A PRAYER FOR LENT

THIRD ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS Of DIVYA JYOTI

 THE WAY OF THE CROSS as done by Pope John Paul

The following stations of the cross are based on those celebrated by Pope John Paul II on Good Friday 1991. They are presented here as an alternative to the traditional stations and as a way of reflecting more deeply on the Scriptural accounts of Christ's passion. The presiding minister may be a priest, deacon, or layperson. This minister prays the opening and closing prayers, leads the acclamation, announces the stations, and says the prayer that concludes each station. One or more readers may read the Scriptural reflections. A period of silence should be observed between the Scripture reading and the prayer. A cross-bearer accompanied by two candle-bearers may stand in front of each station as it is announced. As the cross- and candle-bearers move between the stations, all may sing a verse of the Stabat Mater (At the Cross Her Station Keeping - traditional) or an appropriate antiphon, such as Parce Domine (traditional, various settings) or Crucem Tuam (Berthier, GIA).

Before each station:
Minister: We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you.

All: Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

After each station:
All: Lord Jesus, help us walk in your steps.

Opening Prayer:

Minister: God of power and mercy, in love your sent your Son that we might be cleansed of sin
and live with you forever. Bless us as we gather to reflect on his suffering and death that we may learn from his example the way we should go. We ask this through that same Christ, our Lord.

All: Amen.

First Station: Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane
Scriptural Reflection
Reader: reads Matthew 25:36-41

Minister: Lord, grant us your strength and wisdom, that we may seek to follow your will in all things.

Second Station: Jesus, Betrayed by Judas, is Arrested
Scriptural Reflection
Reader: reads Mark 14: 43-46

Minister: Lord, grant us the courage of our convictions that our lives may faithfully reflect the good news you bring.

Third Station: Jesus is Condemned by the Sanhedrin
Scriptural Reflection
Reader: reads Luke 22: 66-71

Minister: Lord, grant us your sense of righteousness that we may never cease to work to bring about the justice of the kingdom that you promised.

Fourth Station: Jesus is Denied by Peter
Scriptural Reflection
Reader: reads Matthew 26: 69-75

Minister: Lord, grant us the gift of honesty that we may not fear to speak the truth even when difficult.

Fifth Station: Jesus is Judged by Pilate
Scriptural Reflection
Reader: reads Mark 15: 1-5, 15

Minister: Lord, grant us discernment that we may see as you see, not as the world sees.

Sixth Station: Jesus is Scourged and Crowned with Thorns
Scriptural Reflection
Reader: reads John 19: 1-3

Minister: Lord, grant us patience in times of suffering that we may offer our lives as a sacrifice of praise.

Seventh Station: Jesus Bears the Cross
Scriptural Reflection
Reader: reads John 19: 6, 15-17

Minister: Lord, grant us strength of purpose that we may faithfully bear our crosses each day.

Eighth Station: Jesus is Helped by Simon the Cyrenian to Carry the Cross
Scriptural Reflection
Reader: reads Mark 15: 21

Minister: Lord, grant us willing spirits that we may be your instruments on earth.

Ninth Station: Jesus Meets the Women of Jerusalem
Scriptural Reflection
Reader: reads Luke 23: 27-31

Minister: Lord, grant us gentle spirits that we may comfort those who mourn.

Tenth Station: Jesus is Crucified
Scriptural Reflection
Reader: reads Luke 23: 33-34

Minister: Lord, grant us merciful hearts that we may bring your reconciliation and forgiveness to all.

Eleventh Station: Jesus Promises His Kingdom to the Good Thief
Scriptural Reflection
Reader: reads Luke 23: 39-43

Minister: Lord, grant us perseverance that we may never stop seeking you.

Twelfth Station: Jesus Speaks to His Mother and the Disciple
Scriptural Reflection
Reader: reads John 19: 25-27

Minister: Lord, grant us constancy that we may be willing to stand by those in need.

Thirteenth Station: Jesus Dies on the Cross
Scriptural Reflection
Reader: reads Luke 23: 44-46

Minister: Lord, grant us trust in you that when our time on earth in ended our spirits may come to you without delay.

