Jesus, you fall for the third time under the cross
This third fall is dominated by the overturned cross that is nearly hidden. It is dimly seen among the men that try to hold it. Its weight for a brief moment does not lie heavy on our Lord’s shoulders. Everyone is crowding around Jesus, whose body can be seen through the legs of the crowd that pushes,
Curious to see. Jesus’ hands are groping wildly in the dust. His face is nearly touching the stones and it seems that He wants to kiss that piece on earth, a witness to the last steps of His earthly reality.
Jesus’ body is reduced to a heap of rags. They try to lift Him up, but He is exhausted, crushed by the weight of his sufferings. The Virgin seems wrapped in her grief. Some women share her pain. Truly it is nearing the moment predicted by old Simeon, “A sword will pierce your soul”. Never had our Saviour been seen like this, the Man of pain, despised, trampled, rejected by mankind. He suffered and didn’t say a word, like a Lamb that lets itself be taken to be slaughtered.
Reflections and Prayer
From the Bible: Come, all you who pass by the way, look and see whether there is any suffering like my suffering which has been dealt on me when the Lord afflicted me on the day of his blazing wrath. From on high he sent fire down into my very frame; He spread a net for my feet, and overthrew me. He left me desolate, in pain all the day. Give heed to my groaning; there is no one to console me. AU my enemies rejoice at my misfortune; it is you who have wrought it. Bring on the day you have proclaimed, that they may be even as I. Let all their evil come before you; deal with them as you have dealt with me for all my sins; my groans are many, and I am sick at heart.
(Lam 1:12-13,21,22)
We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you.
Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
Jesus, I am breathless at this sight in front of me. I sympathize with you and your Mother, and my Mother. I would like to see more people who are willing to help you and accept you, but they are not there. You are abandoned in your pain, falling to the ground. Mary is by your side. She is near, but another meeting is not possible. You are meeting the rock and embracing it. O Jesus, Man of suffering, sacrificial lamb who has, in this way, taken away the sins of the world, and who has purified the earth which is stained with all kinds of crimes, we thank you for your innocent sacrifice, offered out of love for us.
Jesus, I pray now for all those who feel thrown to the ground by life’s circumstances, and for all those who feel crushed and destroyed by pain. I pray for those who do not know to whom to turn to anymore, for those who never meet a human face and helping hand, but only see stones, dust and mud raining down upon them. Particularly I think of those who are psychologically ill and are, therefore, rejected by their families and the hospitals. Sickness has stripped them of their identity.
I also pray for those who confide in fortunetellers or are victims of witchcraft, for those who give themselves to occult practices and magic, and who have therefore fallen under evil influence. Free them, so that they may follow the light. Help them find their way out of darkness.
Jesus, with the power of your fall, free all those whom Satan has taken under his influence and is trying to destroy in body and soul. Lamb of God, sacrificed for us, deliver us from all evil.
Message: Dear Children! Today I want to tell you that God wants to send you some trials which you can overcome with prayer. God I testing you through the trials of everyday. Pray now that you may overcome every temptation peacefully. Through every trial that God tests you with, come to Him more open, and approach Him with love. Thank you for having responded to my call!
(22 August 1985)
We thank you, O Mary, and we bless you.
Because by your sufferings you helped to redeem the world.
O Mary, thank you for consenting to be the Mother of the
Messiah, the Saviour; Mother of Him who accepted a walk so great and who endured such suffering.
O Mary, Mother of Sorrows, be near those who help others
Who are losing themselves. Help them!
Have mercy on us, 0 Lord! Have mercy on us!
O Mary, Mother of Sorrows, Intercede for us.
Mix’d with yours let my tears be, Mourning Him who mourned for me, All the days that I may live.
Holy Mother, pierce me through, In my heart each wound renew, Of my Saviour crucified.