VIA CRUCIS - THE WAY OF THE CROSS

THE FIRST STATION
JESUS IS CONDEMNED TO DEATH



Truth stood alone in silence,
Bereft of every friend,
Pilate washed his hands in blood,
Thus Jesus was condemned.

THE SECOND STATION
JESUS TAKES UP HIS CROSS



They laid the Cross upon His back,
They spat and struck His head,
They booed and sneered, they mocked and jeered,
He thinks He’s God they said.

THE THIRD STATION
JESUS FALLS THE FIRST TIME



Shoved viciously He stumbled,
Falling on His knees,
They yanked the cord that bound Him,
Blaspheming lustily.

THE FOURTH STATION
JESUS MEETS HIS BLESSED MOTHER


He met His grieving Mother,
Their eyes locked in embrace,
Wordlessly she strengthened Him,
With her maternal gaze.

THE FIFTH STATION
SIMON OF CYRENE HELPS JESUS TO CARRY HIS CROSS



Afraid He would succumb before,
The spectacle they’d planned,
They forced Simon of Cyrene,
To lend a helping hand.

THE SIXTH STATION
VERONICA WIPES THE FACE OF JESUS



His beauty once compelling,
Had fled without a trace,
Veronica removed her veil,
To wipe His bloodied Face.

THE SEVENTH STATION
JESUS FALLS THE SECOND TIME



A second time He crumpled,
His head swam in the heat,
They swore aloud and kicked Him,
As He struggled to His feet.

THE EIGHTH STATION
JESUS CONSOLES THE WOMEN OF JERUSALEM



Wailing and lamenting,
The women moaned and wept,
He gently said, “Weep for yourselves,
And little ones instead.”

THE NINTH STATION
JESUS FALLS THE THIRD TIME 

The Cross sawed on His shoulder,
He slumped in agony,
The soldiers yelled abuses
And whipped Him cruelly.

THE TENTH STATION
JESUS IS STRIPPED OF HIS GARMENTS


They stripped off all His garments,
They gambled for His cloak,
He stood unbowed before the crowd,
Who tore His beard and joked.

THE ELEVENTH STATION
JESUS IS NAILED TO THE CROSS



They nailed Him on the altar,
Of the Cross at Calvary,
His perfect sacrifice atoned,
For our iniquity.

THE TWELFTH STATION
JESUS DIES ON THE CROSS

He hung t’wixt earth and heaven,
Mourners gathered round to grieve,
The hour had come for sinners,
To find pardon and reprieve.

THE THIRTEENTH STATION
JESUS IS TAKEN DOWN FROM THE CROSS
AND LAID IN HIS MOTHER'S ARMS



The disciples placed His Body,
Gently on His Mother's knee,
She wrapped her arms around Him
And embraced Him tenderly.

THE FOURTEENTH STATION
JESUS IS LAID IN THE SEPULCHER



Embalmed with myrrh and aloes,
Wrapped in linen cloth,
The Savior of the world reposed,
All through the Jewish Sabbath.

THE FIFTEENTH STATION
JESUS ROSE FROM THE DEAD
ALLELUIA!!!



The silent night kept vigil,
As God lay in the tomb,
On Easter morn New Life would dawn,
Exploding from earth’s womb.

Myra D'Souza / 12.4.2011






Myra D'Souza /12th April 2011