Fifth Station - Simon of Cyrene Helps Jesus to Carry His Cross
As always.... I like to take a few minutes to contemplate on each word of the station
Simon - helper, drawn in, passer by, servant of God
Of - from
Cyrene - home, country, origin
Helps - aids, assists, tends to, teams with
Jesus - weak, injured, Lord, Friend, Sacrificial
Carry - Burden, Bring, Hold, Host
His - possessive, belongs
Cross - Torture, remembrance, Love
Pr.: We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You. (GENUFLECT)
All: Because by your holy Cross You have redeemed the world.
Pr.: And when they had mocked Jesus, they took the purple cloak off and put his own clothes on him, and they led him out to be crucified. Then they forced a certain passer-by, Simon of Cyrene, coming from the country, to take up his cross. They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha, a name meaning 'the place of the skull'. (Mk. 15, 20 to 22)
(KNEEL AND PAUSE) All: With a loud voice I cry out to the Lord; / with a loud voice I beseech the Lord. / My complaint I pour out before him; before him I lay bare my distress. / When my spirit is faint within me, you know my path. / In the way along which I walk they have hid a trap for me. / I look to the right to see, but there is no one who pays me heed. / I have lost all means of escape; / there is no one who cares for my life. (Ps. 141, 2 to 5)
I cannot count the times I have cried out to the Lord. Laying bare all my distress, I run to the Tabernacle, fall to my knees, and..... pray for my little problems. I am selfish! What I love about Lent is the reminder of how very small I am. My problems are minor compared to what Jesus went through for my sin. I am so sorry for offending You for my sins, Lord. I Love You with my whole heart and know that You unconditionally care for me. You will always be by my side.
Pr.: Let us pray. Lord Jesus Christ, help us to see in the sufferings and shortcomings of our lives a share in Your Cross; strengthen and console us in the belief that we bear all things in union with You, who have taken upon Yourself even our guilt. All: Amen
Retrieved from:
Celestine J. Damiano, D.D
Archbishop-Bishop of Camden
October 15, 1965
