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 © PFARRKIRCHEN STIFTUNG ST. LAMBERT SEEON
Via Crucis, Felix Anton Scheffler - 1757
Church of Saint Martin - Ischl, Seeon (Diocese of München) - Germany

ELEVENTH STATION
Jesus is nailed to the Cross

V/. Adoramus te, Christe, et benedicimus tibi.
R/. Quia per sanctam crucem tuam redemisti mundum.

From the Gospel according to Matthew 27:35-42

And when they had crucified him, they divided his garments among them by casting lots; then they sat down and kept watch over him there.  And over his head they put the charge against him, which read: “This is Jesus the King of the Jews”. 

Then two robbers were crucified with him, one on the right hand and one on the left.  And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads and saying:
“You who would destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself!  If you are the Son of God, come down from the Cross”. 

So also the chief priests with the scribes and elders mocked him, saying:
“He saved others; he cannot save himself.  He is the King of Israel; let him come down now from the Cross and we will believe in him”
.

 

MEDITATION

The hands that blessed everyone
are now nailed to the cross;
the feet that walked everywhere,
bringing hope and love,
are now bound to the stake.

Why, O Lord?
Because of love!
[1]
Why your passion?
Because of love!
Why your cross?
Because of love!

Lord, why didn’t you come down from the cross,
to respond to our taunts?
I did not come down from the cross,
because then I would have made power
the lord of the world, whereas love alone is the power
capable of changing the world
.

Why, Lord, did you pay this dreadful price?
To tell you that God is Love
, [2]
infinite Love, all-powerful Love.
Do you believe me?


[1]   Jn 13:1.
[2]   1 Jn 4:8, 16.

 

PRAYER

Jesus, Crucified Lord,
everyone else can deceive us,
abandon us, delude us:
you alone will never delude us!
You let our hands
nail you brutally to the cross,
as a way of telling us that your love is true,
sincere, faithful and irrevocable.

Jesus, Crucified Lord,
our eyes look upon your hands pierced with nails,
yet still capable of granting true freedom;
they look upon your feet, nailed to the cross,
yet still capable of walking
and making others walk.

Jesus, Crucified Lord,
The illusion of a happiness apart from God
is dead.
Let us return to you,
our sole hope and freedom,
our sole joy and truth:
Jesus, Crucified Lord,
be merciful to us sinners!

 

All:

Pater noster, qui es in cælis:
sanctificetur nomen tuum;
adveniat regnum tuum;
fiat voluntas tua, sicut in cælo, et in terra.
Panem nostrum cotidianum da nobis hodie;
et dimitte nobis debita nostra,
sicut et nos dimittimus debitoribus nostris;
et ne nos inducas in tentationem;
sed libera nos a malo.

Sancta mater, istud agas,
Crucifixi fige plagas
cordi meo valide.


© Copyright 2006 - Libreria Editrice Vaticana  

   

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