A YOUNG DISCIPLE

+Nihil Obstat:
Rev. Isidore Dixon, STD
Censor Deputatus

+Imprimatur:
Rev. William J. Kane
Vicar General for the
Archdiocese of Washington
May 8, 1991

The nihil obstat and imprimatur are official declarations that a book or pamphlet is free of doctrinal or moral error. No implication is contained therein that those who have granted the nihil obstat and the imprimatur agree with the content, opinions or statements expressed.

A YOUNG DISCIPLE'S WAY OF THE CROSS

by the Students of St. Jude's Parish, Rockville, MD

Edited by Rev. T. G. Morrow
Illustrations by Deborah Morrow

This booklet is dedicated to the exemplar of all disciples, Mary, mother of God.
Printed by St Martin de Porres Dominican Community New Hope, Kentucky

Hymn (to melody of Stabat Mater)

Jesus in that garden drear, You prayed through your human fear. May we follow in your steps.

Introduction

Priest: Christ suffered for you and left you an example that you should follow in his steps (1 Pet 2:21). All: Dear Jesus, we have all kinds of objections to doing what God wants. But if we would follow you, we must suffer for others by doing the things we object to. All our sufferings will never amount to the pain you went through for us. Help us to accept our sufferings just as you accepted yours.

by Melissa Crichton

Lord as you are standing there, Pilate gives decree unfair. May we stand so brave with you.

1 JESUS IS CONDEMNED TO DEATH

Priest: We adore you O Christ and we praise you. All: (Genuflecting) Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

Priest: Though harshly treated, he submitted and opened not his mouth: Like a lamb led to the slaughter, or a sheep before the shearers, he was silent... Oppressed and condemned, he was taken away (Is 53:7, 8).

All: Lord Jesus, these people want you to die when all you want to do is help them be with your Father in heaven. Though they treated you harshly, you said not a word. When my friends tease me at school, help me not to get angry and say mean things to hurt them back. Help me be strong like you and never seek revenge. by Cara Masumei

You pick up your cross in pain, but your work is not in vain. Help us carry ours with you.

2 JESUS TAKES HIS CROSS

Priest: We adore you O Christ and we praise you. All: (Genuflecting) Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

Priest: If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny his very self, take up his cross, and follow in my steps (Mk 8:34).

All: Dear Lord Jesus, help me to know the difference between right and wrong, and to be kind to friends and family. Help me to be strong in spirit as you were when you picked up your cross. I need to remember to be kind and patient when friends make fun of me or call me names. And, please help me to be thankful for what I have.

by Aaron Foster

Now beneath the cross you fall, on the rugged road you sprawl. Help us in our falls to rise.

3 JESUS FALLS THE FIRST TIME

Priest: We adore you O Christ and we praise you. All: (Genuflecting) Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

Priest: It was our infirmities that he bore, our sufferings that he endured... He was pierced for our offenses, crushed for our sins (Is 53:4, 5).

All: Dear Lord Jesus, your fall must have been painful. Nonetheless, you got up again knowing you carried your cross to save us so we could go to heaven. When I fall into anger, or laziness, or am weak in the face of a temptation from Satan, I pray that you will help me get back up, and you do. Thank you, Lord Jesus.

by John Ferrell

Forth comes Mary O so blue,

Sword-pierced heart, she comforts you.

Let us turn to her in need.

4 JESUS MEETS HIS MOTHER

Priest: We adore you O Christ and we praise you.

All: (Genuflecting) Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

Priest: Can a mother forget her infant, be without compassion for the child of her womb?
(Is 49:15)

All: Mary, I know how you felt when you saw Jesus carrying the cross, seeing the crown of thorns on his head and the wounds on his back. If I had children and something like that happened to one of them, I would be really sad. Whenever something bad happens to me or to someone I love, I will turn to you because I love you, I trust you, and I know you will understand my suffering.

by Chrissy Kaibni

Simon balked, then saw your face; Noble cross he did embrace. May we help you in your poor.

5 SIMON HELPS JESUS

Priest: We adore you O Christ and we praise you. All: (Genuflecting) Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world. Priest: I was hungry and you gave me food, thirsty and you gave me drink... sick and you visited me... Whatsoever you did for the least of my brothers you did for me (Mt 25:35, 36, 40). All: Dear Jesus, Simon was a good Samaritan because he carried your cross for you. We should be good Samaritans too: by sharing our money with the poor, by comforting the crying child, and by keeping old people company. We can all be good Samaritans if we try.

by Jason Jeffas

Now the woman wipes your face, you reward her with a grace. Help us comfort those in need.

6 VERONICA WIPES JESUS' FACE

Priest: We adore you O Christ and we praise you. All: (Genuflecting) Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world. Priest: Praised be the God and Father of Our Lord Jesus Christ, The Father of mercies and the God of all consolation. He comforts us in all our afflictions and thus enables us to comfort those who are in trouble... (2 Cor 1:3, 4). All: Lord Jesus, Help me be more like Veronica, always understanding others' pain and helping those who are suffering. Help me be kind, especially to new people I meet in school. Perhaps I might talk to someone who is lonely, or just give someone a hug. Help me to step out to show my love for you by helping others.

by Cecelia Hadley and Kevin Murphy

Once again you fall in pain, Undeterred, you rise again. Teach us thus to persevere.

7 JESUS FALLS A SECOND TIME

Priest: We adore you O Christ and we praise you. All: (Genuflecting) Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world. Priest: Come to me, you who are weary and find life burdensome, and I will give you rest... for my yoke is easy, and my burden light (Mt 11:28, 30). All: Dear Jesus, when you fell again everyone wondered if you could keep going. Yet you did get up. You were showing us that when we fall we should get up and try again. When I was learning to ride a bike I fell many times and often got hurt. But I got up and tried again and now it is easy to ride my bike. It's the same way with avoiding sin. We should never stop trying, no matter how often we fall.

by Elizabeth Rossi

You turn cries of kind affection to concern o'er your rejection. Let us weep at this sad sin.

