The Liturgy of The Hours (also known as the Breviary or the Divine Office) is a time honored form of Christian worship consisting of hymns, psalms, and other passages from Sacred Scripture.  There are also included the writings of different Christian saints and councils.  Through the use of patterned word, music, gesture, and silence, the Church gives voice to all of God’s creation praising God. 
 
Archbishop Fulton Sheen in his book: The Priest is not His Own gives the following advice and encouragement to praying the Breviary. 
 
Aids to the Breviary
1.         Read the office of the day in the presence of Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament, a practice for which a plenary indulgence is granted.  Furthermore, since the breviary is the Body of Christ praying, it is read with more faith when closely united with the Head, Who “lives on still to make intercession on our behalf” (Heb 7:25).

2.         Advert to the fact that most of the psalms confront us with two figures: one is the Sufferer; the other is the King.  It helps us to interpret the suffering psalms as the Church, and the kingly psalms as Christ.  That long Psalm 118 (RSV 119) would thus become the Church pleading its love for Christ, the New Law.  And when we come across “cursing psalms” it may be well to remind ourselves that, of all bad men, religious bad men are the worst and that the Judge takes sins seriously.

3.         Often appeal to the Holy Spirit during the recitation.  As a mother first prays for her child even before he can know what she is doing, then teaches him to pray so that later she may pray with him, so does the Spirit in the breviary first in un and then through us.
Go on praying in the power of the Holy Spirit; to maintain yourselves in the love of God, and wait for the mercy of Our Lord Jesus Christ, with eternal life for your goal. – Jude 20-21

4.         Offer certain hours of the office for specific intentions.  How seldom is a priest not asked to pray for someone: a boy taking an examination, a mother before childbirth, a father going on a trip, or a young couple about to be married?  The breviary, the Church’s prayer, gathers up all these intentions of the parish, the diocese, the nation and the world.  It helps to offer a particular psalm for a predetermined person.

5.         The breviary can never be properly read while the priest is listening to the radio or watching television or has one hear and half his mind concentrating on a baseball game.  Magna abusio est habere os in brevario, cor in foror, oculus in televisifico. 
No need for Me to prove thee a guilty man, they words prove it, thine own lips arraign thee. – Job15:6
                        This people does Me honor with its lips, but its heart is far from Me. – Mt 15:8
 
Other Quotes:
            The breviary is, however, not only a yoke and a burden; it is also a duty—a duty of love.  The two aspects seem almost contradictory, but the test of love is self-sacrifice, not emotion.  Besides, the duty itself is good.  When we lose faith, we lose a sense of duty.  How this duty is performed will depend upon the level of behavior.  If a priest is egotistic, the breviary will be said out of duty alone; if he is conscious that it is the prayer of the Church, the duty will have love in it; if he is a priest-victim, love will fan duty into an ardor that feels no obligation.
 
 A Spanish story has it that a priest who showed little mercy to a penitent heard a voice from the crucifix: “I, not you, died for her sins.”
 
To recall the words of Saint Teresa of Avila, he who omits prayer needs no devil to cast him into hell; he casts himself into it.

A couple of weeks ago, I was searching for something on Amazon.com and decided to look at the list of books that they were recommending me to buy and one book caught my attention in a special way. This book was called: Stations of the Nativity and it was illustrated by Patrick Kelley and written by Lawrence Boadt C.S.P. I believe that part of the reason why the title caught my attention was it made me recall Archbishop Fulton Sheen’s book the Life Of Christ. In Fulton Sheen’s biography of Christ he said the following about the connection between the nativity and the crucifixion: The manger and the Cross thus stand at the two extremities of the Savior’s life! He accepted the manger because there was no room in the inn; He accepted the Cross because men said, “We will not have this Man for our king.” Disowned upon entering, rejected upon leaving. He was laid in a stranger’s stable at the beginning and a stranger’s grave at the end. An ox and ass surrounded His crib at Bethlehem; two thieves were to flank His Cross on Calvary. He was wrapped in swaddling bands in His birthplace, He was again laid in swaddling clothes in His tomb—clothes symbolic of the limitations imposed on His Divinity when He took a human form. I would like to for the month of December using Kelley’s and Boadt’s book as a guide take a closer look at the story of the nativity.

First Station: The Annunciation: Reading Luke 1:30-31, & 38.
In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary. And coming to her, he said, “Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you.” But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” But Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?” And the angel said to her in reply, “The holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; for nothing will be impossible for God.” Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.

Fr. Pastorius’s Reflection: Over the last year through different articles I have read and Bible studies that I have participated in, I have come to see how much of a nobody Mary truly was in the light of the world especially when you compare her to Zechariah the father of John the Baptist the other person that we learn from Luke that the angel Gabriel was sent (Luke 1). Zechariah was a member of the high priestly class serving in the temple and Mary is just a lowly girl from a backwards town (a hillbilly of sorts). Zechariah was trained by the greatest of Rabbis and scholars of the Law and Mary was probably taught by her parents (whom tradition has named Joachim and Anne). Zechariah though does not believe in God’s almightiness and questions the angel about God’s ability to bring about the things that the angel has announced. Mary just asks instead for instruction on how she is to proceed. Mary declares that she is the “handmaid” of the Lord. The word “handmaid” is a nice term that is pleasant to the ears but what Mary actually said was “I am the slave of the Lord.” Mary realizes that her entire life was in God’s hand and a gift much like a slave’s life was always in the hands of his or her master.

Grace to be desired: After reflecting on the first station of the Annunciation, we should pray for the grace to realize that even though the world may see us as a nobody that we are important not only to God’s plan of salvation but also to God himself. The second grace that we should pray for is a willingness to realize that all we have is from the Lord and therefore we should humbly declare ourselves to be the slaves of the Lord and strive to do his will not out of fear of punishment though but rather out of deep sense of gratitude for all that God has lovingly bestowed upon us.

Continuing with our look at the Stations of the Nativity as found in Kelley’s and Boadt’s book: The Stations of the Nativity.

The Second Station: The Visitation Reading: Luke 1:39-45
During those days Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, “Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed are you who believed^* that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.”

Fr. Pastorius’s Reflection: In Scott Hahn’s book: Hail Holy Queen: The Mother of God in the Word of God Scott Hahn points out that the phrase “the mother of my Lord” that Elizabeth speaks had special meaning in Jewish history for it was a term that was used in reference to the queen mother. For example Solomon had over a thousand wives but he only had one mother-Bathsheba. So Elizabeth’s greeting I believe makes her the first person to acknowledge Jesus as king. Another thing that catches my attention is how the Holy Spirit is moving. First Mary is overwhelmed with the Holy Spirit and now John even though he is in his mother’s womb is filled with the spirit and finally we can see that Elizabeth herself is caught up in the Spirit through the quality of her prayerful greeting. Finally I cannot help but sadly think about how this story might have had a different ending if it were to take place today for Mary as a single teenage mother might have been encouraged to have an abortion and Elizabeth as a lady passed her childbearing prime would probably have also been encouraged to have an abortion if they lived today. Children though in Scriptures are always a blessing.

Grace to be desired: After reflecting on the second station the Visitation, I feel God speaking to my heart to ask for the grace to recognize Jesus as the Lord of my life and to ask for a greater share of the Holy Spirit. May the Lord also grant each of us a deeper respect for all human life!

