The Fourteenth Station Jesus Is Placed in the Tomb
We adore you O Christ and we praise you.
Because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.
Remember ‘O where can I go from your spirit?
If I lie in the grave you are there’ (Psalm 138).
In this station we remember all who are on a journey of mourning and grief.
Meditate
Women anoint the body of Jesus, soothing his scarred flesh with tenderness.
Mary of Bethany had started a ‘revolution of tenderness’ in the house of Simon the Leper,
when she anointed the feet of Jesus in preparation for his burial.
In the Apostles Creed we recite that Jesus ‘descended into hell’.
The Eastern Orthodox traditions call Holy Saturday Silent Saturday.
Christ, the New Adam descends into the underworld,
calling out as he did in the Garden of Eden, ‘Where are you?’
We all have our own underworld, our personal hell.
At this station, Christ is like a pearl seeker,
as he is described in the Syrian tradition, he searches our dark depths for the lost wonder and beauty of God’s created image in us.
He takes us by the hand to shepherd us home, back to the fold, into the heart of God’s eternal love.
Hymn
‘Shepherd me O God
Beyond my wants
Beyond my fears
From death into life.’
(composed by Marty Haugen)
Pray
Jesus, Mary and Joseph, I give you my heart and my soul.
Jesus, Mary and Joseph, assist me in my last agony.
Jesus, Mary and Joseph, may I breathe forth my soul in peace with you.
Amen.
… Holy Family: Grant Me Peace…
Sing
O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder
Consider all the worlds Thy hands have made
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder
Thy power throughout the universe displayed
[Refrain]
Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee
How great Thou art, how great Thou art
Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee
How great Thou art, how great Thou art!
And when I think, that God, His Son not sparing
Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in
That on the Cross, my burden gladly bearing
He bled and died to take away my sin.
[Refrain]
When Christ shall come, with shout of acclamation
And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart
Then I shall bow, in humble adoration
And then proclaim: “My God, how great Thou art!”
[Refrain]
(Composed by Carl Boberg, 1850–1940)
Thanks
Our Thanks go to John Cullen, P.P., author of the book ‘Calvary Covenant’ and Donal Neary, S.J. author of ‘Gospel Reflections for the Sundays of Year B’: Mark for the use of their books published by Messenger publications, c/f www.messenger.ie/bookshop/
