Tonight, as we have every Friday during Lent for the past several years, my wife and I will undertake a unique apostolate within our parish, leading a devotion known as “Mary’s Way of the Cross,” by Richard Furey. It looks at this singular journey to Calvary, the Stations of the Cross, through the eyes of Christ’s mother.
As we work our way around the church, I stop to introduce each station, and then my wife reads the meditations of Mary:
Meditation:
I had managed to break through the crowd and was walking side by side with my son. I called to him through the shouting voices. He stopped. Our eyes met, mine full of tears of anguish, his full of pain and confusion. I felt helpless; then his eyes said to me, “Courage! There is a purpose for this.” As he stumbled on, I knew he was right. So I followed and prayed silently.Then we all pray together:Prayer:
Lord Jesus, forgive me the many times our eyes met and I turned mine away. Forgive me the times things did not go my way and I let everyone know about it. Forgive me the times I brooded over little inconveniences or became discouraged and did not heed your call to courage! Yes, Lord, our eyes have met many times, but fruitlessly.
You can read the rest of the stations at this link.
I think you’ll agree: it’s a beautiful, painfully human interpretation. (And for a deacon and his wife, it’s a unique opportunity to exercise a ministry together.)
If you find yourself in Queens on Friday night, stop by. Stations are at 7:30, followed by Benediction.
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