"Ash Wednesday beginning of the Lenten season.The traditional purpose of Lent is the preparation of the believer through prayer, penance, repentance of sins, almsgiving, atonement and self-denial. Its institutional purpose is heightened in the annual commemoration of Holy Week, marking the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus, which recalls the tradition and events of the Bible beginning on Friday of Sorrows, further climaxing on Jesus' crucifixion on Good Friday, which ultimately culminates in the joyful celebration on Easter Sunday of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Lent is a period of time when the people are more conscious of their spiritual character. The passages of the Gospels and the Epistles, the hymnology and prayers, the spirit of the Church - all endeavor to help the Christian cleanse himself spiritually through repentance. "Repent" is the first word Jesus Christ spoke in His proclamation to the people, as the epitome of His Gospel. Repentance is the main motivation of the Christian which acts to free him from sin. One's recognition of his sin, his contrition over it and lastly his decision to make an about-face change of his attitude are the steps of repentance. For one can learn to recognize iniquities from the Bible and the teachings of the Church. During the period of Lent the Christian is called to self-examination and self-control by the radiance of the Event of the Resurrection of Christ. This is why the Church designated such a period of time be observed before this great feast day
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Pilate judges unjustly because of his human respect. Jesus is silent and accepts
the unjust judgement. He feels its injustice deeply in his heart, but says not a
word.
How difficult this is for me when I believe that I am right. How I defend myself
when someone speaks an unjust word about me.
Teach me, Jesus, to be silent when I meet injustice. I will bear it out of love
for you. I will not flare up but master myself. I will then think of the sentence
passed against you. And when I must speak against it, I will do so with love and
patience as you did. Mary, my mother, obtain for me this grace.
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Willingly Jesus opens his arms and receives the heavy cross. He knows that through
his cross He will redeem us. With determination he lifts the heavy burden upon his
shoulder.
How I complain, when once in a while, a little cross comes to me such as an unpleasant
or difficult task, a sickness, a failure despite earnest efforts, or a misunderstanding.
I will open my arms and bear my cross in union with Jesus, my Saviour, for my salvation
and for that of others.
Lord, give me the strength to bear with determination and joy the suffering which
comes to me. Teach me to shoulder my cross and through it to make myself a new person.
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The burden is too heavy; the Lord is exhausted! He falls on the stony street. The
cross falls upon him. But he must continue along the narrow way. He struggles to
his feet again. He thinks of us and of our sins which he is expiating.
Lord, you fall under the cross that my sins have laid upon you. Now I see, Jesus,
how dreadful sin is and what it does to you in your Mystical Body.
I am sorry. Give me your grace, 0 Lord that I may resist bravely when I am in temptation,
before it is too late. At the first opportunity I will flee from the enticement
of sin.
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From afar Mary has seen how Pilate condemned her son to death, how they laid the
heavy cross on him. She sees the whole procession stopped by his first fall and
anxiously seeks a place where he must pass close by. Words are denied them but their
eyes meet lovingly. She feels all the pain and disgrace that he suffers.
Mary's heart has been so deeply pierced by the sword of suffering that she is able
to appreciate what suffering you are undergoing. When we are tormented by serious
worry, or by the burden of sin, turn to her, the comforter of the afflicted and
refuge of sinners. She will lead us to the suffering Redeemer, she will explain
to us the mystery of suffering.
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The Saviour is so weak that the Jews fear that He will die on the way. They force
a passerby, Simon, to help Jesus carry the cross. After some reluctance, he agrees.
As a reward for his help he is given the gift of faith.
How Jesus rewards those who freely help the suffering! In every poor, suffering
man, like the hundreds we meet, we meet our Saviour bearing his cross. A friendly
glance, an encouraging word is a great help to a sufferer. What have I done for
Jesus? What will I do for him? Is there no one I can comfort, help?
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Veronica performs for Jesus a service of love. In return she receives the imprint
of his face. Jesus is generous. Whenever we give him something, he bestows a hundred
fold in return. Even in his bitter suffering, he is grateful for a little act of
kindness.