The Third Station: The Magnificat Reading: Luke 1:46-55
And Mary said: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior. For he has looked upon his handmaid’s lowliness; behold, from now on will all ages call me blessed. The Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. His mercy is from age to age to those who fear him. He has shown might with his arm, dispersed the arrogant of mind and heart. He has thrown down the rulers from their thrones but lifted up the lowly. The hungry he has filled with good things; the rich he has sent away empty. He has helped Israel his servant, remembering his mercy, according to his promise to our fathers, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”

Fr. Pastorius’s Reflection: If there is one constant theme in the Old Testament for me it would have to be God’s faithfulness. Despite all the problems that the patriarchs, the Israelites (those who wandered in the desert with Moses and into the Promise Land with Joshua) and the citizens Kingdoms of Israel and Judah God remained faithful to them and helped them overcome insurmountable odds. When they remain faithful to God good things eventually emerge from their difficult situations but if they try to fix things themselves bad things ultimately happen. Despite all the impossible things God has done for them like divide the Red Sea, give them bread from heaven, bring forth water from the rock, and defeat far superior adversaries they simply refuse to remember all that God has done for them and to trust in God. Mary through her song , that we call the Magnificat shows that she remembers all that God has done and thus she has complete confidence in God in the present moment.

Grace to be desired: After reflecting on this third station of the nativity that of Mary singing the Magnificat, I feel a calling to pray for the grace to remember all that God has done not only in Scripture but for us (individually and as a community) personally and may this remembering of all that God has done for us lead me to a deeper trust in God.

Continuing with our look at the Stations of the Nativity as found in Kelley’s and Boadt’s book: The Stations of the Nativity.

The Fourth Station: The Birth of John the Baptist Reading 1:57-66
When the time arrived for Elizabeth to have her child she gave birth to a son. Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy toward her, and they rejoiced with her. When they came on the eighth day to circumcise the child, they were going to call him Zechariah after his father, but his mother said in reply, “No. He will be called John.” But they answered her, “There is no one among your relatives who has this name.” So they made signs, asking his father what he wished him to be called. He asked for a tablet and wrote, “John is his name,” and all were amazed. Immediately his mouth was opened, his tongue freed, and he spoke blessing God. Then fear came upon all their neighbors, and all these matters were discussed throughout the hill country of Judea. All who heard these things took them to heart, saying, “What, then, will this child be?” For surely the hand of the Lord was with him.

Fr. Pastorius’s Reflection: As Zechariah writes down the name “John” on the tablet letting people know that this is what he wishes his son to called, he regains his ability to speak which he had lost by because of his not believing in the message the angel spoke to him. It was his act of obedience (naming his son John) that brought about his healing being able to speak that he had lost through his disobedience. In some way what will become John’s primary message “repent and make straight the way of the Lord” is lived out by his father now.

Grace to be desired: The grace that I feel the Holy Spirit speaking to me today is a need to confess those times that I have done wrong and not believed in God or His plan for me and to not only confess it in the Sacrament of Reconciliation but also to do some sort of penance in order to show God my sorrow and my willingness to follow him now. May we all pray for the grace to make a good confession!

The Fifth Station: The Prophecy of Zechariah Reading: Luke 1:67-80
Then Zechariah his father, filled with the holy Spirit, prophesied, saying: “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, for he has visited and brought redemption to his people. He has raised up a horn for our salvation within the house of David his servant, even as he promised through the mouth of his holy prophets from of old: salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us, to show mercy to our fathers and to be mindful of his holy covenant and of the oath he swore to Abraham our father, and to grant us that, rescued from the hand of enemies, without fear we might worship him in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. And you, child, will be called prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord^* to prepare his ways, to give his people knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God by which the daybreak from on high will visit us to shine on those who sit in darkness and death’s shadow, to guide our feet into the path of peace.” The child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the desert until the day of his manifestation to Israel.

Fr. Pastorius’s Reflection:
There is a Christmas song called “Belleau Wood” and it is about a cease fire during World War I on Christmas day. The soldiers on both side end up singing “Silent Night” together each from their own fox holes but at the strike of midnight the Christmas truce ended and the battle began again. The song’s last verse is particular haunting and inspirational:
But for just one fleeting moment the answer seemed so clear. Heaven’s not beyond the clouds. It’s just beyond the fear. No heaven not beyond the clouds. It’s for us to find it here. Zechariah in his canticle says something similar: “without fear we might worship Him.” Would peace in our world come if we moved beyond our fear of what others think and just worshipped the Lord? Would we come to see that God is not against us but rather for us? The story of Christmas to me is ultimately about how far God is willing to go to show us His infinite love.

Grace to be desired: Today, I feel the Holy Spirit inviting me to ask God to remove all fear from our lives or at least allow us to prevent the fear that I feel from treating others in an un-Christian manner.

Merry Christmas to you. Continuing with our look at the Stations of the Nativity as found in Kelley’s and Boadt’s book: The Stations of the Nativity.

The Sixth Station: Joseph’s Dream Reading Mathew 1:20-23
Now this is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found with child through the holy Spirit. Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame, decided to divorce her quietly. Such was his intention when, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus,^* because he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,” which means “God is with us.”

Fr. Pastorius’s Reflection: Elena Bosetti in her book: A Contemplative Reading of the Gospel of Mathew: The Journey Toward Hope has this to say about St. Joseph: Although he is presented in the genealogy as “the son of Jacob,” Joseph of Nazareth conducts himself above all in the manner of Abraham. Unlike the patriarch Jacob, Joseph does not bargain with God; he does not argue or ask for signs or guarantees. He is more like Abraham, who never objected to the word of the Lord but listened and followed. Abraham is the man of obedience; he reacts in silence and his actions speak louder than his words. Our Joseph is exactly the same. He never utters a word, whether at the first appearance of the angel or at the second or third appearances.
Joseph asks for not one word of explanation. The doubts that afflict him (should he put her aside? Send her away in secret? cf. 1:19) are placed in the hands of the One who is greater and who directs the story. Joseph entrusts himself totally to God. In this he really is similar to Abraham, whom the word of God sends on a journey (Gen 12:4)—a journey that unfolds all uphill.
How I desire to be more like Abraham and Joseph and simply follow the Lord instead of bargaining with God! How I wish that I could simple “let go” and place all my decisions in the hands of the Lord.

The Grace to Be Desired: I feel the Holy Spirit desiring me today to ask for the grace to be more like St. Joseph and to simply trust in the Lord. I feel that God desires our obedience as a parent desires his or her child’s obedience not to make us slaves but rather to help us get more out of life for what parent makes his or her child do homework in order to make the child a slave. Rather parents make children do homework in order for the child to become a better and more learned person and so that the child may someday flourish.

The Seventh Station: Joseph takes Mary into His Home Reading: Mathew: 1:23-25
When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home. He had no relations with her until she bore a son, and he named him Jesus.

Fr. Pastorius’s Reflection: Both Mary and Joseph probably had very different visions growing up about how their life would be then how they turned out. Their dreams were based upon the stories of their time, the example of their parents for good or bad, and what their friends and other townspeople were experiencing. Neither of them (I assuming because to be found with child before marriage meant death) did they dream that Mary would be pregnant with a child that was not Joseph’s and there definitely was no way that they could have ever thought that one day they would have God as their child/foster child. What I admire most about Mary and Joseph is how they put aside their selfish (albeit normal dreams) to live the life God called them to!

The Grace to Be Desired: The Holy Spirit is inspiring me to ask for the grace to put away our small dreams and to be open to the amazing plan He has for us.

We are at the end of the month and still not through with these Stations of the Nativity, so I guess we will be continuing our reflections into the New Year. Let us now continue our look at the Stations of the Nativity as found in Kelley’s and Boadt’s book: The Stations of the Nativity.

