Yeshua International & The Old Roman Catholic Church in England

The Yeshua Worldwide Network of Churches

LENT 2011

This is a solemn period of discipline, repentance and growth and lasts approximately forty days (not including Sundays). The period commemorates Jesus’ special preparation in the wilderness at the opening of his ministry. The season begins with Ash Wednesday, so called because on this day ashes are blessed and distributed in remembrance of the Old Testament custom of casting aside expensive garments and putting on sackcloth and ashes to symbolizes atonement from sin. The fourth Sunday in Lent is often kept as Mothering Sunday. The fifth Sunday is called Passion Sunday. Next comes Palm Sunday, when Jesus entered into Jerusalem for the final week of teaching in the Temple and this week is known as Holy Week.

During Lent 2011 we will be looking at the Stations of The Cross as our Lord makes His Way to The Cross. It gives to each one of us an opportunity to re-think our own Spiritual Journey

PRAYERS ON THE WAY OF THE CROSS

Christ is still dying. He continues to offer Himself to His Father for the redemption of the world through the people who today suffer and die around us. The Way of the Cross is also the Way to Life, this is a real Christian and Christians should never forget.

Almighty Father, look with mercy on this Your Family for which our Lord Jesus Christ was content to be betrayed and given up into the hands of wicked people to suffer death upon the Cross: Who is alive and Glorified with You and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and for ever. Amen.

We Glory in Your Cross, O Lord, and Praise You for Your mighty Resurrection, for by virtue of Your Cross, Joy has come into the world.

Father, hear our prayers this day and forgive us. Unstop our ears that we may receive the Gospel of the Cross. Lighten our eyes that we may see Your Glory in the Face of Your Son. Penetrate our minds that Your Truth may make us whole. Irradiate our hearts with Your Love that we may Love one another, for Christ's sake. Father, Forgive Us.

You are worthy, O Christ, for You were slain; for by Your Blood You ransomed people for God; From every race and language, from every people and nation, to make them a Kingdom of Priests to stand to serve before our God. Amen.

WEEK ONE

1. JESUS IS CONDEMNED TO DEATH

V. We adore You, O Christ and Praise You.

R. Because by Your Holy Cross You have redeemed the world.

"All like sheep have gone astray; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all." (Isaiah 52 v 6)

Pilate passes the death sentence on Jesus even though he knows He is innocent. He washes his hands saying; "I am innocent of this righteous man's blood", and then condemns to death the judge of all mankind. (Pause)

Jesus, it was not Pilate alone, but my sins and the sins of all the people that condemned You to die. I am sorry that my sins have added to Your suffering and Your death.

So it was brethren, that when I came to you and preached Christ's message to you, I did so without any high pretensions or eloquence or philosophy.

I had no thought of bringing you any other knowledge than that of Jesus Christ, and Him Crucified. It was with disgust of myself, full of anxious fear, that I approached you; my message, depends on no persuasive language , devised by human wisdom, but rather on the proof I gave you of Spiritual Power; God's Power, not people's, was to be the foundation of your faith. (1 Corinthians 2 vv 1 - 5)

O Lord Jesus Christ, whose unjust judgement we justly condemn; save us from all malice and inheritableness in accusing our brethren, lest we do unto others we do unto You and doom afresh our Saviour and God for ever and ever, Amen.

I love You Jesus, my love above all things; I repent with my whole heart of having offended You. Never allow me to separate myself from You again. Grant that I may love You always, and then do with me what You will.

Saviour of the World, You have redeemed us by Your Passion and Cross. Save us, and help us, we humbly pray.

2. JESUS TAKES UP HIS CROSS

V. We adore You, O Christ and Praise You.

R. Because by Your Holy Cross You have redeemed the world.

"And He went out, bearing His own Cross to the place which is called Calvary". (John 15 v 7)

Jesus received the Cross upon which He was to die. He does so willingly, even gladly, because it is through the Cross that He is to redeem and save the world. (Pause)

Jesus, help us to take up our Cross and follow You. That Cross for me is ill-health, financial worries or having to suffer from the defects of others. Help us to accept our Cross and to carry it with You. Help us so that our feet may be surely be set on the road to Salvation.

If anyone has a mind to come My Way, let him renounce self, take up his Cross daily, and follow Me. He who tries to save his life will lose it, it is the man who loses his life for My sake, he will save it. (Luke 9 vv 23 & 24).

