Good Friday prayer for special graces
First station: the agony of Jesus in the garden
We adore you, O Christ and we bless you because with your holy Cross you have redeemed the world.
"They came to a farm called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples," Sit here while I pray. " He took Pietro, Giacomo and Giovanni with him and began to feel fear and anguish. Jesus said to them: “My soul is sad to the death. Stay here and watch "" (Mk 14, 32-34).
I can't see you or think of you in agony Jesus in the garden. I see you suffocated by sadness. A sadness that is not distrust, but real suffering because of the hardness of the heart of men who, yesterday and today, do not know or do not want to accept all your law of holiness and love. Thank you, Jesus, for your love for us. Our Father, Ave Maria, Gloria.
Second station: Jesus betrayed by Judas
We adore you, O Christ and we bless you because with your holy Cross you have redeemed the world.
«While still speaking, Judas arrived, one of the Twelve, and with him a crowd with swords and sticks sent by the high priests, the scribes and the elders. Those who betrayed him had given them this sign: "What I am going to kiss is him, arrest him and take him away under good escort" "(Mk 14, 43-44).
When betrayal comes from an enemy it can be tolerated. When, however, comes from a friend is very serious. Unforgivable. Judah was a person you trusted. It is a painful and terrifying story. An absurd story. Every sin story is always an absurd story. You cannot betray God for worthless things.
Save us, Jesus, from our impiety. Our Father, Ave Maria, Gloria.
Third station: Jesus is condemned by the Sanhedrin
We adore you, O Christ and we bless you because with your holy Cross you have redeemed the world.
«The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for a testimony against Jesus to put him to death, but they did not find it. In fact many witnessed the forgery of him and so their testimonies did not agree "(Mk 14, 55-56).
It is the condemnation of religious hypocrisy. It should make you think a lot. The religious leaders of the chosen people condemn Jesus on the basis of false testimony. It is true what is written in the Gospel of John: "He came among his people but his own did not welcome him". The whole world is its people. There are many who do not welcome it. Forgive, Jesus, our unfaithfulness. Our Father, Ave Maria, Gloria.
Fourth station: Jesus is denied by Peter
We adore you, O Christ and we bless you because with your holy Cross you have redeemed the world.
«While Peter was down in the courtyard, a servant of the high priest came and, seeing Peter warming up, he stared at him and said:" You too were with the Nazarene, with Jesus ". But he denied ... and began to swear and shout: "I don't know that man" "(Mk 14, 66 ff.).
Even Peter, the strong disciple, falls into sin and, out of cowardice, denies Jesus. Poor and unhappy apostle! Yet he had promised that he would lay down his life for his Master.
Poor Peter, but dear Jesus, abandoned, betrayed, disowned by those who should have loved you most of all.
Are we also among those who deny you? Help, Jesus, our weakness.
Our Father, Ave Maria, Gloria.
Fifth station: Jesus is judged by Pilate
We adore you, O Christ and we bless you because with your holy Cross you have redeemed the world.
«But Pilate said to them:" What harm has he done? ". Then they shouted louder: "Crucify him!" And Pilate, wanting to satisfy the multitude, released Barabbas to them and, after having scourged Jesus, handed him over to be crucified "(Mk 15, 14-15).
We don't care about Pilate. It saddens us that there are many who judge Jesus and do not recognize his true greatness.
Friends, representatives of the political order and religious leaders acted against Jesus. All Jesus condemned you for no reason. What do you want us to do to repair these faults that are still being carried out all over the world today? Our Father, Ave Maria, Gloria.
Sixth station: Jesus is scourged and crowned with thorns
We adore you, O Christ and we bless you because with your holy Cross you have redeemed the world.
'The soldiers led him into the courtyard, that is, into the Praetorium, and summoned the whole cohort. They covered him in purple and, after having woven a crown of thorns, put it on his head. Then they began to greet him: "Hail, king of the Jews!" »(Mk 15, 16-18).
We are faced with a pressing of incomprehensible crimes. He who had not sinned is counted among the evildoers. The righteous one is condemned. He who had lived doing good to all is scourged and crowned with thorns.
Ingratitude is associated with cruelty.
Have mercy, Lord, on our inhumanity towards you who are Love. Our Father, Ave Maria, Gloria.
Seventh station: Jesus is loaded with the cross
We adore you, O Christ and we bless you because with your holy Cross you have redeemed the world.
"After mocking him, they stripped him of the purple and put his clothes back on him, then led him out to crucify him" (Mk 15:20).
Hypocrisy, cowardice and injustice met. They took on the face of brutality. Hearts have changed their function and from being a source of love, they have become a training ground for cruelty. You, for your part, did not answer. You embraced your cross, for everyone. How many times, Jesus, have I made my cross fall upon you and I have not wanted to see it as the fruit of your love. Our Father, Ave Maria, Gloria.
Eighth station: Jesus is helped by Cyreneus
We adore you, O Christ and we bless you because with your holy Cross you have redeemed the world.
«Then they forced a man who passed by, a certain Simon of Cyrene who came from the countryside, father of Alexander and Rufus, to carry the cross. So they brought Jesus to the place of Golgotha, which means place of the skull "(Mk 15, 21-22).
We do not want to think that the meeting with Cyrene was an occasional event. That Cyreneus was chosen by God to carry the cross of Jesus We all need a Cyreneus to help us live. But we have only one Cyreneus, rich, powerful, merciful, merciful and his name is Jesus. His cross will be the only source of salvation for us.