Lord, here you show me something very necessary: genuine gratitude. Give me a sensitive
heart to appreciate that everything ultimately comes from you and is a blessing
for me from you. I will also be grateful to all those who do good to me by bringing
your gifts to me. Help me to recognize you in them.
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The cross grows heavier, Jesus more weary and weak. Now he stumbles again to the
ground. Completely alone, he must rise again under the curses and blows of the soldiers.
Jesus is atoning for the sins which I repeatedly commit, for my recurring sins and
faults.
Lord, I kneel near you in sorrow for my unfaithfulness. The stones which are reddened
by your blood cry out loudly against the great malice of sin. I understand. To sin
is to beat and buffet you. Have mercy on me, a sinner! Help me to root out my deep
seated recurring fault.
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The Good women are touched by the pitiable sight of the Saviour. What was the site
that met their eyes?
Jesus, Saviour, on your way of the cross you demand more of us than mere compassion
and sentiment which quickly pass away. Let me not be weak in spirit and discouraged
when the enthusiasm of emotion fails. Precisely in this moment I will serve you
faithfully in deeds and in the fulfillment of my obligations.
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Divine Saviour, a third time you fall beneath the cross. Many resolutions have I
made; I have kept but few. Today I will start again with fresh determination.
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Now the preparation for the crucifixion is under way. Jesus witnessed it all. They
stripped him of his clothes. His flesh tore. It hurt fiercely.
Jesus, in memory of your painful stripping, helps me to preserve my soul from sensuality.
I will with your grace avoid all softness and craving for comfort. I will make myself
give up something that my body likes and finds pleasant. I will be austere with
myself. Help me to fullfil this promise.
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Now comes the dreadful moment; the executioners nail him to the cross. His pain
is beyond imagination. And he sees his enemies around him enjoying his disgrace
and distress. 'He saved others! Let him save himself.' How bitter were these humiliations
and taunts! How crushing his sense of failure and his abandonment by his friends!
Jesus, I kneel and adore you as they raise up your cross. 'Hail Cross'. Your cross
is your standard. I begin to understand what your cross means; it means humiliation,
pain, dispossession. You have not even a peaceful place to die in! I will follow
your standard. I will proclaim by my life the value you have set on proverty, humiliations
and a hard life for the sake of your kingdom.
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Obedient to death, even to the death of the cross! Jesus, through the disobedience
of Adam came Sin; through your obedience, Redemption.
On my knees at the foot of your cross, I beg for the grace to understand the value
of obedience for a priest, for a religious, for a committed christian, that it is
obedience which saves souls and redeems the world.
Give me the spirit of joyful obedience. When it is difficult to bend my will, I
will look up at your holy cross and recall your filial obedience to your Heavenly
Father. I will obey your Church, my bishop, my superiors. I will be their consolation
through my cheerful and prompt obedience. I will obey your voice speaking to me
in the realities of my situation.
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Dear Mother, there was deep suffering in your heart when you held the body of Jesus
in your arms. But amidst that suffering you said within your heart; 'Behold the
handmaid of the Lord, be it done to me according to your word'!
Let me look at you and learn from you to say yes to God, not to be impatient when
suffering comes to me. Let my sentiments be like yours; 'Be it done to me according
to God's word'.
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The few faithful friends carry the body of Jesus to the grave. It is now quiet.
The procession is a sorrowful one, but there is a heavenly peace about it- the peace
of a task accomplished of a victory won.
Lord, your suffering is over; you triumphed, though in men's eyes you seem to have
failed. Sin, death, and hell have been conquered. The world is yours. I am yours.
Be king of my heart. I surrender myself to your Will. Your kingdom come.
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The mysteries, 0 Lord, proclaim to me that those who follow you in hardship and
suffering will be crowned like you with success and glory. Contemplating your triumph
I feel encouraged to follow you more faithfully. This I now resolve to do. Help
me.