Blessed Lord, for our sake, You were content to bear the Cross of sorrow, want and death; fill us with Your Spirit of self-sacrifice and love, that we may complete Your suffering by sharing the burdens of all who need our help and care.

Saviour of the World, You have redeemed us by Your Passion and Cross. Save us, and help us, we humbly pray.

WEEK TWO

3. JESUS FALLS THE FIRST TIME

V. We adore You, O Christ and Praise You.

R. Because by Your Holy Cross You have redeemed the world.

"Surely He has borne our grief's and carried our sorrows, yet we esteemed His stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted". (Isaiah 53 v 4)

Our Lord is not just weak on the way to Calvary. He is in fact a dying man. He has been beaten almost to death and crowned with thorns. He now falls the first time under the weight of His heavy Cross. (Pause)

Jesus, it is not the weight of the Cross alone but our sins which caused You to fall. Help us to try never to fall into serious sin but to watch and pray so that we may be delivered from the power of the evil one.

Jesus said to them, Simon and Simons Brother Andrew, come and follow me; and I will make you into fishers of men. And they left their nets immediately, and followed Him. (Mark 1 vv 17 & 18)

But Jesus said to them James and John, have you the strength to drink the cup I am to drink of, to be baptised with the Baptism I am to be Baptised with ? They said we have. (Mark 10 vv 38 & 39)

You know Lord, how often we have walked the tightrope between truth and goodwill, between one another, between one view and another, between one person and another; let us ever keep our eyes on Your Truth, and so walk without stumbling; when we slip, support us with Your Love. Through Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour.

Saviour of the World, You have redeemed us by Your Passion and Cross. Save us, and help us, we humbly pray.

4. JESUS MEETS HIS MOTHER

V. We adore You, O Christ and Praise You.

R. Because by Your Holy Cross You have redeemed the world.

"Behold this child is set for the fall and rising of many in Israel and for a sign that is spoken against, that the thoughts out of many hearts may be revealed." (Luke 2 vv 34 - 35)

Here is the saddest meeting ever to take place. Because Mary loves her Son so much, her suffering is all the greater. The Prophecy of Simeon is fulfilled; "and a sword will pierce through your own heart also". (Luke 2 v 35)

Mary, my Mother, it was prophesied that Jesus was to be a sign that would be rejected. If I have ever rejected Him in any way I now confess my sorrow. Grant me grace to repent of my sins, and to be truly reconciled to the love of Your Son. (Pause)

Lord, we pity Your poor Mother. She follows, She follows You. She follows mankind on its way of the Cross. She walks in the crowd, unknown, but she doesn't take her eyes from You. Every gesture of Yours. Every sigh, every blow, every wound enters her heart. She knows Your sufferings, she suffers Your suffering, and yet without coming near to You, without touching You, without speaking to You, Lord, with You she saves the world.

Lord Christ, in whose Passion was fulfilled in the Prophecy of Simeon to Mary, give us her courage.

Saviour of the World, You have redeemed us by Your Passion and Cross. Save us, and help us, we humbly pray.

WEEK THREE

5. SIMON OF CYRENE HELPS JESUS TO CARRY HIS CROSS

V. We adore You, O Christ and Praise You.

R. Because by Your Holy Cross You have redeemed the world.

"They came upon a man of Cyrene, Simon by name, this man they compelled to carry His Cross". (Matthew 28 v 32)

Our Lord's executioners, afraid that He may die on the way to the Cross. Force Simon of Cyrene to Help Jesus to carry His Cross. (Pause)

Jesus, Your Apostle Paul has said "bear one another's burdens, and so fulfil the Law of Christ". (Galatians 6 v 2) Grant that we may always try to bear the faults of others. May we do all in our power to ease the burden of those who carry the Cross after You. Let Your sharing in their burdens be the fulfilling of Your Law.

He passed by on the road; they pressed Simon into service, the first to come along, a stranger. Lord, You accepted his help. You did not want the help of a friend, the solace of a gesture of love, the generous impulse of one who cared.

Heavenly Father, Your Love embraces all nations on earth; free us from racial prejudice and the denial of human dignity; and by the Cross which Simon carried, draw together in one true fellowship people of all races, languages and customs, that justice mercy and peace may be established everywhere; thorough Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour.

Saviour of the World, You have redeemed us by Your Passion and Cross. Save us, and help us, we humbly pray.

