of women, who bewailed and lamented Him. But Jesus turning to them, said: Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not over me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For behold the days shall come, wherein they will say: Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that have not borne, and the breasts that have not given suck. Then shall they begin to say to the mountains: Fall upon us; and to the hills: Cover us. For if in the green wood they do these things, what shall be done in the dry? And there were also two other malefactors led with Him to be put to death.

And when they were come to the place which is called Calvary, they crucified Him there: and the robbers, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. And Jesus said: Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.

But they dividing His garments, cast lots. And the people stood beholding; and the rulers with them derided Him, saying: He saved others, let Him save Himself, if He be Christ, the elect of God. And the soldiers also mocked Him, coming to Him, and offering Him vinegar, and saying: If Thou be the king of the Jews, save Thyself. And there was also a superscription written over Him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew : THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. And one of these robbers who were hanged, blasphemed Him, saying: If Thou be Christ, save Thyself, and us. But the other answering, rebuked him, saying: Neither dost thou fear God, seeing thou art under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done no evil. And he said to Jesus: Lord, remember me when Thou shalt come into Thy kingdom. And Jesus said to him: Amen I say

to thee, this day thou shalt be with me in paradise. And it was almost the sixth hour; and there was darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst. And Jesus crying with a loud voice, said: Father, into Thy hands I commend my spirit. And saying this, He gave up the ghost. (Luke 22 and 23.) (Here kneel and pause.)

Then the Jews (because it was the Parasceve), that the bodies might not remain upon the cross on the sabbath-day (for that was a great sabbath-day), besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. The soldiers therefore came; and they broke the legs of the first, and of the other that was crucified with Him. But after they were come to Jesus, when they saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. But one of the soldiers, with a spear, opened His side; and immediately there came out blood and water. And he that saw it hath given testimony, and his testimony is true; and he knoweth that he saith true, that you also may believe. For these things were done that the Scripture might be fulfilled, You shall not break a bone of Him. And again another scripture saith, They shall look on Him whom they pierced.

And after these things, Joseph of Arimathea (because he was a disciple of Jesus; but secretly, for fear of the Jews) besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus. And Pilate gave leave. He came therefore, and took away the body of Jesus. And Nicodemus also came, he who at the first came to Jesus by night; bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pounds weight. They took therefore the body of Jesus, and bound

it in linen cloths, with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury. Now there was in the place where He was crucified a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein no man yet had been laid. There, therefore, because of the Parasceve of the Jews, they laid Jesus, because the sepulchre was nigh at hand. (John 19.)

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Prayer.

LORD Jesu Christ, who, for the redemption of the world, didst undergo the bitter death of the Cross; impress upon our minds, we beseech Thee, the memory of Thy Passion; that ever and everywhere meditating upon Thine infinite goodness, we may reap the fruits of Thy redemption: who livest and reignest God, world without end. Amen.

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THE STATIONS OF THE CROSS.
A Prayer before commencing.

LORD JESU CHRIST, we desire to love Thee above all things, in return for the infinite love Thou hast shown us. We are heartily sorry that we have ever offended Thee. We offer Thee this exercise in remembrance of that bitter journey which Thou didst perform for our sakes. We purpose to gain the indulgences attached to it, and to pray for all the intentions prescribed: humbly beseeching Thee that Thou wouldst supply our deficiencies; and grant us mercy in this life, and glory in the next. Amen.

Before each Station.

V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee:

R. Because by Thy holy Cross Thou hast redeemed the world.

After each Station.

Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory.

V. Have mercy on us, O Lord. R. Have mercy

on us.

V. May the souls of the faithful, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. R. Amen.

Between the Stations.

Think, Good Jesu, think I pray,
I am cause of this Thy way:
O destroy me not that day.
Faint in search of me hast lain :
On the Cross hast suffered pain;
Shall such labour be in vain?

Or the following verses:

Sancta Mater, istud agas,
Crucifixi fige plagas

Cordi meo valide.

Holy Mother, pierce me thro',
In my heart each wound renew
Of my Saviour crucified.

STATIONS.

When possible a short meditation should be made on the subject of the Station.

I. Christ condemned to death. It was for us that Thou didst suffer, O Lord; our sins were the cause of Thy death: O mercifully save us from the everlasting death of sin.

II. Christ receiving the Cross. Our sins, O Jesu, made Thy Cross heavy grant that we may realise their hatefulness, and grieve for them as long as we live.

III. Christ falling for the first time. The weight of our sins caused Thee, O Lord, to fall: we detest

them and implore Thy forgiveness; and with Thy help we will never sin again.

IV. The meeting of Christ and His blessed Mother. O Jesu, by the compassion which Thou didst feel for Thy Mother, have compassion on us; and grant us a share in her intercession.

V. The Cross laid on Simon of Cyrene. May we, O Lord, ever glory in Thy Cross and by suffering patiently and willingly whatever trials befall us, shew our readiness to atone as much as we can for our sins.

VI. The face of Jesus wiped by Veronica, and its impression left on her handkerchief. May the remembrance of Thy sufferings, O Jesu, ever remain graven on our minds: and may their contemplation move us to the deepest hatred of our sins; and kindle in us a fervent desire of amendment.

VII. Christ falling a second time. How frequent, alas, are our relapses into sin! Help us, O Lord, to make use of the means which will prevent our again relapsing into sin.

VIII. Christ comforting the women of Jerusalem. Teach us, O Lord, so to mourn for our sins, that we may be comforted; and may escape the dreadful judgments which are prepared for all who neglect or reject Thee in this life.

IX. Christ falling a third time. By the merits of Thy many sufferings, pardon, we beseech Thee, O Lord, our frequent relapses and our long continuance in sin. May the thought of Thine infinite goodness make us avoid every occasion of sin.

X. Christ stripped of His garments. Do Thou, O Jesu, strip us of all leaning to earthly things. Teach us to humble ourselves voluntarily in this life, that we may escape everlasting ignominy in the next.