The Eighth Station: The Journey to Bethlehem Reading: Luke 2:1-5
In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole world should be enrolled. This was the first enrollment, when Quirinius was governor of Syria. So all went to be enrolled, each to his own town. And Joseph too went up from Galilee from the town of Nazareth to Judea, to the city of David that is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David,a5to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.

Fr. Pastorius’s Reflection: Archbishop Fulton Sheen points out in his book the Life of Christ has the following to say about Jesus being born in Bethlehem and them finding no place for Mary to give birth but in a manger: “Joseph was full of expectancy as he entered the city of his family, and was quite convinced that he would have no difficulty in finding lodging for Mary, particularly on account of her condition. Joseph went from house to house only to find each one crowded. He searched in vain for a place where He, to Whom heaven and earth belonged, might be born. Could it be that the Creator would not find a home in creation?
... Out to the hillside to a stable cave, where shepherds sometimes drove their flocks in time of storm, Joseph and Mary went a last for shelter. There, in a place of peace in the lonely abandonment of a cold windswept cave, there, under the floor of the world, He Who is born without a mother in heaven, is born without a father on earth.” How many times do I find myself complaining when things do not go my way? We however hear no complaining from our two role models of faith Mary and Joseph.

The Grace to Be Desired: Today, I feel compelled to ask the Holy Spirit to help us to minister (to love others in the now) and not only in the perfect. May we never be found complaining but rather may we always be trustfully waiting on the Lord.

The Ninth Station: The Birth of Jesus Reading: Luke 2:6-7
While they were there, the time came for her to have her child, and she gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

Fr. Pastorius’s Reflection: Once again, I would like to turn to Archbishop Fulton Sheen’s book The Life of Christ again: “In the filthiest place in the world, a stable, Purity was born. He, Who was later to be slaughtered by men acting as beasts, was born among beasts. He, Who called Himself the “living Bread descended from Heaven,” was laid in a manger, literally, a place to eat. Centuries before, the Jews had worshipped the golden calf, and the Greeks, the ass. Men bowed down before them as before God. The ox and the ass now were present to make their innocent reparation, bowing down before their God.” As I read that line of how the Jews once worshipped the Golden calf and now the ox and ass were bowing down before God made me think of how I think sometimes that being like God is all about power, control, and self-sufficiency but in the Christmas story Jesus teaches me that being like God is about none of those things but is rather being like God is all about loving without counting the cost.

The Grace to Be Desired: I feel a strong urging of the Holy Spirit to pray for the grace of humility and wisdom for all of us. May we never think that to be like God means to be all powerful, always in control, and totally self-sufficient. May we all learn from the saints and learn that being like God is to be all loving!

As we enter a new month and a New Year, we find ourselves in the middle of the topic of the Stations of the Nativity according to a book that I discovered on Amazon.com called The Stations of the Nativity which is illustrated by Patrick Kelley and written by Lawrence Boadt C.S.P. To this point we have reflected on nine of the fourteen stations. Let us go ahead now and look at station 10.

Station 10: The Announcement of the Angels. Reading: Luke 2:8-11
Now there were shepherds in that region living in the fields and keeping the night watch over their flock. The angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were struck with great fear. The angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

Fr. Pastorius’s Reflection: Elena Bosetti in her book: A Contemplative Reading of the Gospel of Luke: The Song of God’s Mercy in a chapter entitled “Heaven Evangelizes Earth” has this to say about the role of angels in Luke’s Gospel: “At the beginning and at the end of Luke’s Gospel we encounter the figure of angels. They announced the resurrection of the Crucified to the women returning to the tomb, as the disciples of Emmaus later testified (Lk 24:4-7, 22—23); angels also announced the birth of John and of Jesus (Lk 1-2). So both the coming of the Savior into the world and his resurrection from the dead directly involve messengers from heaven. Once more we see that evangelization begins from on high; it is the work of God himself.” I believe that Luke is pointing out a most important fact about the spiritual life and that is God comes to us instead of we going to God. Often when we find ourselves in conflict with someone we desire them to make the first move or come the greater distance. God has done both for us through the Incarnation and the Paschal Mystery. God chooses to love us and to reveal Himself to us instead of staying away and aloof.

The Grace to be Desired: Today and with this station I feel God calling us once again to pray for the grace of gratitude. May we be ever grateful that God loves us so much that He became one of us so that He could bridge the gap between Him and us.

Station 11: The Shepherds Share the Good News Luke 2:15-20
When the angels went away from them to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go, then, to Bethlehem to see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” So they went in haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known the message that had been told them about this child. All who heard it were amazed by what had been told them by the shepherds. And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them.

Fr. Pastorius’s Reflection: What image would the word “shepherd” invoke in the audience Luke first intended would read his Gospel? To answer that question I will turn again to Elena Bosetti’s book on the Gospel of Luke: “Now the time when Jesus was born, the prestige enjoyed by shepherds was over. Official Judaism had marginalized them because of their lifestyle. Their trade was discouraged and even looked upon with suspicion: shepherds openly transgressed the Sabbath rest and went to the synagogue infrequently, since they had to lead the flock to pasture also on the Sabbath. Shepherds were therefore unpopular with the heads of official Judaism; they were kept at a distance and judged with a certain disdain as “people of the earth,” who walked in darkness far from the Law of the Lord.” If I had to think of a modern day example of who shepherds might be for us, the image of bikers come to mind (you know guys and girls wearing leather jackets with skull and crossbones designs on them). They are not people that we are Hollywood would think of Church going people but the truth of the matter is that I know and I am friends with quite a few faithful and church going bikers. What makes me think poorly of them to begin with is my fear of the new or of the strange. What helps me over come this fear and allows me to make these bikers is talking with them. Jesus even at His birth is reaching out to those who are considered outcasts by others.

The Grace to be Desired: Today, I hear the Holy Spirit inviting me to open my mind and my heart to others and to set aside any preconceived notions or prejudices I have and share with others the joy in my heart.

Continuing with our look at the Stations of the Nativity as found in Kelley’s and Boadt’s book: The Stations of the Nativity.

The Twelfth Station: The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple Reading: Luke 2:15-22
When the days were completed for their purification* according to the law of Moses, they took him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, just as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord,” and to offer the sacrifice of “a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons,” in accordance with the dictate in the law of the Lord.

Fr. Pastorius’s Reflection: The thought that struck my mind was how poor Mary and Joseph were. They offer two turtle doves (the sacrifice of the poor). Sometimes I meet people who do not go to Church because they are ashamed of something in their life like not being able to put money in the collection basket. I am sure Mary and Joseph would have loved to thank God for the wonderful blessing of their child but they offered only what they could and thus I think pleased God more than they could have imagine.

The Grace to be Desired: Let us pray for the grace to put aside all excuses for not giving thanks to God and simply lives of gratitude.

The Thirteenth Station: The Blessing of Simeon Reading Luke 2:22-24
Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, awaiting the consolation of Israel, and the holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Messiah of the Lord. He came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to perform the custom of the law in regard to him, he took him into his arms and blessed God, saying: “Now, Master, you may let your servant go in peace, according to your word, for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you prepared in sight of all the peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel.” The child’s father and mother were amazed at what was said about him; and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted (and you yourself a sword will pierce) so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived seven years with her husband after her marriage, and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple, but worshiped night and day with fasting and prayer. And coming forward at that very time, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem.