6. VERONICA WIPES THE FACE OF CHRIST

V. We adore You, O Christ and Praise You.

R. Because by Your Holy Cross You have redeemed the world.

"By this all people will know that you are My Disciples, if you have love one for another". (John 13 v 35)

The woman names Veronica takes pity on our Lord, seeing His sufferings and His face covered with blood and dust. She wipes that sacred face with a towel and an imprint of His countenance is left upon it. (Pause)

Jesus, help us to love and serve You in loving and serving the poor, the hungry, the sick, the destitute and the distressed. Let us remember Your words: as you did it for one of the least of these My brethren, you did it for Me. (Matthew 25 v 40)

We carry about continually in our bodies the dying state of Jesus, so that the living power of Jesus may be magnified in our bodies too. (2 Corinthians 4 v 10)

At present we are looking at a confused reflection in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. (1 Corinthians 13 v 12)

O Lord Jesus Christ, whose Cross has painted bright Your Love; imprint on our hearts the Love which You have Loved us, that we may display Your likeness along our paths, unto all for whom You have died; for You are alive and reign in the Glory of the Eternal Trinity, one God, now and for ever.

Saviour of the World, You have redeemed us by Your Passion and Cross. Save us, and help us, we humbly pray.

WEEK FOUR

7. JESUS FALLS THE SECOND TIME

V. We adore You, O Christ and Praise You.

R. Because by Your Holy Cross You have redeemed the world.

"All you who pass by the way, look and see if there is any sorrow in My Sorrow" (Lamentations 1 v 12)

Jesus weaker now, and even though He tries to stagger along, His strength fails Him and He falls to the ground a second time (Pause)

Jesus, if we should fall beneath the Cross of suffering or of sorrow, give us the courage to rise again and to follow bravely after You.

The all grow drowsy and fell asleep (Matthew 25 v 5). Only look well to yourselves; do not let your hearts grow dull, keep watch then, praying at all times, so that you may be found worthy to come safe through all that lies before you, and stand erect to meet the presence of the Son of Man. (Luke 21 vv 34 - 36)

Lord, You are spent, again You have fallen to the ground. This time, You fall not only from the weight of the Cross, but from exhaustion.

Almighty God, who gave Your only Son to die for the sins of the world; have mercy on all who are tempted and on all who through weakness or wilfulness fall into sin; reveal to them Your gracious Love, that turning to You for help they may be led into fellowship with You and obedience to Your will; through Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour.

Saviour of the World, You have redeemed us by Your Passion and Cross. Save us, and help us, we humbly pray.

8. THE WOMEN OF JERUSALEM WEEP FOR OUR LORD

V. We adore You, O Christ and Praise You.

R. Because by Your Holy Cross You have redeemed the world.

"If they do this when the wood is green, what will they do when it is dry" (Luke 23 v 31)

Some women of Jerusalem, committed to helping those condemned to death, weep openly, when they see Jesus. But He says to them, "do not weep for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children." (Luke 23 v 31) In these words Jesus foretells the destruction of the city that is about to crucify Him and the cruel sufferings of His own people. (pause).

In Your sufferings, Jesus, You did not think of Yourself but of those who were to suffer on Your behalf. Help us to rid ourselves of excessive self-love and self-pity.

How is it with, can you see the speck of dust which is in your brother's eye, and are not aware of the beam which is in your own eye? By what right will you say to your brother let me rid you of the speck which is in your eye when you cannot see the beam that is in your own eye. You hypocrite, take the beam out of your own eye first, and so have clear sight to rid your brother's speck. (Luke 6 vv 41 - 42)

Lord God, as we Your Sons and Daughters look upon the saviour for our sake ready to die on our behalf, may we mourn not for Him, whose pains were our glory, but for ourselves, whose shame are His wounds; and repent unto You, who with the same Your Son and Holy Spirit are one God Holy and pitiful for ever and ever, Amen.

Saviour of the World, You have redeemed us by Your Passion and Cross. Save us, and help us, we humbly pray.

WEEK FIVE

9. JESUS FALLS THE THIRD TIME

V. We adore You, O Christ and Praise You.

R. Because by Your Holy Cross You have redeemed the world.

"HE WHO HUMBLES HIMSELF WILL BE EXALTED" (LUKE 18 V 14)

Now growing weaker at every step, Jesus falls the third time. But He struggles to get up again, because He wants to offer Himself to the Father upon the Alter of the Cross. (Pause)

Saviour of the World, You have redeemed us by Your Passion and Cross. Save us, and help us, we humbly pray.

