THE STATIONS OF THE CROSS: MEDITATIVE VERSION

Station II
THE CARRYING OF THE CROSS

"And bearing His Own Cross He went forth to that place which is called Calvary, but in Hebrew Golgotha."

1. Contemplate Jesus as He is led forth. The soldiers and officials assemble, the two malefactors are led out, and the crosses brought.

Criminals were executed by day and in public, and had to drag their crosses to the place of execution themselves, in order to increase their pain and disgrace, No exception is made in our Lord's case. Should one then seek exemption from little points of rule? Common life? Should anyone shun the humiliations and mortifications usual in a life meant to be the closest following of Jesus? Jesus was treated as a common criminal!

The upright part of the Cross was probably from eight to ten feet long, and to it the transverse part, probably about six feet long, was fastened.

And how did Jesus, our Lord and God, receive the Cross? Hardly without very great natural fear and shrinking. The Cross was the very embodiment of all suffering and shame. But see the love and reverence with which He embraces it----perhaps even kneels to receive it----for He looked beyond the shame and pain, and beheld in the Cross the Adorable Will of His Father, the instrument of our salvation and all our blessings, and the sceptre of the honour and power that was hereafter to be His. We read of St. Andrew that he greeted his Cross from afar with words of heartfelt love and longing: "O holy Cross! O blessed Cross! that will take me to my Master!"

Note how Jesus accepts His Cross, and note His blessed words: "I have given you an example that as I have done, so do you also." Jesus accepts His Cross at the time and in the shape in which it is presented to Him. "Stand without choice or any self-seeking and thou shalt gain. Give up thyself and thou shalt find Me." Our Lord does not examine His Cross, but embraces it. He does not consider the cruelty of those who lay it upon Him, but the love of the Father Who has chosen it for Him, Does my way of bearing my cross show that I have studied my Master on His way to Calvary?

2. Jesus carries His Cross. See our dear Lord as He starts on His last and bitterest journey----from the citadel Antonia to the place of execution outside the city. The road is several hundred paces long, and is called the Via Dolorosa. Along this road the sad procession passes. A Roman centurion rides in front; then follow the condemned men, each accompanied by four soldiers: after these come the executioners and their assistants with the instruments of death and the penal title on poles; in the rear and on either side of the procession walk countless throngs of people, high and low, especially Pharisees----both strangers and those of the city. Oh, look with pity, love, attention, and sorrow at that Divine Figure in the midst of the crowd----He is bowed and tottering, scarcely visible under the heavy Cross and the overshadowing crown of thorns. It is Jesus, our dear Lord, our Saviour bearing His Cross.

THE PASSION-------STATIONS OF THE CROSS SEPIA VERSION--------STATIONS OF THE CROSS: LIGUORIAN

www.catholictradition.org/Passion/stations3-2.htm