Fr. Pastorius’s Reflection: Archbishop Fulton Sheen has a couple of great thoughts on the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple in his biography of Christ called The Life of Christ. The first is: “In a poor Child brought by poor people making a poor offering, Simeon discovered the riches of the world.” I think that this passage shows us what it means to be a saint. Simeon must have rid himself of all preconceived notions on how God would come to be open enough to recognize Christ in the poor child with these poor parents. I am afraid that there are times that I miss Christ in people because I am too busy with my own expectations of how God will come to me or how He will act. The Second is: “The angel had told her “Blessed art though among women,” and Simeon was now telling her that in her blessedness she would be the Mater Dolorosa.” I feel that I am most blest often when like Mary I humble myself enough to be hurt. When I open my heart to serve others and risk being hurt by them is often the time that I receive blessings that I could never have conceived of. God is truly amazing that way. Finally the third is: “Simeon was practically calling Him the “Divine Disturber” Who would provoke human hearts either to good or evil. Once confronted with Him, they must subscribe to light or darkness.” Jesus did not come to make me comfortable but rather to stir me to action. Benedict XVI in his first homily as pope said: "The world promises you comfort, but you were not made for comfort. You were made for greatness."

The Grace to be Desired: I feel the Holy Spirit asking us today to pray for the grace to see Christ in one another, to open ourselves to the gifts God wishes to give us by being of service to others and finally to realize that God is calling me to action.

We have come to our last station in our series of reflections on the nativity using Kelley’s and Boadt’s book: The Stations of the Nativity. I have decided to go ahead and reflect on their fourteenth station but then add three more stations to reflect upon so that we can finish up our month.

The Fourteenth Station: The Wise Men Come From the East Reading: Matthew 2: 1-12
When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of King Herod,^* behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage.” When King Herod heard this, he was greatly troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. Assembling all the chief priests and the scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it has been written through the prophet: ‘And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; since from you shall come a ruler, who is to shepherd my people Israel.’” Then Herod called the magi secretly and ascertained from them the time of the star’s appearance.8He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search diligently for the child. When you have found him, bring me word, that I too may go and do him homage.” After their audience with the king they set out. And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them, until it came and stopped over the place where the child was. They were overjoyed at seeing the star, and on entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother. They prostrated themselves and did him homage. Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed for their country by another way.

Fr. Pastorius’s Reflection: The magi’s gifts are so symbolic. By presenting the gift of gold they acknowledge Christ as their king, by giving the gift of frankincense they declare the infant to be divine and finally by presenting myrrh they are honoring Jesus’ humanity which was destined to die for our sins. Archbishop Fulton Sheen goes on to draw a contrast between the magi and King Herod: “He pretended that he wanted to bring gifts, but the only gift he wanted to bring was death. Wicked men sometimes hide their evil designs under an appearance of religion: “I am a religious man, but…” Men can make inquiries about Christ for two reasons, either to worship or to harm. Some would even make use of religion for their evil designs, as Herod made use of the Wise Men. Inquiries about religion do not produce the same results in all hearts. What men ask about Divinity is never as important as why they ask it.”

The Grace to be Desired: I feel compelled to pray for the grace to accept Christ in His entirety. May we accept Him as our Lord, our God, and our Savior! May we also never imitate Herod while trying to discover what the Church teaches on a subject.

Bonus Station # 1The Flight Into Egypt Reading: Matthew 2:13-18
When they had departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you. Herod is going to search for the child to destroy him.” Joseph rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed for Egypt. He stayed there until the death of Herod, that what the Lord had said through the prophet might be fulfilled, “Out of Egypt I called my son.” The Massacre of the Infants. When Herod realized that he had been deceived by the magi, he became furious. He ordered the massacre of all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had ascertained from the magi. Then was fulfilled what had been said through Jeremiah the prophet: “A voice was heard in Ramah, sobbing and loud lamentation; Rachel weeping for her children, and she would not be consoled, since they were no more.”

Fr. Pastorius’s Reflection: Nothing Mary, Joseph, or Jesus did cause their exile. They were law abiding and church going citizens. Sometimes bad things happen to good people. It is also important to realize that nothing God did caused Herod to act the way that he did. It was Herod’s sinfulness that led to Holy Family’s exile and the death of the Holy Innocents.

The Grace to be Desired: I feel the Holy Spirit compelling us to take an honest look at our sins and our selfishness and see how we sometimes hurt others.

We have already come to the end of the 14 stations recommended to us by Kelley and Boadt in their book: The Stations of The Nativity. I have therefore added three more stories from the Christmas Season so that we can finish out the month.

Bonus Station #2 The Finding of Jesus in the Temple Reading Luke 2:41-52
Each year his parents went to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover, and when he was twelve years old, they went up according to festival custom. After they had completed its days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it. Thinking that he was in the caravan, they journeyed for a day and looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances, but not finding him, they returned to Jerusalem to look for him. After three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions, and all who heard him were astounded at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him, they were astonished, and his mother said to him, “Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety.” And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” But they did not understand what he said to them. He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them; and his mother kept all these things in her heart. And Jesus advanced [in] wisdom and age and favor before God and man.

Fr. Pastorius’s Reflection: I think Archbishop Fulton Sheen has one of the greatest insights into Mary’s love for sinners in his book The Life of Christ: “Mary came to know of the effects of sin, namely, the loss of God. Though she was without sin, nevertheless, she knew the fears and the loneliness, the darkness and the isolation which every sinner experiences when he loses God.” My mom lost my brother once for only a minute at Union Station. She went right and he went left and even though she found him in less than two minutes she still counts that one of the scariest moments of her life. I know too that she would do anything to help another mother in a similar situation. Mary having experience what it means to have lost God would undoubtly help every sinner (who has lost God) find Him again with all her strength.

The Grace to Desire: I feel that the Holy Spirit is asking us to pray to the Father for the grace to realize how sin separates us from Him and to have a greater appreciation of the role of Mary in salvation history.

Bonus Station #3 The Baptism of Jesus Reading: Mathew 3:13-17
Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. John tried to prevent him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and yet you are coming to me?” Jesus said to him in reply, “Allow it now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed him. After Jesus was baptized, he came up from the water and behold, the heavens were opened [for him], and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove [and] coming upon him. And a voice came from the heavens, saying, “This is my beloved Son,* with whom I am well pleased.”

Fr. Pastorius’s Reflection: I chose Matthew’s version of Jesus’ baptism because of this quote from Elena Bosetti’s book A Contemplative Reading of the Gospel of Mathew: The Journey Toward Hope: “It should be noted that this is the first time where the testimony to Jesus’ identity is not backed up with a biblical citation, but by the living voice of God. But to whom is this testimony directed? Not to Jesus himself, as it is in the parallel versions of Mark and Luke: “You are my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased” The voice in Matthew does not say “you are” but “this is.” The voice addresses a third person, who could be the Baptist but could also be the Gospel audience. It is to us that the Father addresses his testimony to Jesus’ identity.” Sometimes we try so hard to convince ourselves that Jesus is not the Son of God and that He is just some great teacher, wise mystic, or religious guru, that we forget our faith makes no sense unless Jesus is the Son of God and it makes even less sense if Jesus is the Son of A God who hates us and wants our downfall. Why do we put up so much of a fight when it comes to doing God’s will when we confess to believe that Jesus is the Son of God and the Divine Father is pleased with His work of Salvation?