Fourteenth Station: Jesus is Placed in the Tomb
Scriptural Reflection
Reader: reads Matthew 27: 57-60

Minister: Lord, grant us your compassion that we may always provide for those in need.

Closing Prayer:

Minister: Lord Jesus Christ, your passion and death is the sacrifice that unites earth and heaven
and reconciles all people to you. May we who have faithfully reflected on these mysteries follow in your steps and so come to share your glory in heaven where you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit one God, for ever and ever.
All: Amen.

The Stabat Mater

The following is an English translation of a traditional hymn often used at the Stations of the Cross. Antonin Dvorak's Stabat Mater has to be one of the most beautiful and most moving pieces of music ever to come out of the Czech lands. The text is a devotional poem written in Latin in the 13th century, probably by the Franciscan monk Jacopone da Todi. It opens with the grief of the Virgin Mary at Christ's crucifixion, but then turns into a prayer, written in the first person and addressed to the Virgin - in which the writer longs to be reunited with Christ. The poem ends with the hope of the resurrection. The poetry is powerful in its very simplicity.
At the cross her station keeping,
Stood the mournful Mother weeping,
Close to Jesus to the last.
 Through her heart, His sorrow sharing,
All His bitter anguish bearing,
Now at length the sword had passed.
Oh, how sad and sore distressed
Was that Mother highly blessed
Of the sole-begotten One!
Christ above in torment hangs,
She beneath beholds the pangs
Of  her dying, glorious Son.
Is there one who would not weep
Whelmed in miseries so deep
Christ's dear Mother to behold?
Can the human heart refrain
From partaking in her pain,
In that Mother's pain untold?
Bruised, derided, cursed, defiled,
She beheld her tender Child,
All with bloody scourges rent,
For the sins of His own nation
Saw Him hang in desolation
Till His spirit forth He sent.
O thou Mother, fount of love,
Touch my spirit from above.
Make my heart with thine accord:
Make me feel as thou hast felt:
Make my soul to glow and melt
With the love of Christ, my Lord.
Holy Mother pierce - me through.
In my heart each wound renew
Of my Savior crucified.
Let me share with thee His pain,
Who for all our sins was slain,
Who for me in torments died.
Let me mingle tears with thee.
Mourning Him Who mourned for me,
All the days that I may live.
By the cross with thee to stay,
There with thee to weep and pray,
Is all I ask of thee to give.
Virgin of all virgins best
Listen to my fond request:
Let me share thy grief divine;
Let me, to my latest breath,
In my body hear the death
Of that dying Son of thine.
Wounded with His every wound,
Steep my soul till it hath swooned
In His very blood away;
Be to me, O Virgin, nigh,
Lest in flames I burn and die,
In His awful judgment day.
Christ, when Thou shall call me hence,
Be Thy Mother my defense,
Be Thy cross my victory;
While my body here decays
May my soul Thy goodness praise,
Safe in paradise with Thee.
Amen.
 
V. Pray for us, Virgin most sorrowful.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
 
Let us pray
Grant, we beseech Thee, O Lord Jesus Christ, that the most blessed Virgin Mary, Thy Mother, through whose most holy soul, in the hour of Your own passion, the sword of sorrow passed, may intercede for us before, the throne of Your mercy, now and at the hour of our death, through Thee, Jesus Christ, Savior of the world, Who lives and reigns, with the Father and the Holy Ghost, now and forever. Amen.

BIBLE QUIZ
XLV SALVATION TO ALL BY FAITH
Chs.1-3: LETTER TO THE ROMANS

 A) THE POWERFUL WORD OF GOD HEALED THEM ALL OF THEIR CONSISTENT BACK PAIN!

B) ANOTHER GREAT MIRACLE OF THE MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD OF OUR LORD...
This February, The Most Precious BLood of our Lord fell (sprinkled as tiny droplets) on the picture of the Sacred Heart kept on the altar at JEEVAN DHAM, Sec-22, Faridabad, Haryana. The message which our Lord wanted to depict through His Blood is - "I am with you", as confirmed through prayers in a vision.

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