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March 13-15, 1998             SECTION TWO              vol 9, no. 52



MEDITATIVE STATIONS OF THE CROSS FOR LENT
On the Way to Calvary

We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You.
Because by Your Holy Cross You have redeemed the world.


FIRST STATION: Jesus is Condemned to Death

We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You.
Because by Your Holy Cross You have redeemed the world.

Weakened by Your Agony in the Garden, You now hear the fateful words of Pilate. Were You afraid, Jesus? I would be, such a cruel death. So unjustified. Permit me, my Jesus, to learn the great lesson of humility which You gave us, as You stood defenseless, offering nary a word to those who sought Your ruin. You, Innocence Itself, accepted the unjust sentence, which came upon You because of my sins. Jesus, touch my heart. Purify it. Convert it fully. Take my hand and help me walk the Way of the Cross with You...the Way of Salvation.

SECOND STATION: Jesus Carries His Cross

We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You.
Because by Your Holy Cross You have redeemed the world.

If You were weak before, how much so now that You had endured a scourging, one I can't even comprehend, but which fills me with horror. Yet they presented You with Your Cross, and with arms of love You received it, in perfect obedience to Your Heavenly Father that all men might be saved. You did not recoil from it. I would have. I still do, because at the slightest suffering I become impatient, frustrated, even angry. I want to run away, to seek solace in others, to deny that suffering is part of everyday life. Permit me, on this walk with You, dear Jesus, to learn in the depths of my soul and heart, to embrace the Cross which is the only way to Eternal Life. Whenever sorrow or suffering come, help me to remember that I deserve to shoulder the cross, because You, Who are the Innocent Lamb, embraced it without complaint out of love for me, a poor sinner.


THIRD STATION: Jesus Falls the First Time

We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You.
Because by Your Holy Cross You have redeemed the world.

So brutalized were You, my Jesus, that any ordinary man would have already expired. The loss of Your Sacred Blood causes You to fall heavily to the ground. No one showed You the least bit of compassion. Instead, You were kicked, spit upon, whipped and yanked to Your feet with the heavy burden of the Cross upon Your shoulder. Permit me, dear Jesus, to learn the virtue of patience. Let me remember Your example, and when things go wrong for me in any way, let it be the silence of Your Love which seals my lips out of love for You.


FOURTH STATION: Jesus Meets His Sorrowful Mother

We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You.
Because by Your Holy Cross You have redeemed the world.

My Jesus, can anyone ever know the anguish which was exchanged between You and Your most Holy Mother? Help me to meditate upon this meeting, and to learn from it that You, the Sinless One, and Your Immaculate Mother, call me to give up my sins, my inclination to evil. Whenever I am tempted, let me fall at the feet of Your Sorrowful Mother and there, with the tender mother's love which flows from her heart, receive Your strength to resist temptation, to grow stronger in my faith, in my resolve never to sin again. Let me gaze upon Your Holy Face, my Jesus, and understand what Love really means.


FIFTH STATION: Simon the Cyrene Helps Jesus

We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You.
Because by Your Holy Cross You have redeemed the world.

It wasn't compassion which forced the Roman soldiers to make Simon help You. They feared You would die and they would not have the victory of seeing You die in anguish on Calvary. My dear Jesus, grant me the grace to help You carry Your Cross, making it my own with the full knowledge and assurance that it is You Who helps me to carry it. Only in this way will I be able to bear all with loving obedience, and patience, that Eternal Life might be mine.


SIXTH STATION: Veronica Wipes the Face of Jesus

We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You.
Because by Your Holy Cross You have redeemed the world.

You never forgot, even in the midst of Your torture, to give to those Who truly love You, a remembrance of Yourself. You desired for all men to remember Your Passion that from it they might learn Love. Imprint the image of Your Holy Face upon my heart and soul, my Jesus. In this way, strengthened by Your merits, let me always think of You, placing You above all earthly cares, until I see You in Eternity.


SEVENTH STATION: Jesus Falls the Second Time

We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You.
Because by Your Holy Cross You have redeemed the world.

So weakened! Your Holy Face lies on the hard ground, the weight of the Cross even heavier now. You fell, my sweet Jesus, to remind me of the pride and self-love that I cling to in life, rather than willingly, submitting myself fully to Your Holy Will in all things. Permit me, dear Jesus, to learn from You, and to henceforth be mindful to prostrate myself before You, my Lord and my God, that I might learn humility and simplicity in all things.


EIGHTH STATION: Jesus Comforts the Women of Jerusalem

We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You.
Because by Your Holy Cross You have redeemed the world.

The weeping arouses You from the anguish of Your continuing Passion. You manage to speak to the women, and Your Holy words should arouse in me a deep repentance of all my sins. You Who are sinless, went to Your death with peace for You were united fully with the Father. Permit me, my Jesus, to contemplate my offenses against You, to confess them with a contrite heart, and to weep in the depths of my soul, for all I have done to cause You such suffering. And let me always remember that as You gaze upon me, it is with eyes of Mercy, so infinite is Your Love.


NINTH STATION: Jesus Falls the Third Time

We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You.
Because by Your Holy Cross You have redeemed the world.

