THE ELEVENTH STATION
Jesus Is Nailed To The Cross
We adore Thee O Christ and we bless Thee
Because by Thy Holy Cross Thou hast redeemed the world.
Jesus is mercilessly nailed to the Cross. How could we fail to remember what king David prophesied about this moment when he chanted these words: “Yea, dogs are round about me; a company of evildoers encircle me; they have pierced my hands and feet—I can count all my bones—they stare and gloat over me…” (Psalm 22:16-17) We are mindful that Jesus chose to do this. He chose to have his healing hands ripped open by nails. He chose to have those feet that brought good news to the poor and liberty to captives torn open by the nails of the wicked. He chose this out of love for you and I. As Jesus said in the gospel of St. John, “No one takes it [my life] from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again…” (John 10:18) He chose it for love.
Jesus, victim of love, how my heart breaks at seeing thy hands and feet pierced for love of me. I long to take thy hands and kiss them over and over as a way of making reparation for this injustice. I long, oh crucified Lord, to take thy wounded feet and cover them with devout kisses to return the love thou hast shown me in laying down thy life for love of a sinner like me. Jesus, allow me to hide myself in thy precious wounds, there to be covered in thy blood, which washes away my sin and causes the demons to flee. Let me never forget, oh master, that I too am called to lay down my own life by embracing the suffering that comes my way. United with thy passion my sufferings will bring grace upon grace upon the world.
Oh Mother of all your children scarred by sin, help us to climb up upon the Cross of your son so that we may be cleansed by his wounds as they pour forth his precious blood. Encourage us, dear mother to stay on the Cross and never leave our Jesus. Help us to know and understand that it is in being pressed to Jesus on the Cross that we are healed and set free from the deep wounds of sin. Obtain for us this grace: to never abandon Jesus no matter the cost.
Holy Mother! pierce me through,
in my heart each wound renew
of my Savior crucified:
