Thirteenth Station, Jesus dies on the Cross, Way of the Cross 2009

Sister Marie Claire Naidu
(second half of the twentieth century)
Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Bangalore – India

THIRTEENTH STATION
Jesus dies on the Cross

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

From the Gospel according to Saint Luke. 23:46

Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit!” And having said this, he breathed his last.

MEDITATION

Jesus hands over his spirit to the Father in serene abandonment. What his persecutors thought to be a moment of defeat proves, in fact, to be a moment of triumph. When a prophet dies for the cause he stood for, he gives the final proof of all that he has said. Christ’s death is something more than that. It brings redemption.[1] “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses.”[2]

With that begins for me a mystic journey: Christ draws me closer to him, until I shall fully belong to him.[3]

“As a deer longs for flowing streams,
So my soul longs for you, O God…
When shall I come and behold the face of God?”[4]

PRAYER

Lord Jesus, it is for my own sins that you were nailed to the Cross. Help me to gain a deeper understanding of the grievousness of my sins and the immensity of your love. For “while we were still weak, Christ died for the ungodly.”[5] I admit my faults as the prophets did long ago:

“We have sinned and done wrong and acted wickedly
and rebelled, turning aside
from your commandments and ordinances;
we have not listened to your servants the prophets….” [6]

There was nothing in me to deserve your kindness. Thank you for your immeasurable goodness to me. Help me to live for you, to shape my life after you,[7] to be joined to you and become a new creation.[8]

“Christ be with me, Christ within me,
Christ behind me, Christ before me,
Christ beside me, Christ to win me,
Christ to comfort and restore me.”[9]

[1] Cf. Gal 3:13.

[2] Eph 1:7.

[3] Cf. Jn 12:32; Phil 3:12-14; Gal 2:20.

[4] Ps 42:1-2.

[5] Rom 5:6, 8.

[6] Dan 9:5-6.

[7] Cf. 1 Cor 11:1.

[8] Cf. 2 Cor 5:17.

[9] “Saint Patrick’s Breastplate” (Eighth-century Irish hymn).

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.

Vidit suum dulcem Natum
morientem desolatum,
cum emisit spiritum.