The Passionists of Holy Cross Province

The Love that Compels

Fourth Station: Jesus Meets His Mother

The Way of the Cross, Prayed in honor of the way of our martyrs in the Middle East: 

Please scroll down for Spanish and Arabic Translations

4-Fourth Station4th Station: Jesus Meets His Grieving Mother

Call: We adore you, O, Christ, and we bless you.

Response: Because by your holy Cross, you have redeemed the world.

“In Ramah is heard the sound of moaning, of bitter weeping! Rachel mourns her children, she refuses to be consoled because her children are no more.”Jeremiah 31:15.

Meditation prayer:

Lord, Jesus, this pain is simply unbearable. To watch the little children suffer such cruelty is an abomination to me! The little children to whom you breathed your spirit and called to come to you! They are the Holy Innocents of today-wrap your arms around them. Lift them high above their pain and in your goodness, ease the pain of their parents. Lovingly care for each one-we enfold them in our hearts. “Are my tears not stored in your vial, recorded in your book?”. Psalm 56:9b May all those tears wash away the hatred and cleanse our world, making it spring up with living water flowing from your side. May I love and protect all life this day.

Continue the Journey with the Fifth Station: Simon Helps Jesus Carry His Cross

 

Vía Crucis, una oración honrando el camino de nuestros mártires en Irak y el Oriente Medio:

4* Cuarta Estación: Jesús encuentra a su Madre

Guía: Te adoramos, oh Cristo, y te bendecimos.

Respuesta: Que por tu santa Cruz redimiste al mundo.

“¡En Ramá se oyó el sonido de gemidos, de llanto amargo! Raquel llora a sus hijos, y no quiso ser consolada, porque sus hijos ya no existen.” Jeremías 31:15.

Meditación:

Señor, Jesús, este dolor es simplemente insoportable. ¡Ver a los niños pequeños sufrir tanta crueldad es una abominación para mí! ¡Los niños pequeños en los que respiraras tu espíritu y que son llamados a venir a ti! Son los Santos Inocentes de hoy – envuelve tus brazos alrededor de ellos. Levántalos por encima de su dolor y en tu bondad, alivia el dolor de sus padres. Cuidando con amor el uno al otro los envolvemos en nuestros corazones. Has guardado sus lágrimas en tu frasco, grábalas en su libro (Salmo 56: 9b). Que todas esas lágrimas laven el odio y limpien nuestro mundo, creando primavera con el agua viva que fluye de ti. Que yo pueda amar y proteger la vida el día de hoy.

Continuamos con la próxima estación: Quinta Estación: Simón ayuda a Jesús a llevar su cruz

 

Download the Arabic Translation: Standing at the Foot of the Cross – Arabic Translation

Ash Wednesday

On March 2, the Church celebrates Ash Wednesday. 

Most of us learned early in our Catholic lives that Ash Wednesday is the beginning of Lent, and that is a time of special sacrifice in preparation for the Easter celebration of Jesus’ Resurrection.

Dear brothers and sisters, every moment of our lives is a time for believing, hoping and loving…. These words of Pope Francis, taken from his Lenten Message of last year, 2021, and echoing the virtues of Faith, Hope and Charity, can still inspire our answer to the question: “What am I giving up for Lent?” 

We can draw our Lenten sacrifices out of our daily life: 

Share our faith in God’s presence by sharing in prayer with our family or with those in our parish community.
Share our hope in God’s promises by encouraging positive and respectful dialogue in our family circle and among our friends. 
Share the charity God has bestowed on us in the Passion of Jesus, with those whose sufferings are ignored or aggravated.

Let us pray for one another as we enter the season of Lent. Our Passionist “motto” can be our daily prayer during Lent, “May the Passion of Jesus Christ be always in our hearts.”