Several weeks ago, I posted my daughter’s Stations of the Cross. As I’m sure you noticed, she only wrote 12! She originally intended to end her prayer-poem with the death of Jesus. But another 12-year-old asked if Siobhan could write the final two stations so he could use the whole sequence at school. So she did!
Many of you responded enthusiastically to Siobhan’s Stations, so I wanted to share the final two with you. Below are all 14 stations.
A blessed Triduum and a very happy Easter to each of you, your families, and your communities. May our Lord richly bless you in these coming days as you eat with Jesus, allow him to wash your feet, follow him to the Cross, watch him die, wait with anticipation, and encounter him Risen.
“I : CONDEMNED- JUDGE
Stand before the crowd for me
What have you to say for thee?
No sound, no word to save his name
To end his pain, to stop his fate
Although his heart is pure and clean
He is condemned to endless sleep
II : CARRY- SPECTATOR
I watch them weave a crown of thorns
Hustle, heckle taunt and scorn
I watch them load your back with weight
Bitterness crossed with twisted hate
I want to end their cruel advance
But I do not move when I have the chance
III : FALLING- SOLDIER
You stumble yet we push you down
You cry but we ignore the sound
No one helps you when you fall
No one makes a move at all
I cannot help but feel for you
But when you’re down I do not move
IV : MEETING- MOTHER
So alone you stumble forth
They do not know what you are worth
So now, now when you say to me
“Courage, woman, for this must be”
I truly know that I must believe
For by your cross we are redeemed
V : HELP- SIMON
They push and pull me toward the tree
The heavy burden meant for thee
They grow impatient tired of
Your slow progress or lack thereof
They snatch me off the streets of ill
So I help you against my will
VI : FACE- VERONICA
Alone again he struggles on
They will nail him to the tree anon
I don’t have anything to give
But I cannot yet leave him
My hands I have and my veil in place
So at least I can wash your face
VII : FALLING AGAIN- PETER
I see you fall this time on rock
I cannot bare to see them mock
I have denied you thrice today
But still I love you, still I pray
That you’ll forgive me for I was weak
As you set on humble and meek
VIII : CRY- WOMAN
As he stumbles toward us still
He is not drained of his good will
Though it’s I who should help thee
You reach out and comfort me
You’ve been abandoned by your friends
But still you love until the end
IX : FALLING STILL- PHARISEE
This time he falls and does not rise
He is so close to his demise
That I can see the wasted land
Where they will nail his feet and hands
In spite of cards that fate has dealt
Why do you not save yourself?
X : ROBBED- JOHN
They take your clothes and leave you bare
Crown of thorns still in your hair
You wear those twigs like the king you are
And despite these horrid scars
I know you’ll come again someday
So that we can then be saved
XI : NAILED- MAN
This is my job and I’ve no choice
But I have yet to hear your voice
You do not protest when we stab
Your hands and then your side they jab
I cannot help but think and pray
Are you the king as they all say?
XII : MORTEM - CHRIST
Father father why have you
Abandoned me as I go through
I trust you, I do not doubt
The things you ask to carry out
With my last breath, I want all to hear it:
Into your hands I commend my spirit
XIII : TAKEN - APOSTLE
His body hangs limp on the tree
Broken skin bleeding for me
They take him down with faith and tears
As the space around them clears
Though we left you on that cross
You promised to come back for us
XIV : BURIED - FATHER
They lay your body in the tomb
My spirit fills up the ashen room
You did not let this cup pass by
And still the world does not know why
Nails were driven through your skin
To save your beloved from their sins
”
Jesus Laid in Tomb, William Henry Machen (1832-1911)