Jesus, if I should fall into serious sin, grant that I may not remain in that miserable state. May I be like You, rise to my feet and return to be reconciled to Your loving forgiveness.

Jesus said to him (Peter), believe Me, this night, before the cock crows three times you will disown Me. (Matthew 26 v 34)

Peter was deeply moved when He asked a third time, do you love Me? And said to Him, Lord You know all things; You can tell that I love You. (John 21 v 17)

Again, Lord, You do not move, for all the soldiers beatings, Lord, are You dead? No, but utterly spent. A minute of terrible anxiety. But You begin again, just as You are, Lord, and walk on. One step and then another, Lord, You have fallen again, a third time, but this time close to Calvary.

God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who in perfect love for man choose the way of rejection and death; remember all who must live in exile or a strange land, all who are cut off from their fellow man; support them in their loneliness and need, grant them the vision of a new beginning and the courage to take it, and, through the warmth of human friendship, strengthen their faith in Your love and care; through Christ our Lord and Saviour.

Saviour of the World, You have redeemed us by Your Passion and Cross. Save us, and help us, we humbly pray.

10. JESUS IS STRIPPED OF HIS CLOTHES

V. We adore You, O Christ and Praise You.

R. Because by Your Holy Cross You have redeemed the world.

"They divided My garments among them, and for my raiment they cast lots" (Psalm 21 v 18)

To add to the shame of His Crucifixion, Our Lord's executioners strip Him of His clothes. He who was transfigured in glory is now humbled and become obedient unto death; even to the death of the Cross. (Pause)

Jesus, fill us with a Spirit of true Christian shame and modesty. Grant that we who are made in Your image and likeness and whose Body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, may always have respect and reverence for our own bodies and the bodies of others.

The time has come for the Son of Man to achieve His glory. Believe me when I tell You this; a grain of wheat must fall to the ground and die, or else it remains nothing more than a grain of wheat; but if it dies, then it yields rich fruit. (John 12 vv 23 - 24)

You have nothing left but Your cloak; You were very fond of it, Your Mother had woven it for You. But this too had to go. One thing only is necessary, Lord, Your Cross. You are going to be united forever, and together You will save the world.

O Lord and Saviour, stripped naked upon Your Cross, yet robbed eternally in Holiness and Light; take from us the rags both of our sins and our imagined righteousness, and clothe us with the Mantle of Your Praise in Sion; where You are alive and reign in the Glory of the Father and the Holy Spirit, ever one God, world without end.

Saviour of the World, You have redeemed us by Your Passion and Cross. Save us, and help us, we humbly pray.

WEEK SIX

11. JESUS IS NAILED TO THE CROSS

V. We adore You, O Christ and Praise You.

R. Because by Your Holy Cross You have redeemed the world.

"Like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like sheep that before the shearers is dumb, He opened not His mouth". (Isaiah 53 v 7)

Jesus is stretched on the Cross and big nails are driven through His hands and feet. All the main nerves in His body are set on fire with the fiercest pain. The Lamb of God is now prepared for the Sacrifice. (Pause)

Jesus, because You were like us in all things but sin. Your body was sensitive to the slightest pain. When we have to suffer physical pain, help us to bear it by remembering Your being nailed to the Cross.

"With Christ I hand upon the Cross, and yet I am alive; or rather not I; it is Christ that lives in me. True, I am living, here and now, this mortal life; but my real life is the faith in the Son of God, who loves me; and gave Himself for me". (Galatians vv 19 & 20)

Lord, You stretch at full length upon the Cross. There's no doubt it is made for You. You cover it entirely, and adhere to it more surely, You allow men to nail You carefully to it. Lord, it was work well done, conscientiously done. Now You fit Your Cross exactly, as the mechanic's carefully filled parts for the engineer's blueprint. There had to be precision.

O Lord, our Saviour, of whom nails could not hold to the Cross, but only Love, grant that we, who have received the fullness of Your Love, may be ready to bear before the world the marks of Your Passion; for You are alive and reign with the Father, and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end.

Saviour of the World, You have redeemed us by Your Passion and Cross. Save us, and help us, we humbly pray.

