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Pilot shed innocent blood by ordering
our guiltless Lord to be scourged. We
must bow our heads as the awful deed
is recalled. In the dark recesses of the
palace dungeon, lashes are laid on His
innocent flesh. Blood spurts under the
blows of the whips. In the dungeon,
Christ offers His Flesh and Blood for the
salvation of the world. Pilot washes
his hands of the responsibility of
Christ’s Death. We cannot pretend to
be guiltless. May His Blood be upon
us, and wash us from our sins.
Jesus is condemned to die. Pilot yields
to the Jews in their demands for His
Death, the mob clamors for His Blood
and Jesus condemns Himself. He is
our Priest and Victim.
HE WILL DIE
THAT WE MAY LIVE!
Upon the shoulders of the Savior is
laid the weight of the Cross. It presses
upon Him heavily, cutting into His
scourged back. But, He embraces the
Cross with affection. He will carry it
joyously. It is the altar on which He
will make the sublime sacrifice of His
Life. He loved it as He loves all the altars
throughout the world. How light our
cross is compared with that of Christ!
Let us carry it joyously and humbly.
Along the Way of the Cross, Christ
pauses to speak to the living, console
the saints and warn sinners. What
sorrow pierces His Heart when He meets
His Mother. By each fall, He wins the
strength needed for those who are
tempted to fall into sin. He accepts the
help of Simon and turns his reluctance
into joyful acceptance.
On top of that hill of Calvary, which is
to be the first cathedral of His Sacrifice,
He will enter the bloody sanctuary to
offer the great Sacrifice of Calvary,
which is the Mass.
The road of life is often the road
of the cross. But when we walk in
company with our Savior, it is sweet.
As the moment of Sacrifice nears, let
us be devout, attentive and eager to
unite with the greatest act of all time.
Silently, we watch the events which
unfold swiftly; our Jesus is stripped in
preparation for execution. He is flung
down upon the altar of the Cross. The
nails are driven into His Flesh and the
Cross is raised aloft. With an agonizing
jolt, it is dropped into the hole. Jesus,
our Priest and Victim, hangs upon the
Cross; half way between earth and
Heaven, Christ hangs on the Cross.
Christ is present on the Altar!
His blood-soaked Body is wrapped in
the vestments of the Passion and His
Love. Christ prays for His murderers.
This prayer embraces all the world,
for each person has had a part in His
Passion. We beg from Our Savior the
robe of immortal grace and look upon
Him with faith, love and gratitude.