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 © PFARRKIRCHEN STIFTUNG ST. LAMBERT SEEON
Via Crucis, Felix Anton Scheffler - 1757
Church of Saint Martin - Ischl, Seeon (Diocese of München) - Germany

SIXTH STATION
Veronica wipes the face of Jesus
   

V/. Adoramus te, Christe, et benedicimus tibi.
R/. Quia per sanctam crucem tuam redemisti mundum.  

From the Book of the Prophet Isaiah. 53:2-3

He had no form or comeliness
that we should look at him,
and no beauty that we should desire him. 
He was despised and rejected by men;
a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief;
and as one from whom men hide their faces.

From the Book of Psalms. 42:2-3

As the deer longs for flowing streams
so my soul longs for you, O God.
My soul thirst for God,
for the living God.

 

MEDITATION

The face of Jesus is bathed with sweat,
streaming with blood,
covered with abusive spittle.
Who would dare draw near him?

A woman!

A woman steps out of the crowd,
keeping alight the lamp of our humanity,
... and wipes his Face
and finds his Face!

How many people today have no face!
How many people are relegated
to the margins of life,
exiled, forsaken,
by an apathy that kills the apathetic.

Only those afire with love are truly alive,
those who bend low before Christ who suffers
and awaits us in those who are suffering:  today!

Today!  For tomorrow will be too late! [1]


[1]   Mt 25:11-13.

 

PRAYER

Lord Jesus,
a single step
and the world could change!

A single step,
and peace could return to families,
a single step,
and the needy would no longer be alone;
a single step,
and the suffering could feel a hand
reaching out to take their hand
... and bring healing to both.

A single step,
and the poor could find a place at table,
lifting the sadness haunting the tables of the selfish,
who find no joy in feasting alone.

Lord Jesus,
a single step is all it would take!

Help us to take that step,
for our world is slowly depleting
all its store of joy.
Help us, Lord!

 

All:

Pater noster, qui es in cælis:
sanctificetur nomen tuum;
adveniat regnum tuum;
fiat voluntas tua, sicut in cælo, et in terra.
Panem nostrum cotidianum da nobis hodie;
et dimitte nobis debita nostra,
sicut et nos dimittimus debitoribus nostris;
et ne nos inducas in tentationem;
sed libera nos a malo.

Quis non posset contristari
piam matrem contemplari
dolentem cum Filio?

 

© Copyright 2006 - Libreria Editrice Vaticana

  

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