“If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him renounce himself and take up his cross every day and follow me.” Lk 9,23
“We carry with us in our body the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus, too may be visible in our body. Indeed, while we are still alive, we are continually being handed over to death, for the sake of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus, too, may be visible in our mortal flesh.” 2 Co 4,10-11
“I have been crucified with Christ and yet I am alive; yet it is no longer I, but Christ living in me” Ga 2,19b-20
- Throughout the twenty centuries since the death and resurrection of Jesus, millions of Christians followed Christ and today they are in the Father’s House. We could say that they fulfilled their vocation – they achieved holiness and, in this way, they became similar to Jesus Christ. I am certain that they fulfilled their vocation. Many of them are anonymous. However, the Church officially proclaimed some of them saints and blessed to give us role models for life.
- One of these role models given to us by God is John Paul II who was declared a Saint on the 27 of April, 2014. Let us try to see how the mystery of imitating Jesus and uniting with Him was fulfilled in John Paul’s life. Today we want to make the Stations of the Cross with Jesus present in the person of John Paul II.
The First Station – Pilate condemns Jesus to die
Leader: We adore you O Christ and we praise you ….
All: Because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.
Leader: The Jewish authorities bring Jesus to Pilate. They accuse Him of aspiring to be the king of the Jews. They capture Him and bring Him to Pilate. Pilate, as a representative of civil authority asks: Are you a king? Where is your kingdom? Where is your power? You talk of the truth, but who cares about it. After all, it is unnecessary. I am the ruler in this world.
All: When Karol Wojtyla became Pope, both common people and the rulers of the world were asking questions: “Who is he? Where is he from? What is it that he wants to tell us?” With some disbelief, they were saying: “How is it possible that he is going to proclaim the truth to us. What is the range of his authority? How big is his military power?”
The Second Station – Jesus accepts his cross
Leader: We adore you O Christ and we praise you ….
All: Because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.
Leader: Jesus accepts the guilty verdict. He is aware that whatever is coming to Him is the fulfillment of the Will of His Father. He takes up the cross even though He fears it. We see it in the Garden of Olives.
All: Karol accepts his election. This is the plan of the Father. He takes the cross in his hands; he lifts it up as a banner, saying to us: “Do not be afraid. Open the door to Christ.”
The Third Station – Jesus falls the first time
Leader: We adore you O Christ and we praise you ….
All: Because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.
Leader: Jesus, you fall down on the road. You are not used to carrying such a burden. The cross is too heavy. Perhaps someone has pushed you. You are getting up to continue your walk. It is only the beginning of the road.
All: It was May the 13th. I will never forget this date. Someone aimed a weapon at John Paul II. The man shot at him once, twice, the third time. He fell down. All the people froze in disbelief. How could this happen? What will his road ahead be like?
The Fourth Station – Jesus meets his Mother
Leader: We adore you O Christ and we praise you ….
All: Because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.
Leader: Jesus, your Mother is present on your way. She has been with you from the beginning, from the first moments of your life. Your own Mother. Someone must have told her about your walking here with the wood of death on your shoulders. She is petrified. Her Son is going to die on the cross and she cannot save Him?
All: “Mary is my Mother”. Karol, as a little child, said these words in the church, after the death of his mother. From his childhood he wore a scapular on his breast. He entrusted his life, his priesthood and the Church to her. “Totus Tuus”- All Yours”. So many times, he looked at her face in Czestochowa, Lourdes, Fatima. He went to her immediately after the assassination attempt to thank her for saving his life.
The Fifth Station – Simon helps carry the cross
Leader: We adore you O Christ and we praise you ….
All: Because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.
Leader: Struggling along the road makes Jesus tired. The cross is too heavy for Him to proceed. Therefore, the soldiers stop Simon, telling him: Take the cross and carry it for Him!… Why me? I haven’t done anything wrong, Simon replies.
All: Do you remember what the Vicar of Christ, John Paul II, said after he was elected to the throne of St. Peter? “Pray for me; especially remember me at the Angelus prayer. I need your prayers.” John Paul really counted on our prayers. For him it was the source of strength in carrying the cross of Christ. With our prayers we helped him to carry his cross.
The Sixth Station – Veronica wipes the face of Jesus
Leader: We adore you O Christ and we praise you ….
All: Because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.
Leader: A simple woman, Veronica, breaks through the cordon of soldiers and the crowd of spectators. She runs to Jesus to wipe His face, to give Him comfort even for a moment.
All: Do you recall the wonderful moments when John Paul blessed the children handed to him by their parents? Do you remember how the young people came from the whole world to Santiago, Czestochowa, Paris, Denver and Toronto? They crossed borders and continents to see his face. He called them the hope of the Church, our hope. At the sight of them, his face became radiant.
The Seventh Station – Jesus falls the second time
Leader: We adore you O Christ and we praise you ….
All: Because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.
Leader: Jesus, again your face touches the ground. You fall down again. The cross is too heavy, or maybe some- one has pushed you? Are you going to stand up, and take up the cross again?
All: Cancer. The medical diagnosis was cruel, and the doctors’ words could knock down the strongest person. We know that behind this one-word hides fear, pain and suffering. This one word turns one’s life upside down. How difficult it is to get up from this fall. How hard it is to return to previous activities.
The Eighth Station – Jesus speaks to the women
Leader: We adore you O Christ and we praise you ….
All: Because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.
