Twelfth Station, The Mother of Jesus and the beloved disciple at the foot of the Cross, Way of the Cross 2008

Way of the Cross - 20th Century
Society of the Divine Word Generalate Archives - Rome

TWELFTH STATION
The Mother of Jesus and the beloved disciple at the foot of the Cross

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

From the Gospel according to John 19: 25-27

Standing by the Cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother, and the disciple whom he loved standing near, he said to his mother, "Woman, behold your son!". Then he said to the disciple, "Behold your mother!". And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.

MEDITATION

Jesus is not thinking of himself even in that moment of supreme suffering: he thinks of his Mother and he thinks of us. Does he first of all entrust his Mother to the disciple, as St John seems to suggest, or does he rather entrust the disciple to his Mother?

Be that as it may, for the disciple Mary will always be the Mother entrusted to him by his dying Master, and for Mary the disciple will always be the son entrusted to her by her dying Son; she will remain spiritually close to him, especially at the hour of death. Alongside all dying martyrs, then, she, their Mother, will always be standing at the foot of their cross, supporting them.

PRAYER

Jesus and Mary, you shared suffering even to the end: Jesus on the Cross, and Mary at the foot of the Cross. A spear pierced the Saviour's side and a sword penetrated the heart of the Virgin Mother.

In truth, it is we through our sins who have caused such suffering.

Accept the repentance of us all, since through our weakness we have always been exposed to the risk of betraying, denying and deserting.

Accept the homage of faithfulness from all those who have followed the example of St John, who remained courageously at the foot of the Cross.

Jesus and Mary, I give you my heart and my soul. Jesus and Mary, help me in my final agony. Jesus and Mary, may my last breath be at peace with you.

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.

Fac me tecum pie flere,
Crucifixo condolere,
donec ego vixero.