8 JESUS SPEAKS TO THE WOMEN

Priest: We adore you O Christ and we praise you. All: (Genuflecting) Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

Priest: O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, killing the prophets and stoning those sent to you! How often would I have gathered your children as a hen gathers her young ...and you would not!(Lk 13:34,35).

All: Lord Jesus, when you stopped to comfort the women on your way to Calvary, you were telling them to weep not so much for your suffering as for their sins and the sins of their children. We should learn from this to be more concerned for our sins, and the sins of all than for our sufferings.

by Cathy Kolf

Down a third time, Lord, you fall. To rise up you give your all. Thus from our falls may we rise.

9 JESUS FALLS A THIRD TIME

Priest: We adore you O Christ and we praise you. All: (Genuflecting) Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

Priest: Rejoice in your hope, be patient under trial, persevere in prayer
(Rom 12:12).

All: Lord Jesus, how tired you must have been from carrying that heavy cross. Every time I watch you fall it makes me sad. Please give me your strength to rise again when I fall. I know I fall every time I tell a lie, fight with my brothers, hurt someone's feelings, or argue with my mom. Please help me to get back on my feet and do better in avoiding these sins.

by Kevin Fitzpatrick

You are stripped before the crowd,

'midst the jeering voices loud.

Help us cling to nought but you.

10 JESUS IS STRIPPED

Priest: We adore you O Christ and we praise you.

All: (Genuflecting) Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

Priest: Though he was in the form of God, Jesus did not deem equality with God something to cling to. Rather he emptied himself and took the form of a slave... thus humbling himself, becoming obedient even onto death, death on a cross! (Phil 2:6‑8)

All: Lord, I'm sorry they stripped and humiliated you in front of your family and friends. You did not get angry or try to get even. Help me not to get upset when I am humiliated. And, help me never to humiliate others through words or actions, but rather to show them I care.

by Colleen Peck

Nails now bind you hands and feet;

How our Savior they mistreat.

Help us bind our lives to you.

11 JESUS IS NAILED TO THE CROSS

Priest: We adore you O Christ and we praise you. All: (Genuflecting) Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

Priest: I tell you solemnly: as a young man you fastened your belt and went about as you pleased; but when you are older... another will tie you fast and take you where you do not wish to go (Jn 21:18).

All: Dear Lord, most enduring, I am sorry for my sins for which you are suffering as you are nailed to the cross. I have certain things in my life which seem to nail me to a cross: chores, nagging friends, separations from loved ones, disappointments, and being unjustly accused. Lord Jesus, help me to accept these "nails" and to offer them for my sins and the sins of others.

by Jennifer Mullan

Finally you breathe your last,

showing us love unsurpassed.

Let us empty all for you.

12 JESUS DIES ON THE CROSS

Priest: We adore you O Christ and we praise you.

All: (Genuflecting) Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

Priest: Jesus spoke seven last "words":

Father forgive them... This day you will be with me in paradise... Behold your mother... My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?... I thirst... Into your hands I commend my spirit... It is finished!. (Lk 23:34, 39, 46; Jn 19:25, 28, 30; Mt 27:45) Then, he bowed his head and delivered over his spirit (Jn 18:30).

[All kneel for a moment of silent prayer.]

All: Lord Jesus, you died on the cross for me to save me from sin, yet you never complained. When I am tempted to cheat on a test or lie to my mom, I just think of how you suffered on the cross to undo such sins... I think of what you did for me, and what I could do for you.

by Jennifer Larkin

Nicodemus takes you down,

showing courage newly found.

Make us bold disciples too.

13 JESUS IS TAKEN FROM THE CROSS

Priest: We adore you O Christ and we praise you.

All: (Genuflecting) Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

Priest: I say to you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body... Fear him who has power to cast into hell once he has killed... whoever acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man will acknowledge before the angels of God.
(Lk 12:4, 5, 8).

All: Dear Jesus, Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus secretly believed in you, but they were afraid of what others thought. Joseph had the courage to ask Pilate for your body and thus wasn't afraid any more. Give me courage to show my love for you, Jesus, even when it is unpopular. I want to be just like you, Lord, sacrificing for others.

by Barbie Trevor

Now they place your body there

Buried in a tomb so bare.

Bury our wills in your own.

14 JESUS IS LAID IN THE TOMB

Priest: We adore you O Christ and we praise you.

All: (Genuflecting) Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

Priest: I solemnly assure you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the earth and dies, it remains just a grain. But if it dies, it bears much fruit. (Jn 12:24, 25).

All: Lord, you suffered and died for me and were buried in that dark tomb. Like you I "die" when I experience difficult times at home. When my sister talks on the phone when I'm trying to sleep, or when she puts her things on my furniture, I will remember you in that tomb. For your love I will try to live with her, help her, and make her my best friend.

by Joanne Robertson

You rise up on Easter morn'

Wondrous life from death reborn.

Let your rising give us hope.

THE RESURRECTION

Priest: Then I saw new heavens and a new earth; the former heavens and the former earth had passed away... And I saw the holy city, a new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, adorned as a bride, prepared to meet her husband. (Rv 21:1, 2)

All: Lord Jesus, by your rising from the dead you gave us hope for eternal life. When things go wrong in school I feel angry and frustrated. If I thought about your resurrection it could give me hope that my future would be better. With your help, in troubled times, I will find hope in the life you have planned for me in heaven.

by Tony Dodson