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NINTH STATION
Jesus falls the third time
V/. We adore you, O Christ, and we
bless you.
R/. Because by your holy Cross you
have redeemed the world.
Once more Christ has fallen to the
ground under the weight of the Cross.
The crowd watches, wondering whether he
will have the strength to rise again.
Saint Paul writes: “Though he was in
the form of God, he did not count
equality with God a thing to be grasped,
but emptied himself taking the form of a
servant, being born in human likeness.
And being found in human form, he
humbled himself and became obedient unto
death, even death on a Cross” (Phil 2:6-8).
The third fall seems to express just
this:
the self-emptying, the kenosis of
the Son of God,
his humiliation beneath the Cross.
Jesus had said to the disciples that
he had come not to be served but to
serve (cf. Mt 20:28).
In the Upper Room, bending low to
the ground and washing their feet,
he sought, as it were, to prepare
them for this humiliation of his.
Falling to the ground for the third
time on the way of the Cross, he
cries out loudly to us once more the
mystery of himself.
Let us listen to his voice!
This Condemned Man, crushed to the
ground beneath the weight of the
Cross, now very near the place of
punishment, tells us: “I am the way,
and the truth and the life” (Jn 14:6). “He who follows me will not
walk in darkness, but will have the
light of life” (Jn 8:12).
Let us not be dismayed by the sight
of a condemned man, who falls to the
ground exhausted under the cross. |
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Station 2
Station 3
Station 4
Station 5
Station 6
Station 7
Station 8
Station 9
Station 10
Station 11
Station 12
Station 13
Station 14
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Within this outward sign of the
death which is approaching the light
of life lies hidden.PRAYERLord Jesus Christ,
through your humiliation beneath the
Cross
you revealed to the world the price
of its redemption.
Grant to the men and women of the
third millennium
the light of faith,
so that, as they recognize in you
the Suffering Servant of God and
man,
they may have the courage to follow
the same path
which, by way of the Cross and
self-emptying,
leads to life without end.
To you, O Jesus, our support when we
are weak,
be honour and glory for ever.R. Amen.
All:Our Father ...Stabat Mater:
O you Mother, fount of love!
Touch my spirit from above,
make my heart with yours accord. |