The Grace to be Desired: Prompted by the Holy Spirit let us pray for the grace to truly live life believing that our “God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him will not be condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.” (John 3:16& 18)

1.  Father forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.—Luke 23:34

2.   Woman, here is your son.  Here is your mother.—John 19:26-27

3.  I am thirsty. –John 19:28

4.  Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise, --Luke 23:43

5.  My God, My God, why have abandoned me? – Mark 15:34

6.  It is finished.—John 19:30

7.  Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.  Luke 23:46

1. Jesus before Pilate: I consider at me when I was misunderstood or condemned

2. Jesus carries the Cross: I recall a time when I received a cross in my life

3. Jesus falls the first time: I remember when I first experience failure, my limits

4. Mary encourages Jesus: I remember someone who encouraged me to be a good person

5. Simon helps Jesus: I consider who has been there for me in times of trouble

6. Veronica wipes Jesus' face: I thank God for those who stood by me and helped me.

7.  Jesus falls a second time: I recall times when I have experienced the helplessness of failing.

8. The women comfort Jesus: I remember the faces of people who have comforted me in my pain.

9. Jesus falls a third time: I recall a time when I had fallen and could not seem to go on

10. Jesus is stripped of his clothing: I remember an experience in my life that made me feel poor and vulnerable.

11. Jesus is nailed to the Cross: I consider what am I truly attached to in this world. Is it the Lord?

12. Jesus dies on the Cross: I ponder the depths of love God has for me that He willing set His only Son to die for me.

13. Jesus is taken down: I think of loving memories of those who have gone before me.

14.Jesus is buried: I consider what it is in my life that most holds me back from living as God wants me to.

15. The Resurrection: I praise God for I am not only for the pain but for the new life emerging and deepening within me through Jesus' grace.

Introduction
The Stations of the Cross have always been a devotion that has held a special fascination for me because there was a lady in my home parish growing up named Dorothy.  Dorothy would pray the Stations of the Cross each and every day.  As a child this impressed so much that as a seminarian I came to see Dorothy as a person who I could trust with my prayer intentions.  I knew without a doubt that when Dorothy would agree to pray for my intention she would and I do believe that part of the reason why I am a priest today is because of her prayers. 

Another aspect of the Stations of the Cross that attracted me greatly was how the devotion allowed me to see myself present on the original Good Friday.  Sometimes I mediate on each station and what it must have felt like for Jesus.  Knowing more and more of what He went through helps me to have confidence in His love for me.  There are also times when I pray the Stations of the Cross in which I try to place situations from my own life next to each station.  Doing this prayer exercise helps me know that Jesus can sympathize with me during my times of sufferings for He too suffered (and always to a greater extent than I).  When I feel lonely and rejected by others for example, I know Jesus understands me because He too was rejected.  Finally sometimes I envision myself as a member of the crowd yelling “crucify him”.  This great devotion helped me to understand in a very real sense what pain that I cause God through my sins and I use it as a call to conversion, a call to deepen my faith. 

Let us spend some time reflecting on each of the Stations of the Cross in a threefold structure: what must it have been like for Jesus, when have I been treated like Jesus, and finally when have I crucified the Lord by the way I treat others.  We adore You O Christ and we praise You for by Your holy Cross You have redeemed the world.

1st Station: Jesus is Condemned to Death
What would it have been like to be there?  What would it be like to see the great miracle worker from Galilee brought in and made to stand before Pilate?  This man, Jesus, who was known for curing lepers, multiplying loaves and fishes, and even for brining the dead back to life, now stands before a Roman judge and He looks so weak and so helpless.  Where are all His friends?  Did not one of them stay by His side?  Why does He remain silent?  Why does He not perform some great miracle?

We have all experienced times in our life when we were condemned unjustly by others.  One that sticks out in my mind in a special way was when I was doing my best to help someone and this person pretended to accept my help but then went behind my back and complained to others about me.  I was devastated for in my heart I was truly trying to help this person in his or her situation.  I was saddened by the fact that he or she thought that I was being motivated out of selfish reasons.  Like Christ all my good works seemed to mean nothing.  I found great comfort in knowing that Jesus himself had been so misjudged.  Before I go any further, I want to make sure that I explain that there is a temptation in praying this way for unlike Christ we are not perfect.  During this period of turmoil, I had to do a thorough examination of conscience and talk with others to make sure, that I had not distorted the situation and was unnecessarily playing the victim.

As we all have experienced times in life where we were condemned unjustly by others, we, if we are honest with ourselves, we will admit that most of the times we are the one misjudging others.  One time that sticks out to me was on a CHRISTPOWER youth retreat.  I walked into the auditorium of the seminary and saw the youth minister from another parish up on stage babbling and singing a song about llamas.  My first thought was that she was crazy.  The youth minister though went on to tie all the parts of her talk together in an amazing way and over the next few years, I would come to enjoy working with her and having her as a friend.  It scares me to think that I may have missed this important friendship because of my judgmental attitude. 

2nd Station: Jesus Takes Up His Cross.
What must Jesus had been thinking when He saw that piece of wood for the first time?  Crucifixions were quite common during the time of Jesus life.  When we execute someone in the United States, we do so behind closed doors in a prison.  This was not the practice of the Romans.  They used crucifixion as a way of scaring people into submission so they would sometimes crucify a person along a major highway for everyone to see.  I think that it would be safe to say that Jesus saw a few crucifixions in His lifetime besides His own.  He had to have some idea of the pain that was coming His way but yet He embraced His cross.  Why?  The answer is for LOVE of you and me.  St. Paul says in Romans 5: “For Christ, while we were still helpless, yet died at the appointed time for the ungodly.  Indeed, only with difficulty does one die for a just person, though perhaps for a good person one might even find courage to die.  But God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us” (Romans 5:6-8)

I, like Christ, have embraced sacrifices for the good of others.  In my vocation, I chose to sacrifice having a family of my own, so that I could minister fully to the People of God.  At time this sacrifice is painful but at other times, the joy I see when others come closer to God makes it all worthwhile.  Married couples who are truly living out their marriage vows embrace sacrifices for the good of their spouse and the sacrifices that parents make for their children are also truly amazing.  Sacrifice, while painful because we give up something, often leads to greater happiness.  As Jesus tells us the one who loses his life will save his life.
There are times in life though when instead of embracing sacrifice, I instead put the burden on others.  I often fail to embrace the demands of unconditional love and therefore I often make people jump through hoops or carry unnecessary burdens in order to earn my respect or forgiveness.  Often the people I do this too are the people that I am closest too.  Would are lives not be better if we forgave quicker and were among the first to help?  I think so. 

3rd Station Jesus Falls The First Time
Talk about a fall from grace.  I do not think that it is possible to even come close to even imagining the power the Word of God possesses by the mere fact that He is God.  It was the spoken Word of God that created the universe, that parted the Red Sea that led the Israelites into the promise land.  Now the burden of our sins weighs Him down so much that He falls.  Jesus is like the strongman hero that could easily avoid the oncoming boulder but willingly steps in the way and takes the brunt of the attack in order to save others.  God did not have to suffer. Jesus did not have to become weak.  He chose to suffer for us.  Amazingly it is in His weakness that He shows His strength of heart.

There are times that I have been like Christ choosing to be weak in order to help others.  There are times in my life when I know how to fix a situation and to make things right (or at least I think I know) but I chose not to force others to do things my way but rather I open myself to others ideas and ways of doing things and because of this sometimes we have failed.  I am reminded though at those times that God desires me to love and not to be right.  By not having all the answers and being open to others ideas I help build community. 

There are however times in which I have not acted Christ-like and I have forced others to do things my way or when I do not get my way I have walked away.  These times have often left me acting like the Roman soldiers kicking Christ when He was down.  I am sure that they thought that they were the powerful ones.  Little did they know?  When  we look down upon others it is really not a sign of strength but rather one of weakness.  To love even when one is being kicked is true power.

4th Station: Jesus Meet His Mother
Over the past few years, I have become firmly convinced that one of the hardest things Jesus had to endure while hanging on the cross was the emotional trauma that comes from seeing a love one in pain and knowing that there was nothing He could do for His mother at that moment.

