EIGHTH STATION. Jesus speaks to the Daughters of V. We adore thee, O Christ, and praise thee. R. Because by thy holy cross thou hast redeemed the world. Consider how these women wept with compassion at seeing Jesus in such a pitiable state, streaming with blood as he walked along. "My children," said he, " weep not for me, but for yourselves, and for your children." My Jesus, laden with sorrows! I weep for the offences I have committed against thee, because of the pains they have deserved, and, still more, because of the displeasure they have caused thee, who hast loved me so much. It is thy love more than the fear of hell, which causes me to weep for my sins. My Jesus, I love thee more than myself; I repent with my whole heart of having offended thee. Never permit me to separate myself from thee again. Grant that I may love thee always; and then do with me what thou wilt. Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory be to the Father, &c. O Jesus! who for love of me, &c. Or as above, Holy Mother, pierce me through, &c. NINTH STATION. Jesus falls the third time. V. We adore thee, O Christ, and praise thee. R. Because by thy holy cross thou hast redeemed the world. Consider the third fall of Jesus Christ. His weakness was extreme, and the cruelty of his executioners excessive, who tried to hasten his steps when he could scarcely move. Ah, mine outraged Jesus, by the merits of the weakness thou didst suffer in going to Calvary, give me strength sufficient to conquer all human respect, and all my wicked passions, which have led me to despise thy friendship. I love thee, Jesus, my love, above all things; I repent with my whole heart of having offended thee. Never permit me to separate myself from thee again. Grant that I may love thee always; and then do with me what thou wilt. Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory be to the Father, &c. O Jesus! who for love of me, &c. Or as above, Holy Mother, pierce me through, &c. TENTH STATION. Jesus is stripped of his garments. V. We adore thee, O Christ, and praise thee. R. Because by thy holy cross thou hast redeemed the world. Consider the violence with which Jesus was stripped by the executioners. As his inner garments adhered to his torn flesh, they dragged them off so roughly that the skin came with them. Compassionate your Saviour thus cruelly treated. My most innocent Jesus! by the merits of the torment thou hast felt, help me to strip myself of all affection to things of earth, that I may place all my love in thee, who art so worthy of my love. I love thee, O Jesus! above all things; I repent with my whole heart of having offended thee. Never permit me to separate myself from thee again. Grant that I may love thee always; and then do with me what thou wilt. Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory be to the Father, &c. O Jesus! who for love of me, &c. Or as above, Holy Mother, pierce me through, &c. ELEVENTH STATION. Jesus is nailed to the Cross. V. We adore thee, O Christ, and praise thee. R. Because by thy holy cross thou hast redeemed the world. Consider how Jesus, having been placed upon the cross, extended his hands, and offered to his Eternal Father the sacrifice of his life for our salvation. Those barbarians fastened him with nails, and then, securing the cross, allowed him to die with anguish on this infamous gibbet. My Jesus, loaded with contempt, nail my heart to thy feet, that it may ever remain there, to love thee, and never quit thee again. I love thee more than myself; I repent with my whole heart of having offended thee. Never permit me to separate myself from thee again. Grant that I may love thee always; and then do with me what thou wilt. Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory be to the Father, &c. O Jesus who for love of me, &c. Or as above, Holy Mother, pierce me through, &c. TWELFTH STATION. Jesus dies on the Cross. V. We adore thee, O Christ, and praise thee. R. Because by thy holy cross thou hast redeemed the world. Consider how Jesus, after three hours' agony on the cross, being consumed with anguish, abandoned himself to the weight of his body, bowed his head and died. O my dying Jesus! I kiss devoutly the cross on which thou didst die for love of me. I have merited by my sins to die a miserable death, but thy death is my hope. Ah! by the merits of thy death, give me grace to die embracing thy feet, and burning with love for thee. I commit my soul into thy hands. I love thee, O Jesus! above all things; I repent of ever having offended thee. Permit not that I ever offend thee again. Grant that I may love thee always; and then do with me what thou wilt. Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory be to the Father, &c. O Jesus! who for love of me, &c. Or as above, Holy Mother, pierce me through, &c. |