A portrait painted by the Master
Whom no other talent could depict
is given to a small collector
of the worthless and the nondescript.

What critics rudely deprecate
true love of art appreciates.

He chose a style of composition
suited best to capture human truth:
A kiss outlined His lips, His sweating
sketched his flesh, through time He drew his youth.

The potter's vessel is a clay
expression of the word, Obey!

His great Self-Portrait was completed
on the canvas of her soul and hands.
Veronica means, Image truly
of the holy life which God commands.

Creation is the place where man
is privileged to behold My Plan.

"He is the image of the invisible God, the Firstborn of all creation…[and] in Him the fullness was pleased to dwell, and through Him all things are reconciled to Himself, making peace by the Blood of the Cross." - Colossians 1:15, 19-20 (see also St. John 1:1-18; Ephesians 1:3-10; Philippians 1:6-11; Psalm 2:9).

5th Station
Jesus is the Image in us all:

I've often heard it said that soldiers
forced from me a tunic and a mile;
but then some others praise the willing
steps I walked behind Him for a while.

I'll take no credit in that task
since for my help n'one thought to ask.

Between the Lord and swords of warriors
Simon found himself in frightful straits.
To bear with Me this weary burden
neither might nor justice brooks debates.

Salvation's work is God's desire
that Mercy grants what Law requires.

Man's freedom lies in choosing nothing
but to give to all a will that's meek.
The image of the Garden follow
when thy death both earth and Heaven seek.

Ye hearts whom Eden failed to school,
Gethsemani shall be thy rule!

"See for yourself! I have labored only a little, but have found much!" - Ecclesiasticus 51:27 (see St. Matthew 11:28-38; Jeremiah 6:16/7:23-24; Genesis 3:17-19; St. Matthew 26:39-45).

4th Station
Why hast Thou done so to us, dear Son? (Luke 2:48):

My Son! My Son! The Pearl I've ever
treasured! Why hast Thou forsaken me?!
My swords foretold Thou art there bearing
where this mother's heart would rather be.

If only I could lift that bough
and suffer death as Thou art now.

To trod this Path with thee not on it,
think thou, Woman, that my soul could take?
Amen! I say - as surely as thou
seest me, do thou this journey make.

Forever is the Will Divine
that all I have is also thine!

O Mary, teach this son most wayward
how to walk as Jesus once thou did.
With firm steps would I seek the straight road
which the Father of us all hath bid.

When thou art left the most alone
thou finds His Parents are thine own.

"And Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother: Behold! this Child is set for the fall, and for the resurrection of many in Israel, and for a sign that will be contradicted; and thine own soul a sword shall pierce, that, out of many hearts, thoughts may be revealed" - St. Luke 2:34-35.

3rd Station
Christ comes close to hear what Abel said:

O fallen Lord, give heed to Abel
whisp'ring in Thy ear the word that I
have begged through stone and rain and autumn
leaf to hear since man first learned to die.

In righteousness I thirst for blood
e'en tho' of it I've drunk a flood.

Thou speaketh well of what thou can not;
silent are the ones who thee call home.
The word thou craved my death denieth
not, 'tho' else it seems to worms in loam.

How I might say what Life commands
is diff'rent from the world's demands.

Dear Jesus, to the ground Thy burden
weighs Thee, forging man and Heaven's link;
Thy Sacred Heart beseeches sweetly
all the earth Thy Precious Blood to drink.

When sin cries, "Justice!" Mercy hears,
and thus the Word of God appears.

"We approach Jesus and His sprinkled blood which speaks more eloquently than that of Abel." - Hebrews 12:24 (see Genesis 4:10ff).

2nd Station
Where the Cross is Jesus has a friend:

Who gently lies against my bosom,
firm caresses laying in my hands?
Whose presence will not leave a
child an orphan in these mortal lands?

When friends are sources of distress
then foes must be the ones to bless.

Am I the Cross or He who carries
crosses whom no other will take up
and bear? This burden on my shoulder
binds my love to hate as Bread and Cup;

this Road I walk I walk within
sad hearts whose paths are paved with sin.

My Jesus, only one companion
followed Thee from Pilate to the Place
of Skulls, and there alone is certain
to be found the wellspring of Thy Grace!

I would have man stand next to Me
by being fasten'd onto thee!

And I looked for one that would grieve together with me, but there was none: and for one that would comfort me, and I found none. - Psalm 68:21 (see St. Matthew 10:38).

1st Station
Pilate will succeed where Herod failed:

Thou art a fool, O Pontius Pilate,
thinking that mere water can expunge
the pool of blood thy coward's lying
spills, wherein thy hands and soul now plunge.

Thine efforts to be clean are vain
for all who sin do bear thy stain.

Thus I have found myself belonging
to thy shameful brood. Where Herod miss'd
and thou denied a part, in killing
God, there I with Judas, Christ have kiss'd.

The Babe within the manger bed
from Whom comes Life in me lies dead.

O Jesus, turn the clock to Christmas
where the Via Dolorosa lay
so far from sight. There's not, but let there
be a chance to find some other way.

My child, such foolish thoughts are naught
for with His death thy life is bought.

A sound of lamentation rose from Ramah, and Rachel would not be comforted. - see St. Matthew 2:13-23.