nailed to the cross
Hideous nails through hands and feet
Still the Lamb refused to bleat
As his mother‘s heart was pierced
Twelfth Station: Jesus dies on the cross
When she stayed close by his side
For the time until he died
She sustained him by her love
Thirteenth Station: Jesus is taken down from the cross
When they took him down they laid him
In her arms a cradle made him
For her Son, the King of kings
Fourteenth Station: Jesus is laid in the sepulchre
Priest; "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you." Congregation; "And also with you." Priest; "Let us remember the sufferings of our Savior this night." Congregation; "Let us never forget the price He had paid for our deliverance."
ENTRANCE HYMN Remember Me In the night in which our Saviour was betray'd,
He broke the bread, and to His friends, He said,
"Take and eat, this is My Body giv'n for you,
Take and drink, this Blood of Mine is shed for you,
Do this always to remember Me.
Remember Me."
In the night in which our Savior was denied
He bowed His Head, and to the Father cried:
if it be Your Will, let this cup pass from Me.
If it be Your Will, spare Me this agony.
In my darkest hour, will You remember Me?
Remember Me."
In the night in which my deepest doubts are known
You come to Me, and I am not alone
When I taste Your Blood and Body giv'n for Me,
When I hear Your prayer in dark Gethsemane
Then I known You will remember me,
Remember me.
O Lord, remember me.
Remember me.
CONFESSION AND PARDON Priest; "My brothers and sister, Christ shows us His love by becoming a humble servant. Let us draw near to God and confess our sin in the truth of God's Spirit." Congregation; "Most merciful God, we confess that often our spirit has not been that of Christ. Where we have failed to love one another as He loves us, where we have pledged loyalty to Him with our lips and then denied Him. Forgive us, we pray; and by Your Spirit make us faithful in every time of trial; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen." SCRIPTURE LESSON
Matthew Chapter 26, verses 17 to 75
The Last Supper
17 On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?”
18 He replied, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, ‘The Teacher says: My appointed time is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.’”19 So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover.
20 When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve.21 And while they were eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.”
22 They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, “Surely you don’t mean me, Lord?”
23 Jesus replied, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me.24 The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him.But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.”
25 Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, “Surely you don’t mean me, Rabbi?”
Jesus answered, “You have said so.”
26 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.”
27 Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you.28 This is my blood of thecovenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.29 I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”
30 When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial
31 Then Jesus told them, “This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written:
“‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’
32 But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.”
33 Peter replied, “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.”
34 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.”
35 But Peter declared, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the other disciples said the same.
Gethsemane
36 Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.”37 He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled.38 Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”
39 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”
40 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter.41 “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
42 He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.”
43 When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy.44 So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.
45 Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour has come, and the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners.46 Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”
Jesus Arrested
47 While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people.48 Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him.”49 Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him.
50 Jesus replied, “Do what you came for, friend.”
Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him.51 With that, one of Jesus’ companions reached for his sword, drew it out and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.
52 “Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him, “for all who draw the sword will die by the sword.53 Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?54 But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?”
55 In that hour Jesus said to the crowd, “Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? Every day I sat in the temple courts teaching, and you did not arrest me.56 But this has all taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled.”Then all the disciples deserted him and fled.
Jesus Before the Sanhedrin
57 Those who had arrested Jesus took him to Caiaphas the high priest, where the teachers of the law and the elders had assembled.58 But Peter followed him at a distance, right up to the courtyard of the high priest.He entered and sat down with the guards to see the outcome.
59 The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death.60 But they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward.
Finally two came forward61 and declared, “This fellow said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’”
62 Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, “Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?”63 But Jesus remained silent.
The high priest said to him, “I charge you under oath by the living God:Tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.”
64 “You have said so,” Jesus replied. “But I say to all of you: From now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty Oneand coming on the clouds of heaven.”
65 Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy.66 What do you think?”
“He is worthy of death,” they answered.
67 Then they spit in his face and struck him with their fists. Others slapped him68 and said, “Prophesy to us, Messiah. Who hit you?”
