P. Methodius Minarik, O.Carm.
Introduction: Our Lady of Sorrows, we want to honor your pains and bow to Christ the Lord, who suffered for us. Guide us on this Stations of the Cross.
1. Beautiful Mother of love, he whom you loved most from your pure, immaculate, loving heart is rejected by people and condemned to death.
2. The Father places the cross on Jesus and with it, all of us with all our sins, and makes him our Redeemer. You are our Co-redemptrix, therefore you also care for all of us, and for all our weaknesses and wretchedness.
3. Jesus falls for those who stumble on their way to God.
When someone of us falls, it is like Jesus has fallen to you, Mary, for we are so attached to Jesus, so one with him, that we are his limbs.
For you, we are the continuation of Jesus; you see Jesus in us (St. M. Magdalene de’ Pazzi).
4. Jesus, we remind you of all your meetings with Mary, especially this one. Mary, we remind you of all your meetings with Jesus, especially this one. Grant us to know by faith what occurred during these encounters, and teach us to meet with you, that we may be in the Holy Spirit in constant intimate loving connection with you.
5. How embarrassing it is for you, Mary, when you see that people must be forced to follow your beloved Son. Draw us to him with love.
“Draw me, we will run after the fragrance of your perfumes” (St. Therese of Lisieux).
6. Mary, when Jesus rewarded Veronica for her small service with a faithful imprint of his holy face, how much more he rewarded you for all you have done for him. In your purity and immaculateness, nothing prevented his faithful imprint in you. Renew in us his face, distorted by sins.
7. Mary, remember that the more Jesus has chosen and drawn someone to himself, the greater offense and pain he suffers when they become unfaithful again. Do not let us, whom he has called to himself, cause him this pain and offense. Protect us from returning to the world. Let our last things be better than the first.
8. “If this is happening on the green wood, what will happen on the dry?” Mary, Immaculate, you alone were with Jesus, the green wood. We are all dry wood, unfortunately far too dry. Do not abandon us!
9. Mary, a fallen girl prayed to you:
“Only your love and your mercy reach where my misery reaches.” Shadows on the rocks (Cather). Jesus falling the third time made you his mercy.
10. Mary, we ask you with St. Therese of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face: “Make all earthly things bitter for us and teach us to love only Jesus.”
11. Jesus is nailed to the cross for us with three nails, and we are bound to him with three bonds of holy promises. Mary, protect these holy bonds!
12. Into your holy heart, Mary, and into the holy wounds of the Lord Jesus, we commend ourselves at this hour (hour of prayer of the Sisters of the Holy Cross), in which these holy wounds are impressed into your holy heart, and you become our Mother, and for all the hours of our entire life.
13. Mary, Mother of Jesus and our Mother! Jesus came out “from his holy place” (Advent antiphon) from you, and now he returns to you. He came to us through you and wants us to come to him through you. Per Mariam ad Jesum.
14. His grave will be glorious, it was foretold about Jesus Christ. His redemptive work has been completed and will be bestowed upon people.
And you, Mary, Mediatrix of all graces, will request all his graces for them.
The dove of the Holy Spirit, Our Lady of Victory, you will bring them the victorious branch of the victorious Lamb, who was slain and has gained victory. Your victorious flight begins.
The world was saved by the blood of the Lamb and the longing of the Dove (Church Fathers).
Intercede for us, Our Lady of Sorrows. That we may be worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us pray: Lord Jesus Christ, may the blessed Virgin Mary, your Mother, whose most holy soul was pierced by the sword of sorrow at the hour of your blessed suffering, intercede for us with your mercy. For you live and reign forever and ever. Amen.
The sign of the cross will be in heaven when the Lord comes to judgment.
Let us stand at the cross with Mary, the Mother of Jesus.
Mary, Lady, through so many pains grant us joy in the heavenly kingdom.
Holy Mother of my Lord, imprint the wounds of the Crucified deep in my soul.