In you, Jesus, we all place our hopes. Our Father, Ave Maria, Gloria.
Ninth station: Jesus and the women of Jerusalem
We adore you, O Christ and we bless you because with your holy Cross you have redeemed the world.
"A large crowd of people and women followed him, beating their breasts and making complaints about him. But Jesus, turning to the women, said: "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep over me, but weep over yourselves and your children" "(Lk 23, 27-28).
The meeting with the women of Jerusalem was like a pause for goodness on the painful journey. They wept for love. Jesus urged them to cry for their children. He urged them to be authentically mothers, capable of educating their children in goodness and love. Only if you grow in love can you be an authentic Christian.
Teach us, Jesus, to know how to love as you love. Our Father, Ave Maria, Gloria.
Tenth station: Jesus is crucified
We adore you, O Christ and we bless you because with your holy Cross you have redeemed the world.
«When they reached the place called Cranio, there they crucified him and the two criminals, one on the right and the other on the left. Jesus said: "Father, forgive them, because they do not know what they are doing%" (Lk 23, 33). «It was nine in the morning when they crucified him. And the inscription with the reason for the sentence said: "The king of the Jews" "(Mk 15, 25-26).
Jesus is crucified, but not defeated. The cross is a throne of glory and a victory trophy. From the cross he sees Satan defeated and men with a radiant face. He has washed, saved, redeemed all men. From the cross his arms extend to the ends of the universe. The whole world is redeemed, all men are purified from his blood and, wearing new clothes, they can enter the banquet hall. I want to raise to you, crucified Lord, my love song. Our Father, Ave Maria, Gloria.
Eleventh station: Jesus promises the kingdom to the good thief
We adore you, O Christ and we bless you because with your holy Cross you have redeemed the world.
«One of the evildoers hanging on the cross insulted him:“ Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us too! " But the other reproached him: “Are you not afraid of God and damned to the same punishment? We rightly because we receive the right for our actions, but he did nothing wrong. " And he added: "Jesus remember me when you enter your kingdom" "(Lk 23, 39-42).
You are different from all the others, Jesus. You are the Truth, the Way and the Life. Who puts his faith in you, who invokes your name, who places himself at your school, who imitates your example, enters with you into the fullness of Life.
Yes, in Paradise, we will all be like you, splendor of the glory of the Father.
Lead all, Jesus, to your homeland of light, goodness and mercy. Teach us to love you. Our Father, Ave Maria, Gloria.
Twelfth station: Jesus on the cross: the Mother and the disciple
We adore you, O Christ and we bless you because with your holy Cross you have redeemed the world.
«Jesus, seeing the mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, said to the mother:" Woman, here is your son! ". Then he said to the disciple, 'Here is your mother!' And from that moment the disciple took her into his home "(Jn 19: 26-27).
The encounter of Jesus with the Mother and the disciple John is like the enchantment of love without limits. There is the Mother, the always holy Virgin, there is the Son, sacrifice of the new covenant, there is the new man, a disciple of Jesus. The new era begins in the communion of total submission to the will of God.
Jesus you gave us as Mother Mary, your Mother, make us like you, children of Love.
Our Father, Ave Maria, Gloria.
Thirteenth station: Jesus dies on the cross
We adore you, O Christ and we bless you because with your holy Cross you have redeemed the world.
«When it was noon, it got dark all over the earth, until three in the afternoon. At three o'clock Jesus shouted in a loud voice: Eloì, Eloì lemà sabactàni ?, which means, my God, my God, why did you abandon me ... (then) Jesus, giving a loud cry, expired "(Mk 15:33 ss.).
For all, death is a painful reality. For Jesus, death is a real drama. The drama of humanity that did not want to accept it and the drama prepared by the Father for the living sacrifice, pure and holy, to be fulfilled. That death must instill feelings of true communion. We too become a pure, holy host, pleasing to God.
Allow, Jesus, that we can embrace you and always be with you in the preciousness of your sacrifice. Our Father, Ave Maria, Gloria.
Fourteenth station; Jesus placed in the sepulcher
We adore you, O Christ and we bless you because with your holy Cross you have redeemed the world.
«Giuseppe d'Arimatea bought a sheet, lowered it down from the cross and, wrapped it in the sheet, placed it in a sepulcher dug in the rock. Then he rolled a boulder against the entrance to the sepulcher "(Mk 15, 43 ff.).
The sepulcher where Jesus was deposited no longer exists. Today there is another sepulcher and it is the tabernacle where in all parts of the world Jesus is kept under the Eucharistic species. And there is today another sepulcher, and it is we, the living tabernacle, where Jesus wants to be present. We must transform our mind, our heart, our will to be a worthy tabernacle of Jesus.
Lord, may I always be the tabernacle of love for you. Our Father, Ave Maria, Gloria.
Conclusion
We have relived the path of the cross already traveled by Jesus. We have participated in his path of love for the glory of the Father and for the salvation of humanity.
We shared the sufferings of Jesus caused by the sin of men and we admired the nuances of his great love. We must imprint in our hearts all the fourteen stages lived in order to be always on the road with Jesus, a priest who is always alive, a love that always consoles, comforts, gives strength to our life.
We must be the living tabernacle of the One who always remains for us a pure, holy, immaculate host, a victim pleasing to the Father. Our Father, Ave Maria, Gloria.
Jesus promises: I will give everything that is asked of me in faith during the Via Crucis