Life is waning from Your Sacred Body, but there is still a long, painful way to go. You fell, but You did not give up, in order that God's Will might be fulfilled. Teach me, my Jesus, to rise every time I fall, and to understand in my soul that You are there to help me to my feet, that it is You Who sets me once again on the right path - the Way of the Cross.




TENTH STATION: Jesus is Stripped of His Garments

We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You.
Because by Your Holy Cross You have redeemed the world.

Your soiled garments adhere to Your Sacred Body because of the clotted blood. What anguish You suffered in order to atone for the sins of intemperance and sensuality. Permit me, my dear Jesus, to surrender to You all of my sins of the flesh, and even more, all of my earthly attachments. As You were subjected to the humility of being stripped, so teach me the joy of being stripped of sin, of earthly attachments in every instance, that I might stand with You on Calvary, a repentant sinner filled with joy and hope at the Salvation You have won for me.


ELEVENTH STATION: Jesus is Nailed to the Cross

We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You.
Because by Your Holy Cross You have redeemed the world.

I cannot comprehend what it was like to have cruel nails pounded into my tender flesh. I shrink from this, my Jesus. Sometimes it terrifies me. But You did not shrink from it. Permit me, my dear Jesus, to remember that it is my sins which have done this to You. You looked far beyond the pain, which I cannot fathom, to the Will of the Father, and the salvation of mankind. Let me remember in times of pain and sorrow, that You hold my hand and give me strength to endure, that You might wound my heart with the Love of Your Own Heart. Divine Mercy was poured forth upon mankind when the lance pierced Your Sacred Heart. My Jesus, grant that I, prostrate at the foot of Your Cross, may receive Your Divine Mercy.


TWELFTH STATION: Jesus Dies on the Cross

We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You.
Because by Your Holy Cross You have redeemed the world.

I behold You, my Jesus, hanging upon the Cross in bitterest agony. You raise Your Sacred Head with the last ounce of Your strength and Will, and You look upon me. A look of such love! Of such compassion! O, permit me, my Jesus, to remain at the foot of Your Cross, gazing upon Your Sacred Countenance. Imprint upon my heart a lively contrition for my sins, which weighed so heavily upon you as You died in agony. Let me hear in my heart the words You offered to the Good Thief, and may I draw comfort from Your loving promises. Help me to look to Your Heavenly Mother, my own Mother, for the guidance I need to remain with You in these last terrible moments before eternal bliss.


THIRTEENTH STATION: Jesus is Taken Down from the Cross

We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You.
Because by Your Holy Cross You have redeemed the world.

It is consummated! You have surrendered Your Divine Soul to the Father. Now, Your Blessed Mother, bereft of her Son, and alone of all consolation, receives Your lifeless body into her arms. Those about see only the lifeless body. Mary believes that You, God, will rise again on the third day, and if there is any comfort for her, it is this. With Mary, may I, a sinner, kiss each wound upon Your Sacred Body, in loving remembrance of all You have done for me. The journey is now complete for You. Help me, my Jesus, to complete my journey in this life, with the sincere faith that You shall greet me for all Eternity.


FOURTEENTH STATION: Jesus is Laid in the Tomb

We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You.
Because by Your Holy Cross You have redeemed the world.

What great sadness weighed down upon Mary as she watched Your Body hastily prepared for burial, and the cold, lonely tomb receive the Flesh of her flesh, and of the Father. She watched with tears streaming down her face as the stone was rolled in front of the tomb, her faith her bulwark against despair. Grant to me, my dear Jesus, the grace to ponder the Way of the Cross which all men must walk, in order to come to that moment of glorious resurrection with You for all Eternity.

Medjugorje Monthly Message for February 25th

      Dear children! Also today I am with you and I, again, call all of you to come closer to me through your prayers. In a special way, I call you to renunciation in this time of grace. Little children, meditate on and live, through your little sacrifices, the Passion and Death of Jesus for each of you. Only if you come closer to Jesus will you comprehend the immeasurable love He has for each of you. Through prayer and your renunciation you will become more open to the gift of faith and love towards the Church and the people who are around you. I love and bless you. Thank you for having responded to my call! For more on Medjugorje, click on MEDJUGORJE

ALL ROADS LEAD TO ROME

Events This Weekend in Church History

      For events throughout the centuries that are memorable in Church history, click on ALL ROADS LEAD TO ROME

THIS DAY IN CHURCH HISTORY:

Historical Events in Church Annals for March 13:


Historical Events in Church Annals for March 14:


Historical Events in Church Annals for March 15:


658 - 657 - 656 and counting, hoping and praying..


WORLDWIDE NEWS & VIEWS with a Catholic slant

HEADLINES:

An ultimatum from Kofi Annan: Pay up or Lose it. Clinton on the spot!

      The ultimatum by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan that America either pays their dues - present and past, or lose their privilege of voting in the UN Assembly. It's a sticky situation for President Bill Clinton who bullheadedly has threatened to veto the anti-abortion oversees aid bill attached to the measure that would allow Congress to approve paying the dues Clinton so dearly wants paid. To put it simply, pro-life Republicans and now Annan have placed Clinton squarely in a pickle. For more, click on Pay up to read more.

