THIRTEENTH STATION
JESUS IS TAKEN DOWN
FROM THE CROSS

LEADER: We adore you, O Christ,
and we praise you.

ALL: Because by your holy cross
you have redeemed the world.

LOOKING AT JESUS

They take out the nails and then they take Jesus down from the cross. Mary holds him. She is not a statue made of marble or stone. She is flesh and tears and sorrow. She holds her dead son, Jesus, the blessed fruit of her womb. The sword of sorrow twists once again in her heart.

Thank God she is not alone. First of all, there are the women friends of Jesus, the women who have been faithful up to the end. Then there is Nicodemus, the man who came to Jesus in the night. He is there in this night of sorrow. Next there is Joseph of Arimathea. He went to Pilate and arranged for Jesus’ burial. Lastly, there is John, another close friend of Jesus. He is the one Jesus asked to take care of his mother after his death. They all stand there trying to help one another in this place of horror - the place of the skull: Calvary.

13th STATION PRAYER – PRESENCE

Lord Jesus, be with us in our moments of tragedy:
when we have to deal with sickness,
when we have to deal with death,
when we have to deal with helping others in their moments of sorrow.