By Susan Brinkmann
CS&T Correspondent
Praying the Stations of the Cross can be much more than just a routine
Lenten exercise.
Father Robert de Grandis, S.S.J., shows in his booklet, “Inner Healing
through Meditations on the Stations of the Cross,” that each station
can become a powerful and personal healing experience.
The following excerpts from his meditations can help us to let go of deep-seated
anger, resentment, jealousy, hatred, pride and unforgiveness, and to do
so through the death of Jesus on the Cross.
Jesus is condemned to death
Think of all the times you were unjustly judged or condemned. Think of
the people who did this and how you felt at the time. Picture Jesus standing
before you in a blood-stained robe, His eyes filled with pain and love.
Meditation
“Picture before you the person out of your past who has condemned
you, labeled you, misjudged you, deeply hurt you. Jesus takes your hand
and puts it into the hand of the condemning person. ‘For my sake,
forgive this person. Forgive even as I have forgiven.’”
Jesus bears His cross
Consider the crosses in your own life that seem so hard to bear —
the sickness in the family, financial trouble, children who are no longer
going to Church. Allow Jesus to carry the cross for you bearing upon His
shoulders the primary responsibility of your burdens.
Meditation
“As part of the burdens you wish to let Jesus carry, give him all
the pain associated with them. … Stop clinging to them. Experience
now the peace of Jesus as He provides the strength and consolation you
need.”
Jesus falls the first time
What is your weakness? Overeating, gambling, anger, sexual impulses?
Meditation
“See Jesus on the ground before you bearing the weight of the cross.
Jesus looks at you and tells you, ‘My child, accept your weakness
as part of you, as part of your very own being. I love you just as much
with them. …’ Once you are able to accept it, offer it to
the Lord and promise that every time you fall you will begin anew just
as He did on the way to Calvary.”
Jesus meets His Mother
Think of your own mother, of all the times you hurt her by disobedience
or neglect, and of all the times your mother has caused you hurt and pain.
Imagine you and your mother standing on Calvary with Jesus and Mary.”
Meditation
“Tell her you forgive her for all those times she hurt you even
if she was unaware how deeply you were hurt. Ask your mother now to forgive
you for all the times you hurt her. … Now hear Jesus say, ‘Forgive
and you will be forgiven.’”
Simon carries the cross
Was your father the kind who was always there for you, or was he never
around? Did he hurt or abandon or humiliate you?
Meditation
“As you see Jesus humiliated in this station, extend forgiveness
to your own earthly father for the three most significant hurts he inflicted
upon you. Extend your arms and ask his forgiveness now.”
Veronica wipes face of Jesus
“Think back to the person who failed to reach out to you when you
needed help or support.”
Was it a best friend, a sibling, a parent? Now remember the times when
someone has approached you and asked for help and you refused. Picture
those people in your imagination.
Meditation
“Extend forgiveness to all who have failed you. As Jesus calls us
to see Him in every person, ask forgiveness from all those people you
have refused to help.”
Jesus falls the second time
As Jesus painfully lifts Himself up, ask yourself, “how many times
have you been humiliated by your own weakness, especially when boasting
to others that this time you would make it — only to fall again?”
Meditation
“Beg pardon for the times you have refused to lift yourself and
follow Jesus after another fall. … In this station, Jesus is calling
you to commit yourself totally to Him. Surrender your weaknesses to Him
and rely on His loving arms to pull you up after each failing.”
Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem
Allowing the women of Jerusalem to represent people in the Church, reflect
upon those persons who have hurt you, or whom you have hurt, in your church
community.
Meditation
“As you picture Jesus accepting the consolation of the women of
Jerusalem, picture with them three people from your church whom you need
to forgive and three people that need your forgiveness. … Remain
with Jesus at this station and let His healing love soak completely into
all those situations and trials in your life with these church members
… Let Jesus’ love heal.”
Jesus falls the third time
After bearing our burdens for many years, we become discouraged and give
up. But now, here at this station, imagine the weight of the cross bearing
down upon Jesus exhausted body.
Meditation
“Ask Jesus for the grace never to give in again to discouragement
or despair, but instead to have the courage to get back up again after
many falls. Keeping your eyes focused on Jesus, get up and walk with Him,
remembering that Jesus never walks in front of or behind you, but beside
you always.”
Jesus is stripped
Standing with Jesus as He is stripped at the foot of the cross, reflect
on all the things you cling to in life — fame, money, reputation,
children, job, home. What is it that you can’t let go and relinquish
to the Lord?
Meditation
“Tell Him at this moment that you wish to let go and give up to
Him all you hold dear, particularly that one item or that one person that
you cherish the most. Ask Jesus for the strength to do this. … Make
an act of faith and trust in Jesus as you do let go and strip yourself
of that binding possession and give all to Jesus.”
Jesus is nailed to the cross
How many times have we felt we could not bear the pain and suffering of
an illness or injury? Consider that pain in comparison to what Jesus endured
on the cross.
Meditation
“Give your life totally to Jesus. Recommit yourself to Him. …
Renew now that commitment to become His disciple.”
Jesus dies on the cross
“What is the area of greatest need in your life at this time? Pray
especially for a greater love for your family and for yourself.”
Meditation
“As you are there on Calvary with Jesus crucified, expect Jesus
to bless you and set you free, imparting to you at this moment the abundant
life that He died to give you.”
Jesus is placed in the arms of His Mother
Be present to the depth of Mary’s grief and love.
Meditation
“If you feel your mother never loved you or if you feel there was
something missing in your relationship with her, ask Mary to supply that
maternal love to you now. Feel Mary’s love being extended to you
and allow yourself to be loved by this gentle and compassionate Mother.”
Jesus is placed in the tomb
Reflect on your own death, your fear of dying or fear of the manner of
your death.
Meditation
“As you look upon the motionless body of Jesus lying in the tomb,
ask Jesus for the grace to accept your own death and also the deaths of
your loved ones, knowing that death is the door to life.
To order books by Father de Grandis, call De/Grandis/Kittley at 281-488-6566
or visit http://www.degrandisssj.com/
Contact Susan Brinkmann at fiat723@aol.com or (215) 965-4615.