ANNAN TELLS US TO PAY DUES OR LOSE UN VOTE

     WASHINGTON, DC (CWN) - UN Secretary General Kofi Annan warned the United States on Wednesday that it could lose its voting privileges in the General Assembly if it does not pay its back dues, which have been held up in Congress in a debate over funding of international abortion groups.

      Annan visited congressional leaders on Capitol Hill to discuss recent negotiations with Iraqi President Saddam Hussein over weapons inspections as well as $1 billion in back dues owed by the US to the UN. Annan said that if the United States does not pay its back dues by January, it could be found in violation of UN Section 19, which calls for nations in arrears to lose their vote in the General Assembly.

      Republicans pointed out that the US paid $3 billion to support UN peacekeeping operations last year, over and above any dues owed. Proposals that would have paid off the dues to the UN have been held up by amendments attached by pro-life Republicans that would have banned the use of US foreign aid by pro-abortion groups overseas to lobby foreign governments for the legalization of the practice or to perform abortions. Opposition by pro-abortion congressmen and the Clinton administration subsequently scuttled the bills.

      The House could vote as early as Thursday on a bill that would authorize $819 million in payments and waive $109 million the organization owes the US government, but President Clinton is again threatening a veto over the abortion issue.


Holy Father to the USA bishops: Straighten up and understand the teachings of Holy Mother Church.

      In the continuing ad-limina visits by U.S. bishops to Rome, Pope John Paul II didn't pull any punches in stressing the need to instruct their people on all Holy Mother Church teaches and to remind them of the accuracy and truth of the Second Vatican Council documents which are so often misinterpreted or abandoned for something else. He emphasized that membership in our Holy Church means "incorporation of the Body of Christ." For more, click on Pope to read more.

POPE URGES US BISHOPS TO TEACH VATICAN II DOCUMENTS

     VATICAN (CWN) -- Pope John Paul II has called upon Catholics in the United States to avoid the Western tendency to reduce their understanding of the Catholic Church to political or social categories, and to honor the teachings of the magisterium.

      In a meeting today with American bishops who were making their ad limina visit, the Holy Father emphasized the need to understanding the teachings of Vatican II-- especially the apostolic constitutions Lumen Gentium, and Gaudium et Spes, dealing respectively with the Church and her engagement in the world.

      The Pope observed that there is a tendency in the West to "confine religious convictions to the interior and the private sphere," and that this tendency constitutes an obstacle to the Church's teaching. The mission of Christians is to transform the culture, he insisted.

      Particularly in the United States, the Pope continued, historical factors have produced an attitude in which religion is viewed through a sociological or political lens. That attitude has harmed the Church, he continued, producing an incomplete and misleading "horizontal" view of the Church's mission.

      The Holy Father urged the bishops to instruct their flocks in the "very rich" ecclesiology of the Vatican Council. The Church must be understood, he said, as "the new relation which God established between himself and humanity through the Cross of Christ." Thus the Church held together by communion, rather than mere membership. The Pope added: "One does not join the Church the way one joins a voluntary association." Rather, belonging to the Church means "incorporation into the Body of Christ."


Church officials looking for solidarity solution in Bosnia

     While the mountain village of global renown - Medjugorje - enjoys peace, much of the rest of this country is embroiled in ethnic strife and slow restoration after the war years of the early nineties. To the rescue comes Holy Mother Church, led by the president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace Cardinal Roger Etchegaray who will head to Banja Luka this weekend. For more, click on Bosnia to read more.

CHURCH SUPPORTS NEW INITIATIVE IN BOSNIA

     VATICAN (CWN) -- Cardinal Roger Etchegaray, the president of the Pontifical Commission for Justice and Peace, has undertaken new initiatives to resolve the continuing tensions in Bosnia.

      Cardinal Etchegarary will participate in a "solidarity meeting" in Banja Luka, Bosnia, this weekend. The meeting is being organized by Justice and Peace commissions throughout Europe, at the invitation of the local Church. The purpose of the session is to increase international awareness of the severe difficulties that still afflict the people of Bosnia-Herzegovina, especially those who are ethnic minorities in their regions.

      The meeting will also provide a demonstration of international support for the embattled Catholics of Banja Luka, a diocese which has seen severe suffering in recent years, and is now heavily involved in the efforts to promote reconciliation among ethnic groups and restoration of family homes.

      Among the participants in the weekend meeting will be Cardinal Vinko Puljic of Sarajevo, former Polish prime minister T. Mazowiecki, and a variety of representatives from Church groups and humanitarian organizations.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT:To subscribe to Catholic World News Service, available daily by e-mail, click here .

PROVERB OF THE DAY

"Plot no evil against your neighbor, against him who lives at peace with you. "

Proverbs 3: 29

For all other standard features, articles and columns, click on Archives



Click here to return to SECTION ONE or click here to return to the graphics front page of this issue.


March 13-15, 1998 volume 9, no. 52         DAILY CATHOLIC