MARY’S WAY OF THE CROSS Richard G. Furey, C.Ss.R. ‘am the handmald ofthe Lord, et be done to me as you say. “Those words, some ofthe very few that Mary speaks in Scripture, st in motion the process of out redemption. Those words elso opened for Mary aifewhieh she could never have imagined, one which must have certainly been blest with happiness, 08 well eg great sorrow Simeon {old May atthe very beginning of her Child's fe that "a sword of sor ‘ow would pierce her heart. With site written about Mary in Ser. ture, one can only wonder about these joys and sorrows. What was it like forthe one person who was perhaps closer to Jesus than anyone fle a she dally came to understand er Son's fe? What can we lean Irom her experience ofthis process of redemption? This book attempts to enkingle within the reader a sense of both prayertul repentance and grateful edemption aa tts him or ber wal, ‘Jesus last steps with His Mother. To feel with her the "sword of ‘Sozrow,”the confusion, the feelings of helplessness, as well as her eve: Present faith, wll hopefully lead the reader to 9 personal experience of {edemption, one which may bring about conversion where i isneeded Hence, te second part ofeach station is designed to point out pec: tical wey of rooting out of one's life those areas which one has nat yet fed redemption to touch Mary stood by her Son throughout His passion and, in he faith, ‘experienced the joy of His resurection. This booklet allows the 20th tentury Christian to-do the same in hope that he or she wil, with Mary’ assistance, deepen his or her faith and allow Jesus to ise once ‘more in his or het life 48.) PUBLIC, ma way the cross Richard g-furey,cser.Foreword Is the Way of the Cross the way of every person's life? Doesat ever life have suffering falls, hurts, rejections, con: emnations, death, burl... and resurection? It'has been a Catholic tradition through the centurles to meditate on the Way ofthe Cross so that It becomes our way oie ‘Mary, the Mother of Jesus, made that fist way ofthe cross ‘These stations, clled Mary's Way of the Cross, etter to pre ‘sent that viewpoint ln this booklet we see through Mary's eyes ‘what Jesus was going through on the way to Calvary. Then we {ty to make practical applications to our lives, “This booklet and these words are not the heart ofthe matter; the heart ofthe matters to go deeper and deeper into the suf ferings of Christ, s0 that we might come out ofthis spiritual Journey with an appreciation of what Christ did for us, and 2 deeper love for him and for our brothers and sisters. “We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you, because by your holy cross you have redeemed the worl Rev. Andrew Costello, C58. R Dipicarion: To Mom and Dad, Mike, Andy, and Panky, And to Mary, most of all—thank you. © 1984 Thani fate a Saher the Babin Pvc A gh FIRST STATION Fe Jesus Is Condemned to Die {t was early Friday morning when I saw my son. That was the first glimpse | had of him since they took him away His bruised and bleeding skin sent a sword of pain deep into my heart and tears down my cheeks. Then Pilate, from his choie of judgment, asked the crowd why they wanted my son executed. All around me they shouted, ‘Coucily himt" I wanted to plead with them to stop, but I knew this had to be. So I stood by and cried silently Lord Jesus, itis hard for me to imagine the anguish your mother felt at your condemnation, But what about today, when I hold a grudge ...? "Crucity hie! "When I judge others... ? "Crueify him! Doesn't this bring tears of anguish to both you and your mother? Forgive me, Jesus,‘SECOND STATION Jesus Takes His Cross Regaining a little strength, ITwalked with the erowds to the entrance of the square. A door flew open ‘and my son stumbled out, the guards laughing behind hi ‘Two men dragged over a heavy wooden cross ‘and dropped iton his shoulders. Then they shoved him down t My pain for him was unbear wanted to take the czoss fom him and carry it myself. But I knew this had to be, 0 | walked on silently Lord Jesus beg you to forgive me for the many times have added more weight to your cross by closing my eyes to the pain and loneliness of my neighbor. Forgive me for gossiping about others and for always trying to find excuses to avoid certain people who wish to talk with me. Help me to be like Mary, always seeking to lighten the crosses of others Forgive me, Jesus.