There have been many times in my life, where I find myself face to face with someone who is very dear to me and at the same time feel absolutely powerless to take away their pain.  Like Christ, I find myself trying to console them to the best of my ability and trust that a greater good will come out of the situation because God knows what He is doing.  I felt that way when a woman named Ann died.  Ann was a young mother of three kids and she died of cancer.  I got to know Ann very well during her battle with cancer and I felt a very close bound with her.  I can remember at one point wishing that I could do anything to alleviate her pain even if that meant switching places with her but at last I was not able to.  The experience left me with a greater knowledge of just how much Christ endured out of love for me. 
In the other stations, when I have focused on times in which I have been like those who crucified Christ, but for this station I want to focus on how the Blessed Virgin Mary can be a great role model for us in times of suffering.  One of the first things I noticed is Mary’s personal ministry at this point does not consist of saying the right thing but rather she is truly offering a ministry of presence.  Overcoming her fears she loves her Son so much that she stays by His side.  Often people want to run away from those who are suffering because they do not like to be in situations that are beyond their control.  Mary shows us though to truly love, we must be willing to be uncomfortable with not being in control and the only way to do that is to trust that the Father is in control.

5th Station: Simon helps Jesus with His cross
Can you imagine the burden that Jesus was carrying?  Not just the wood of the Cross but our sins.  The very Word of God who created the world in six days, the Word of God that split open the Red Sea, the Word of God who spoke through the prophets of ancient Israel is now reduced to such a state of weakness that the Romans now fear that He will not make it to Calvary.  I still hold fast to the idea that all Jesus had to do was say the word and He would be surrounded by an army of angels.  He literally chooses though to carry our burdens and not to stop.  What could motivate a person to do this?  I believe only unconditional divine love and this is the same love that we are invited to take part in through the Sacraments and by a life of grace.

Just who was Simon of Cyrene?  I wonder sometimes if Simon had been someone that had heard Jesus speak or maybe Simon was one of the many nameless people that Jesus had cured or maybe Simon was one of those people who ate of the loaves and fishes that Jesus had multiplied.  Simon may have simple been a follower of Christ who wished to stay in the background unnoticed by all but fate had a different plan.  A situation out of his control forced Simon to take up the cross of Christ.  I wonder if Simon did this willingly or begrudgingly.  I know there are times in my life where I wish to remain simply as one of the unknown followers of Christ.  When I look at these times, it is often because I am afraid of what others will say or do if they find out that I am a religious person.  These are also the times that I complain about the crosses that I have to carry.  There are times however when I am proud of my Catholicism and in those times, I take pride in helping our Lord with His (really our) burden.  What is the difference in me?  The amount of God’s unconditional divine love that I allow to take root in my life determines my attitude toward the crosses that life sends my way.  When I pray and take my faith seriously then there is no burden to heavy. 

There have been times in my life though that I have been like the Roman soldiers forcing burdens onto other people.  Why did not one of them help our Lord with His cross?  They probably had many reasons for not wanting to be the one to help the Lord with His cross and sadly they are all probably very similar to the reasons that run through my head as I refuse to help others with their burdens in life.

6th Station: Veronica Wipes the Face of Jesus
As I wonder who Simon was, I also wonder who Veronica was.  Was she the woman caught in adultery instead of Mary Magdalene or was she one of the women who traveled with Jesus during His ministry or was the first time she saw Jesus that day?  We as Catholics believe that Jesus left an imprint of his face on her cloth and I can remember being a small child and the Stations of the Cross booklet refereeing to this image on her cloth as a gift from Jesus back to her – a small simple way for Jesus to say thank you.  I was always taken back by this and amazed that our Lord could continue to think of others even in the midst of all his pain and suffering.

The thing that amazes me the most about Veronica was that she took initiative.  Often when we come across a problem or someone suffering we give up because it seems like the problem is just too big.  Veronica however takes initiative and does what she can and her small deed done with great love is rewarded.   I also like the fact that Veronica though is not mentioned in the Bible for in a way she is a symbol for all of us who assist Christ by our small loving deeds.

7th Station: Jesus falls the Second Time
I wonder what was going through Jesus’ head at this point.  Here He is now laying flat on his back or face down on the gravel road.  I wonder, do you think that maybe He was thinking back to His temptation in the desert and that the devil had the right idea.  I do not think that it is unreasonable to think that this thought may have occurred to Him at this point.  After all He was still human and still susceptible to temptation.

I know that there have been times in my life where I have found myself flat on my back or face down in the gravel road mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually and at these times I find that I give into temptation much easier than  when I am feeling healthy and happy.  I know too that I can become very frustrated with God’s way of doing things when the going gets tough.  There seems to be a part of our human psyche that says to us “now that we are following God then only good things will happen to us.”  We seem to forget that nowhere in Scripture does God promise this.  In fact Jesus tells us that if we follow Him we will necessarily have times in which we are persecuted.  The Good News of the Gospel though is that if we are faithful during these times we will experience a heavenly joy here on earth and everlasting joy in the next.

Unfortunately there are times; in life when I have seen others down and instead of offering them assistance.  I simple walk pass them or even worse I become the one who tempts them into things like gossip and revenge.  I know that I do this because I see in some sick and sinful way the other person’s success or holiness as a threat to me so instead of lifting them up, I try to keep them down.

8th Station: Jesus Meets the Weeping Women
Jesus gets up and begins walking again.  His sure determination should be an inspiration to us all.  Now he pauses for a moment to offer comfort to others.  Even in the midst of His pain and suffering He can care for others.  I have always been amazed at funeral homes that often the people who have lost a love one, especially if it has been a tragic death, find themselves naturally ministering to those who come to offer their sympathy.  What was going on in Jesus’ mind at this point?  The only word that comes to mind is compassion.

I think there is a fine line between compassion and pity.  Compassion is based on trying to understand how the other person is feeling.  Pity is when you look down upon the other person and are grateful that you are not them.  We know that Christ felt compassion on them because He emptied Himself and took the form of a slave.  It was for their sins that He was dying.

There are times where I have offered compassion to others but sadly there have been times where I have pitied others.  Only through prayer can one move from pitying someone to having compassion on them.  For prayers remind us that we to are sinners and we to need God’s grace.

9th Station: Jesus falls a Third Time.

10th Station: Jesus is Stripped
The Tenth Station is where the man who had no home, loses what little he had.  The object poverty of the Son of Man should shock each one of us.  The Almighty God who created the universe now has nothing.  If God can survive with nothing why is it that we have such a hard time surviving with what we have?
One of the most important things in life for us to discover is the difference between needs and wants.  As a child there were many things that I wanted that I never got and yet I survived.  As an adult I try to allow myself to be stripped of my wants for the latest gadget, for the best clothes, for (fill in the blank) so that my happiness depends a lot less on material things then it used to.  This is a continual process I believe for every good Christian. There are times when my actions and sometimes my lack thereof have resulted in others poverty.  I know that I should be become a better consumer by developing a better social justice minded consciousness.  I ask God now for the grace to work on this weakness of mine.

11th Station Jesus is Nailed to the Cross
I will not even try to imagine what it must have felt like to be nailed to a piece of wood and left there to die.  I do think that it is important for us to try to meditate on the pain Christ felt because I think it helps us take our faith more seriously.  In addition to meditating on the pain of Christ it is important to make the connection of Christ’s crucifixion with the Eucharist.  I use to think that I had to defend the Mass when I heard people say “the Mass is boring”.  Now I don’t feel that way anymore because I don’t come to the Mass to be entertained.  The change in my life really happened with me as I began to see my grandma deteriorate.  It was painful for me to watch her lose her mind to dementia.  I would try to spend at least an hour a week with her (normally on my day off).  I did it not because it was easy or because I had nothing better to do.  I did it because I wanted to show her my love.  In the same way with all that God has done for us one day a week is not too much to ask.  In fact I think it is way too little.

