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Etching by Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo -- 1749
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V: We adore Thee, O Christ, and bless Thee.
R: Because by Thy holy cross Thou hast redeemed the world
Jesus, bowed down under the weight and the
length of the unwieldy Cross, which trailed after Him, slowly sets forth
on His way, amid the mockeries and insults of the crowd. His agony in the
Garden itself was sufficient to exhaust Him; but it was only the first
of a multitude of sufferings. He sets off with His whole heart, but His
limbs fail Him, and He falls.
Yes, it is as I feared. Jesus, the strong
and mighty Lord, has found for the moment our sins stronger than Himself.
He falls--yet He bore the load for a while; He tottered, but He bore up
and walked onwards. What, then, made Him give way? I say, I repeat, it
is an intimation and a memory to thee, O my soul, of thy falling back into
mortal sin. I repented of the sins of my youth, and went on well for a
time; but at length a new temptation came, when I was off my guard, and
I suddenly fell away. Then all my good habits seemed to go at once; they
were like a garment which is stripped off, so quickly and utterly did grace
depart from me. And at that moment I looked at my Lord, and lo! He had
fallen down, and I covered my face with my hands, and remained in a state
of great confusion.
Our Father...
Hail Mary...
Glory Be to the Father...
V: Jesus Christ Crucified.
R: Have mercy on Us.
V: May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of
God rest in peace.
R: Amen
The Stations of the Cross, John Henry Cardinal Newman
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