Leader: Jesus, now you are outside the city. Over there the women weep over your fate. How is it possible that you are so good and yet you are condemned to death? However, you are not thinking of yourself and you address the weeping women saying: “Weep not for Me, but for yourselves and for your children.”
All: I saw big crowds outside the city. At each of his pilgrimages, Pope John Paul II gathered thousands, even millions, of people. It was like that in the year 1979, 1984 or 2002. Many people were led by their hearts desire; others by curiosity. I also remember what Jesus’ Vicar on earth said: “Do not kill, do not steal, do not commit adultery”. In other words, if you are not going to keep the Commandments, you will weep over yourself and over your children.
The Ninth Station – Jesus falls the third time
Leader: We adore you O Christ and we praise you ….
All: Because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.
Leader: The third fall. You realize that you are close to Golgotha, on which you will sacrifice your life. Perhaps it is not worth continuing the walk. Maybe some others will drag you up the hill. Maybe someone else will carry your cross.
All: Parkinson. This was the doctor’s verdict. You will have this illness until the end of your life. Many people were saying: How can he lead the Church? Would it not be better to give St. Peter’s keys to a younger person and to live the rest of his life in peace? Is it possible to continue walking and carrying the cross with trembling hands? Why does he continue his pilgrimages? Why does he proclaim the Holy Year?
The Tenth Station – Jesus is stripped of his garments
Leader: We adore you O Christ and we praise you ….
All: Because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.
Leader: Jesus is stripped of His garments. He is standing naked in the eyes of the mob and sneerers. It is in our suffering and agony that we long for the warmth and closeness of our loved ones.
All: The Holy Father’s life was surrounded by cameras and even the last moments of his life took place before the eyes of the whole world that was making comments, that were not always favorable. Illness before the eyes of the world. They stripped him of all privacy.
The Eleventh Station – Jesus is nailed to the cross
Leader: We adore you O Christ and we praise you ….
All: Because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.
Leader: They put you Jesus on the cross and they nail you to it. They nail your legs to prevent you from walking across Palestine, healing the sick, forgiving sinners. They nail your arms so you can no longer bless us, your children, and hug us.
All: Do you see that window at the Vatican? John Paul II stood there willing to talk, as usual. But he was not able… He tried again… Silence… He was helpless. For the last time, he gave us his blessing and returned to the room. He laid down on his bed of pain. He would never get up from it.
The Twelfth Station – Jesus dies on the cross
Leader: We adore you O Christ and we praise you ….
All: Because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.
Leader: Christ is in agonizing pain. He cries out: “I thirst!” They give Him an intoxicating drink. He tries it but He will not drink it. He wants to be conscious at the time of death. “Behold your son…. behold your Mother….” Still in the last moment of His life He opens paradise to a sinner. “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” He has accomplished His mission. He has opened the Gates of Heaven to sinners.
All: The Pope did not want to go to the hospital to prolong his life in an artificial way. He put medicine away. He wanted to die on his cross at the Vatican. Someone record- ed some barely understandable words: “I am satisfied and so will you be.” In the last moment of his life, sinners gathered in St. Peter’s Square, to ask John Paul II to help guide them to Heaven.
The Thirteenth Station – Jesus is taken down from the cross
Leader: We adore you O Christ and we praise you ….
All: Because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.
Leader: Jesus your passion and suffering are over, only darkness, earthquake and silence. Man killed God and a pagan proclaims the words: “Truly He was the Son of God.”
All: Darkness had already fallen when the toll announced the news to the prayerful crowd: “Today the Vicar of Christ, John Paul II, passed away.” It sounded like an earthquake. It moved everybody. Then silence followed. Similar thoughts that were becoming more and more audible entered all minds: “Here died a holy man.” “He truly was a son of God.”
The Fourteenth Station – Jesus is laid in the tomb
Leader: We adore you O Christ and we praise you ….
All: Because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.
Leader: The funeral of Jesus was unusual. Not too many people attended it; Just Mary, a few women, John the Apostle and Joseph of Arimathaea. They were in a hurry because the Passover was at hand. Joseph offered his new tomb. They put the Body of Jesus into the tomb and rolled a large stone against the entrance. Oh, I forgot something! They set a seal on the stone and secured the tomb with a guard to make sure that everything was over.
All: It was an unusual funeral for the Vicar of Christ. Never in the history of humanity have so many people attended a funeral. Some were in the city of Rome, others in churches, while others were before their T.Vs. As it had been in the past, the Passover was at hand. Even Joseph had donated his tomb. The coffin was also sealed and a stone was put on the grave. The Swiss Guards stood in reverence at the tomb knowing that John Paul II’s earthly journey was over.
Leader: Do you recall during the Pope’s funeral the wind that at first blew slowly and then faster and faster and was turning the pages of the Holy Scripture to close the Book of Life in the end. It looked as if SOMEONE wanted to tell us it is finished.
(1.) John Paul II was laid to rest in a place of burial where John XXIII Angelo Giuseppe (Joseph) Roncalii had previously been buried.
The Fifteenth Station – Jesus is risen
Leader: We adore you O Christ and we praise you ….
All: Because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.
Leader: Today the tomb in Jerusalem is empty because death cannot destroy the Holy One, Jesus Christ.
All: SANTO SUBITO is the common opinion of the people who believe that today John Paul II is looking at us from the window in the Father’s house. Only a holy person can reside in the house of the Father.
Leader: SANTO SUBITO is a call directed to you and me.
For the intentions of the Holy Father: Our Father…Hail Mary…. Glory to be….
Fr. Slawomir Szwagrzyk