There have been times that I have been crucified for the sake of greater good.  This has often happened as I stood up for something that was truer than I could imagine.  I have to admit though that in my mind I am more like St. Dismas (the good thief) then Christ.  I realize that what I am doing pails in comparison to the holy innocent man who suffers besides me. 

There have been times though that I have been like the other thief too ridiculing my faith in Christ.  I have often done this by misjudging others spirituality.  I can find myself easily falling into the trap of making fun of or looking down at others who do not pray the way that I pray.  Grace has taught me though that because someone’s prayers may differ from mine it does not mean that it is better or worse.  It is just different

12th Station: Jesus Died
I have no idea what death is like!!!  I have never died and came back.  Fr. Bob Barron, a priest from Chicago, talks about Jesus going into God-forsakenness in order to find the lost sheep (the sinner) and bring the lost sheep home.  When I think about it in this light, I can see that there was probably a sense of eagerness in Christ to accomplish His mission not to get the pain over with but rather an eagerness that would be more similar to a parent embracing a lost child.

While I have not died yet, I have gone to places where I would rather not go out of love.  These have not been physical spaces but rather more mental and spiritual places.  I have had to wrestle with my own weaknesses and fear of death while ministering to those who were sick in order to show them God’s love.  I have had to sit in hospital waiting rooms with families feeling absolutely powerless and out of control.  It is at times like that I have experienced God working through me the most and during this time he was not using my mind, my knowledge, etc but rather my heart, my concern, my caring, my presence.  It was almost like I had to die to my need for control or to be right and to simply “be” trusting in God’s love and mercy. There have been times when I have refused to die to my need to be in control and unfortunately those are probably the time that I have hurt others the most.  For those times, I am truly sorry.

13th Station: Jesus is Taken Down from the Cross
Silence!!! It is hard to imagine what it must have been like to simply be dead.  Was Jesus busy gathering the poor souls to enter into heaven?  Was He sitting around playing solitaire with himself waiting for the time of His resurrection?  Was He simply is some state of doing nothingness”?  I don’t know. 

As I was reflecting on this station, I could not help but think about the nights in between my priestly assignments.  All the goodbyes have been said and all my stuff had been moved.  The old parish was no longer home and the new parish was just a place filled with strangers and possibilities.  Change can be a difficult time or a time of new excitement or both.  The key to these times of change is to realize that our identity comes not from what we do or say but from who we are—the person God created me to be. 

There have been times where I have tried to get my identity from my work or from my friends and these times have always resulted in times of great sorrow because those things are always fluctuating.  I may be a success one day and a failure the next and as one priest that I live with use to say “30% of the people will love you, 30% of the people will hate you, and 30% of the people will not care about you, which means we can only really affect 10% of the people.”  God though is unchanging.  He has loved me from the beginning of the world.

Jesus’ message on earth was “Repent” or a better translation I am told “change the way you are thinking.”  Change though can be scary because it often only comes after we have honestly examine ourselves and see our need for change and come to know that we can change with God’s grace.

14th Station: Jesus is buried.
What seems to be an end is only the beginning.  When Easter comes the tomb will be empty.  It is interesting that no one witnesses the resurrection.  It is as if the authors want us to know that to experience the resurrection we must first wrestle with the mystery of the empty tomb?  I find that one of the great things about being Catholic is that faith often only comes after wrestling with the impossible.  Catholicism is one of those things that must be experienced.  It is more than just getting the correct answer to some religion test.  We must wrestle with all the Church teaches us.

PREPARATORY PRAYER
ALL: Gracious God, Each of us is called to discipleship with Your Son Jesus through the sacrament of Baptism. We are sent to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus, to share the good News of God’s saving love. Hear our prayer as we ponder the redemptive vocation of Jesus who continues to call men and women to walk in His way, renewing His Church and caring for His people. We give You thanks for the mystery of every vocation and we pray for all who have answered Your call. Send forth Your Holy Spirit upon the faithful and enkindle in them the fire of Your love, drawing many young men and women to dedicate themselves with an undivided heart to the love of Christ and His Kingdom. Amen.
 
THE FIRST STATION: PILATE CONDEMNS JESUS TO DIE
V:        We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You. (Genuflect)
R:        Because, by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world. (Rise)

V:        Consider how Jesus Christ, after being scourged and crowned with thorns, was unjustly condemned by Pilate to die on the cross. (Kneel)
R:        Jesus, we ask that You call young men and women today to publicly accept Your invitation to follow You in spite of what others may think or say. Give to them a passion for reaching out through Your love to the needs of Your brothers and sisters. (Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be…)
 
Through her heart, His sorrow sharing / All His bitter anguish bearing / Now at length the sword has passed
 
THE SECOND STATION: JESUS ACCEPTS HIS CROSS
V:        We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You. (Genuflect)
R:        Because, by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world. (Rise)

V:        Consider Jesus as He walked this road with the cross on His shoulders, thinking of us, and offering to His Father in our behalf, the death He was about to suffer. (Kneel)
R:        Jesus, help those You call to see in the cross the symbol of union with You. Give to them the zeal and talent to minister to those who are burdened with pain, sorrow, confusion and alienation. Let them see that in the cross is life. (Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be...)
 
O, how sad and sore depressed / Was that Mother highly blessed / of the sole Begotten One
 
THE THIRD STATION: JESUS FALLS THE FIRST TIME
V:        We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You. (Genuflect)
R:        Because, by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world. (Rise)

V:        Consider the first fall of Jesus. Loss of blood from the scourging and crowing with thorns had so weakened Him that He could hardly walk; and yet He had to carry that great load upon His shoulders. As the soldiers struck Him cruelly, He fell several times under the heavy cross. (Kneel)
R:        Jesus, let those You call know that they do not have to be perfect. Let them be open to Your transforming grace that can accomplish more than anyone could imagine. Give to those who respond to Your call to the priesthood and consecrated life, a deep trust that You will complete what You have begun in them. (Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be...)
 
Christ above in torment hangs / She beneath beholds the pangs / of her dying, glorious Son
 
THE FOURTH STATION: JESUS MEETS HIS AFFLICTED MOTHER
V:        We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You. (Genuflect)
R:        Because, by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world. (Rise)

V:        Consider how the Son met His Mother on His way to Calvary. Jesus and Mary gazed at each other and their looks became as so many arrows to wound those hearts which loved each other so tenderly (Kneel)
R:        Jesus, instill in young men and women the desire to come to know Your Mother and find in their prayerful reflection of the scriptures, a woman of faith, hope and love whose vocation is an example for all. Help parents to promote and support vocations among their children, families and church communities. (Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be...)
 
Is there one who would not weep / 'whelmed in miseries so deep / Christ's dear Mother to behold.
 
THE FIFTH STATION: SIMON HELPS JESUS CARRY THE CROSS
V:        We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You. (Genuflect)
R:        Because, by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world. (Rise)

V:        Consider how weak and weary Jesus was. At each step He was at the point of expiring. Fearing that He would die on the way when they wished Him to die the infamous death of the cross, they forced Simon of Cyrene to help carry the cross after Our Lord. (Kneel)
R:        Jesus, send forth your grace upon those you call to church leadership. Help them to accept and affirm others’ gifts in the building of community, in proclaiming the message and in reaching out in service. (Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be...)
 
Can the human heart refrain / From partaking in her pain / In that Mother's pain untold?
 
