The Stations of The Church
The Stations of The Church
The Stations of The Church
INTRODUCTORY PRAYER:
My Lord and my God, I am very sorry for all the sins I have committed and I ask
for your forgiveness. I detest my sins because I know that I deserve your
punishment; and above all, I am very sad because it is you, who is the everlasting
goodness, is to whom I have sinned.
I honor the everlasting love of Jesus Christ who died on the cross because of me. I
promise, not to sin again by the help of your grace, and I repent, that I will avoid
and will distance myself from places, people and things that will cause me to sin.
Forgive me, O Sacred Heart of Jesus, and grant me the grace to return to your
love. Amen.
REFLECTION:
A Community that is centered in Christ is a happy community. We can read
in the gospel of St. Luke that when the centurion’s slave was sick, Jesus
healed her. She was healed because of his master’s faith. Just like the
centurion, we just only need to approach Jesus. Jesus will never fail to help
us. He LOVES us. We are building a happy community if we know how to
love and help one another. Loving one another is an act of Faith. The
community of disciples of Christ according to PCP II is, “In communion with
one another and with Jesus Christ. It has a mandate.” The Christian
Community does not only exist for its members, because it has the mission
to proclaim the good news, to build the church, and to serve the kingdom
of God by promoting Gospel Values in our society.
REFLECTION:
The Holy Spirit inspired the early Christians to embark with their missionary
journeys. The present Church, does its missionary mandate to proclaim
Christ by the use of social media through the posting of daily gospel
reflections, AlmuSalita Video Clips, Online mass, and the like. This mandate
is also evident in Basic Ecclesial Community’s Bibliarasal (Bible Study) and
prayer meetings. Catholic schools also serve as evangelizing arm of the
Church by Prayers, Religious Activities, sacraments, and print media. The
role of the Holy Spirit is to send us forth to a mission, and to strengthen us
as we do our roles. “The Holy Spirit is the primary source of evangelization.
The Holy Spirit is the protagonist of the Church’s mission.” (CCC 852)
(PAUSE IN SILENCE. MENTION YOUR INTENTIONS.)
PRAYER:
Everlasting Joy from above, Help us realize our responsibility in the growth
of the church. Strengthen us, O Holy Spirit, for us to know and find true
happiness. Help us know and deepen our purpose in life. All of our praise,
we lift them up to you. Blessed be God. Blessed be Jesus Christ, true God
and true man. Blessed be his most holy name. Blessed be his Most Sacred
Heart. Blessed be Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament in the altar. Blessed
be the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete. Blessed be God in his Angels and his
Saints. Amen.
Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, teach us to respond to God’s call in different
ways. Amen.
HYMN: PANALANGIN NG PAGIGING BUKAS PALAD
Panginoon, turuan Mo akong maging bukas palad.
Turuan Mo akong maglingkod sa Iyo.
Na magbigay ng ayon sa nararapat.
Na walang hinihintay mula Sayo.
Na makibakang di inaalintana
mga hirap na dinaranas
sa twina'y mag sumikap na
hindi humahanap ng kapalit na kagaginhawaan.
Na di naghihintay kundi ang aking mabatid.
Na ang loob mo'y syang sinusundan.
Panginoon, turuan mo akong maging bukas palad.
Turuan mo akong maglingkod sa Iyo.
At magbigay ng ayon sa nararapat.
Na walang hinihintay mula sayo.
THE THIRD STATION: THE CHURCH IN THE MIDST OF CHALLENGES
LEADER: We adore you, O Lord, and thank you.
ALL: Because of your unconditional love and compassion.
BIBLE PASSAGE: ROMANS 8:31- 39
A Reading from the Letter of St. Paul to the Romans
In view of all of this, what can we say? If God is for us, who can be against
us? Certainly not God, who did not even keep back his own son, but offered
him for us all! He gave us his son – will he not also freely give us all things?
Who will accuse God’s Chosen People? God himself declares them not
guilty! Who then, will condemn them? Not Christ Jesus, who died, or
rather, who was raised to life and is at the right side of God, pleading with
him for us! Who then, can separate us from the love of Christ? Can trouble
do it, or hardship or persecution or hunger or poverty or danger or death?
As the scripture says, “For your sake we are in danger of death at all times;
we are treated like sheep who are going to be slaughtered.” No, in all these
things we have complete victory through him who loved us! For I am
certain that nothing can separate us from his love: neither death nor life,
neither angels nor other heavenly rulers or powers, neither the present nor
the future, neither the world above nor the world below – there is nothing
in all creation that will ever be able to separate us from the love of God
which is ours through Christ Jesus our Lord.
The Word of the Lord.
ALL: Thanks be to God.
REFLECTION:
The Church, particularly the early Christians, are strangers in foreign islands
that still press on, amid the obstacles and persecutions. Christians faced
persecutions for the sake of Christ. Jesus is the Messiah. He is the one who
faced persecutions in the first place. He was crucified, the most shameful
way of death penalty for romans, with the label, I.N.R.I (Iesus Nazareus Rex
Iudaeorum) which means, Jesus of Nazareth – King of the Jews. Stephen, is
the first martyr after Christ. He was stoned to death. We can read this in
Acts 7: 1-60 (Stephen’s Martyrdom Account). Another bible narrative that
tells about the persecution of early Christians can be seen on Acts 8:1-3.
“As members of a missionary church, we are called to proclaim the Risen
Christ to all so that his mystery would be seen in full light.” (Lumen
Gentium 8)
(PAUSE IN SILENCE. MENTION YOUR INTENTIONS.)
PRAYER:
God, source of our Strength, help us, so that we can manage the struggles,
difficulties, and challenges we face every day of our lives. And also, teach us
to be the light in the midst of darkness. Surely goodness and mercy shall
follow me all the days of my life. And I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
my whole life long. O hidden love, that loves me now. O wounded love,
who once died for me. O love crowned with light that lives for me. Enduring
love that is never tired for me. Above all, you never leave me. Endure me;
until my pain would be removed from you. Endure me; until I would
discover myself again with you. Amen.
CONCLUDING PRAYER:
O My Jesus, fountain of eternal blessings, You who blessed your apostles before
you ascended into heaven, bless me also and make me holy by your Church. Bless
my memories, that I may remember you always. Bless my understanding that I
may think of you always. Bless my soul that it may never find or try to do anything
that would give you sadness. Bless my body and all its actions. Bless my heart and
all its feelings. Bless me now and at the hour of my death. Bless me in this life and
in everlasting life, grant that your sweet blessing would be mine as a covenant of
everlasting joy. Bless by brothers and sisters, the faithful. Bless those who are
dear to me. Bless all of those whom I love, and every one to whom I owe any
gratitude, and bring me and them to rest in your Sacred Heart forever. Amen.