12. JESUS DIES ON THE CROSS

V. We adore You, O Christ and Praise You.

R. Because by Your Holy Cross You have redeemed the world.

"My God, My God, why have You forsaken me ?" (Matthew 27 v 46)

Darkness descends on the hill of Calvary. For three hours Jesus hangs on the Cross in the most terrible pain. He prays for His enemies, forgives the repentant thief and when the end comes He cries out in a loud voice; "Father, into Thy Hands I commit My Spirit". (Kneel - Pause)

Jesus, death has not been abolished in the world, but You by Your death have transformed it. May Your death be for us and for all people, the gateway to eternal life. When our life on earth is ended, may we die in Your Love. Grant that You may receive our souls into Your Hands.

He disposed Himself, and took the nature of a slave, fashioned in the likeness of men, and presented Himself in human form, and then He lowered His own dignity, accepting obedience which brought Him to death, death on a Cross. (Philippians 2 vv 7 & 8)

We too must be ready to lay down our lives for the sake of our brothers and sisters. (1 John 2 v 16)

Blessed be Your Name, O Jesus, Son of the Most High God: blessed be the sorrow You suffered when Your Holy Hands and Feet were nailed to the tree; and blessed be Your Love when the fullness of pain accomplished, You gave Your Soul into the Hands of the Father; so by Your Cross and precious blood redeeming the world, all longing souls departed.

Saviour of the World, You have redeemed us by Your Passion and Cross. Save us, and help us, we humbly pray.

13. JESUS IS TAKEN DOWN FROM THE CROSS

V. We adore You, O Christ and Praise You.

R. Because by Your Holy Cross You have redeemed the world.

"He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; upon Him was the chastisement that made us whole". (Isaiah 53 v 5)

The dead body of Jesus is taken down from the Cross and placed in the arms of His Mother Mary. She, who placed that body in the manger at Bethlehem, now sees what the sins of men and women have inflicted upon it. (Pause)

Mary, Mother of Jesus, You suffered with Your Son in the work of our redemption. May that redemption bear fruit in our lives. May we, like the wheat grain that falls to the ground and dies, yield a harvest rich in works of faith and love.

And His Mother said to Him, My Son, why have you treated us so? Think what anguish of mind Your Father and I have endured, searching for You. But He asked them, what reason had You to search for Me? Could You not tell that I must be about my Fathers business (Luke 2 vv 48 & 49)

Your work is done, You can leave Your Cross. You can come down to rest, You have surely earned it.

Lord, as Your loyal mourners lifted Your torn body from the tree, and gently swathed it for repose: so let us faithfully go forth to bind up the wounded spirit and slave the broken life; in Your Dear Names, and to Your sole praise; for You reign in the Glory of the eternal Trinity. World without end.

Saviour of the World, You have redeemed us by Your Passion and Cross. Save us, and help us, we humbly pray.

WEEK SEVEN

14. JESUS IS PLACED IN THE TOMB

V. We adore You, O Christ and Praise You.

R. Because by Your Holy Cross You have redeemed the world.

"Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up" (John 2 v 19.

The body of Jesus, wrapped in a clean linen cloth with the spices of burial is laid to rest. He the Lord of Life is placed in the tomb of death. (Pause)

Jesus, You suffered and died, but You rose again on the third day, You said "I am the Resurrection and the Life". Grant that we, having shared in Your sufferings and death, may be worthy to share in the joy and the Glory of Your Resurrection. May we, having lost our lives for Your sake in this world, truly find it in eternity. "Dying You destroyed death, rising You restored our Life".

In this mortal frame of mine, I help to pay off the debt which the afflictions of Christ still leave to be paid, for the sake of His Body, the Church. (Colossians 1 v 5)

The sufferings of Christ, it is true, overflow into our lives; but there is overflow comfort, to, which Christ brings to us. (2 Corinthians 1 v 5)

Let us forget it now, and all go home. He is buried and the stone is in place. His family is in tears, His friends are lost. This time it is really over. Lord it is not over. "You are in agony till the end of time"; "We know men tread the Way of the Cross in relays", The Resurrection will only be complete when the have reached the end of the Way.

Welcome Lord, into Your calm and peaceful kingdom, those who out of this present life, have departed to be with You; grant them rest and a place with the Spirits of the just; and give them the life that knows not age, the reward that passes not away; through Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour.

Saviour of the World, You have redeemed us by Your Passion and Cross. Save us, and help us, we humbly pray.

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