THE SIXTH STATION: VERONICA OFFERS HER VEIL TO JESUS
V:        We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You. (Genuflect)
R:        Because, by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world. (Rise)

V:        Consider the compassion of the holy woman, Veronica. Seeing Jesus in such distress, His face bathed in sweat and blood, she presented Him with her veil. Jesus wiped His face, and left upon the cloth the image of His sacred countenance. (Kneel)
R:        Jesus, call forth numerous men and women to see Your face on all whom they meet. Help Your servants to truly understand that whatever good is done to the least of Your brothers and sisters is done to You. (Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be...)
 
Bruised, derided, cursed, defiled / She beheld her tender Child / All with bloody scourges rent.
 
THE SEVENTH STATION: JESUS FALLS THE SECOND TIME
V:        We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You. (Genuflect)
R:        Because, by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world. (Rise)

V:        Consider how the second fall of Jesus under His cross renews the pain in all the wounds of the head and members of our afflicted Lord. (Kneel)
R:        Jesus, teach those You call to the priesthood and consecrated life to accept their own and others’ limitations, relying on God’s merciful grace. Help them in these times of darkness to reach out especially to those whom the world calls “fallen”—persons who are addicted, imprisoned, poor, aged, of ill health. (Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be...)
 
For the sins of His own nation / Saw Him hang in desolation / Till His spirit forth He sent.
 
THE EIGHTH STATION: JESUS SPEAKS TO THE WOMEN
V:        We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You. (Genuflect)
R:        Because, by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world. (Rise)

V:        Consider how the women wept with compassion seeing Jesus so distressed and dripping with blood as He walked along. Jesus said to them, ``Weep not so much for Me, but rather for Your children.'' (Kneel)
R:        Jesus, remove any prejudices or biases from all whom You call to walk with You as priests or in the consecrated life. Let those who follow You see that all God’s people are created equal, male and female, regardless of race or culture, and that our heavenly Father has no favorites. Let their words and example speak of Christ’s justice, peace and joy. (Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be...)
 
O sweet Mother! Fount of Love / Touch my spirit from above / Make my heart with yours accord.
 
THE NINTH STATION: JESUS FALLS THE THIRD TIME
V:        We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You. (Genuflect)
R:        Because, by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world. (Rise)

V:        Consider how Jesus Christ fell for the third time. He was extremely weak and the cruelty of His executioners was excessive; they tried to hasten His steps though He hardly had strength to move. (Kneel)
R:        Jesus, help those You call to know that all vocations are grace-filled; that priests, sisters, brothers, deacons, consecrated men and women, married and single are all favored by God. Instill in them the understanding that nothing can separate them from the love of God who is actively present in good times and in bad. (Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be...)
 
Make me feel as You have felt / Make my soul to glow and melt / With the love of Christ, my Lord.
 
THE TENTH STATION: JESUS IS STRIPPED OF HIS GARMENTS
V:        We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You. (Genuflect)
R:        Because, by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world. (Rise)

V:        Consider how Jesus was violently stripped of His clothes by His executioners. The inner garments adhered to his lacerated flesh and the soldiers tore them off so roughly that the skin came with them. Have pity for your Savior so cruelly treated. (Kneel)
R:        Jesus, grant that all those being called to the priesthood and consecrated life will clothe themselves with sincere compassion, humility, kindness, gentleness and patience, forgiveness and thankfulness…and over all these virtues, let them put on love. May they understand that their vocation discernment is their deepest response to Your love. (Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be...)
 
Holy Mother, pierce me through / in my heart each wound renew / of my Savior crucified.
 
THE ELEVENTH STATION: JESUS IS NAILED TO THE CROSS
V:        We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You. (Genuflect)
R:        Because, by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world. (Rise)

V:        Consider Jesus, thrown down upon the cross, He stretched out His arms and offered to His eternal Father the sacrifice of His life for our salvation. They nailed His hands and feet, and then, raising the cross, left Him to die in anguish. (Kneel)
R:        Jesus, instill in youth today a deep desire to make a difference in the world no matter what the cost. Let the courageous example of modern martyrs inspire them to meet all challenges with faith, hope and love. Fill them with Your presence and the grace to respond to the call to “go out to all the world.” (Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be...)
 
Let me share with you His pain / Who for all our sins was slain / Who for me in torments died.
 
THE TWELFTH STATION: JESUS DIES UPON THE CROSS
V:        We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You. (Genuflect)
R:        Because, by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world. (Rise)

V:        Consider how Jesus, after three hours of agony on the cross, is finally overwhelmed with suffering and, abandoning Himself to the weight of His body, bows His head and dies. (Kneel)
R:        Jesus, give to all who are considering their vocation a deep love of the Eucharist, the Most Holy Sacrament of Your passion, death and resurrection. Let them find in the Mass a daily renewal of Your invitation to live their lives through You, with You, and in You, giving glory and honor to God our Father. (Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be...)
 
Let me mingle tears with thee / Mourning Him who mourned for me / All the days that I may live.
 
THE THIRTEENTH STATION: JESUS IS TAKEN DOWN FROM THE CROSS
V:        We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You. (Genuflect)
R:        Because, by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world. (Rise)

V:        Consider how, after Our Lord had died, He was taken down from the cross by two of His disciples, Joseph and Nicodemus, and placed in the arms of His afflicted Mother. She received Him with unutterable tenderness and pressed Him close to her bosom. (Kneel)
R:        Jesus, touch the minds, hearts and spirits of those You call to serve the people of God. Fill them with the assurance of our Blessed Mother’s love and care for them, especially as they grow to embrace their vocations. Enable them to respond to Your call to bring Your redeeming presence to a world grieving, fearful and hungry for Your Truth through prayer and service.
(Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be...)
 
By the cross with you to stay / There with you to weep and pray / Is all I ask of you to give.
 
THE FOURTEENTH STATION: JESUS IS PLACED IN THE SEPULCHER
V:        We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You. (Genuflect)
R:        Because, by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world. (Rise)

V:        Consider how the disciples carried the body of Jesus to its burial, while His holy Mother went with them and arranged it in the sepulcher with her own hands. They then closed the tomb and all departed. (Kneel)
R:        We thank you, Jesus, for the infinite power of Your death and resurrection which brought salvation and healing to the world. We thank You for all whom You have called to follow You in the past 2000 years, men and women formally dedicating their lives to the building up of Your Church. We pray for all seminarians and novices in formation. Let all
young men and women today reflect on the lives of the saints, and let them come to meet and know priests, religious, and lay ministers in our times who continue to respond to Christ’s call, “Come, follow me.” (Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be...)
 
Virgin of all virgins blest / Listen to my fond request / Let me share your grief divine.
 
PRAYER TO JESUS CHRIST CRUCIFIED
All: My good and dear Jesus, I kneel before You, asking You most earnestly to engrave upon my heart a deep and lively faith, hope, and charity, with true repentance for my sins, and a firm resolve to make amends. As I reflect upon Your five wounds, and dwell upon them with deep compassion and grief, I recall, good Jesus, the words the Prophet David spoke long ago concerning Yourself: ``They pierced My hands and My feet; they have numbered all My bones.''
 
The faithful who, after receiving Communion, recite this prayer before a picture of Christ Crucified may gain a plenary indulgence on any Friday in Lent and a partial indulgence on other days of the year, with the addition of prayers for the Holy Father's intention. (Enchiridion Indulgentiarum, no. 22) A Plenary indulgence is grated to the faithful who make the pious exercise of the Way of the Cross. Those who are impeded can gain the same indulgence if they spend at least one half an hour in pious reading and meditation on the Passion and Death of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Enchiridion Indulgentiarum, no. 63)

Stations of the Cross for Vocations