Peter Disowns Jesus
69 Now Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came to him. “You also were with Jesus of Galilee,” she said.
70 But he denied it before them all. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said.
71 Then he went out to the gateway, where another servant girl saw him and said to the people there, “This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth.”
72 He denied it again, with an oath: “I don’t know the man!”
73 After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter and said, “Surely you are one of them; your accent gives you away.”
74 Then he began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don’t know the man!”
Immediately a rooster crowed.75 Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: “Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.
WORDS OF COMFORT
Let us thank God for sending us such a wonderful Savior, Jesus Christ. He came to set us free from sin and paid the price to open the way to heaven for us. After a year of suffering and uncertainty due to the coronavirus, we who are blessed to attend this holy service thank God for His many graces to us during this time.
We pray for all those who have gone before us. We ask for strength and blessings for all who struggle. Let us never forget how Jesus cares for us. For our sake He left all the glory of heaven. For us He was born as an infant, lived in poverty, taught us the right way to live.
On this night Jesus suffered the betrayal of friends, underwent enmity, torture and conviction. He died alongside those who had made livelihoods out of crime. The Redeemer took every iniquity upon Himself. He saw His Mother weep as He hung on the cross. Finally He died.
The glory is that this was not the end. After three days in the tomb Christ was resurrected. As He has promised will happen to us. So let us not despair because of difficulties. Let us continue to trust in Divine Providence throughout the pandemic. Our path on earth often lies in a vale of tears. Yet once we attain the port of heaven we will never weep again.
Be strong, be valiant. Be faithful, be loving. Be pure, be holy. It is all worth it. We follow a Christ Who is more wonderful than we could ever imagine.
Spend some time in prayer with Jesus during this night. Or spend the whole night in prayer. Just let Him know how precious He is to you. And if you wish to become a Christian, you can access this prayer chapel at
HOLY EUCHARIST Priest; "As they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed and broke it. He gave it to His disciples, saying; "Take all of you, and eat. This is My Body, which is broken for you." Congregation; "Lord Jesus, You are the Bread of Life." Priest; 'At the end of supper, Jesus took the cup. He gave thanks, and gave it to His disciples, saying, "Take, all of you, and drink; this is My Blood of the new covenant, Which is shed for the forgiveness of sins. Do this in memory of Me." ' Congregation; 'Lord Jesus, You are the cup of life, the wine blessed for our salvation.' [Receive communion. If you are unable to attend Holy Mass, receive Jesus spiritually within your heart and soul now. Spend some time in prayer]. LORD'S PRAYER Priest; 'Let us now pray the Lord's prayer in the words Jesus gave us.' Priest and Congregation; 'Our Father, Who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day Our daily bread, And forgive us our sins, As we forgive those who sin against us, And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, For ever and ever, Amen.' PRAYER Priest; 'Heavenly Father, we praise and thank You for sending us Your only Son, Jesus Christ. We stay at Your Son's side tonight, as we ponder the mysteries of redemption. Our songs, prayer and thanks, the bowing down of our hearts before You are the ways we can show our gratitude for the immeasurable gift You gave us in Your Son.' Congregation; 'Amen.'
Priest; 'And may the blessing of Almighty God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, be with you now and forever,' Congregation; 'Amen'.
NOW WE SPEND TIME IN PRAYER AS
WE REMEMBER THE SUFFERINGS OF JESUS ON THIS HOLY NIGHT
Stay with Me, Remain here with Me, Watch and pray, Watch and pray. . . 2x
Stay here, and keep watch with Me, Watch and pray, Watch and pray. Stay with Me, Remain here with Me, Watch and pray, Watch and pray. . . 6 x
Stay with Me, Remain here with Me, Watch and pray, Not to give in to temptation. The spirit is eager, but the flesh is weak. . . Stay with Me, Remain here with Me, Watch and pray, Watch and pray. . . My heart is nearly broken with sorrow, Remain here with Me, Stay awake and pray. . . Father, if it is possible, let this Cup pass Me by. . . Father, if it can not pass Me by Without I drinking it. . . Thy Will be done. Stay with Me, Remain here with Me, Watch and pray, Watch and pray. . . Repeat With thanks to Youtube
