Roman Catholic Church follows Christ’s steps
“During the commemoration, there were a few selected characters who stood on the podium and played, through reading, how Jesus was betrayed by Judas Iscariot, tried by Pilate, crucified and died.”
MANZINI - Roman Catholic Church members followed Christ's steps from his trial before Pilate to his crucifixion and death.
They did this by reading the 14 Stations of the Cross while some of them were carrying portraits of what happened at each of the 14 Stations of the Cross.
This took place at the Cathedral Our Lady of Assumption (Cathedral) in Manzini yesterday afternoon when members of the church, under the leadership of Bishop Jose Louis Ponce de Leon celebrated the Stations of the Cross.
During the commemoration, there were a few selected characters who stood on the podium and portrayed, through reading, how Jesus was betrayed by Judas Iscariot, tried by Pilate, crucified and died. It is worth noting that during the commemoration, the statue of Jesus nailed on the cross, which is behind the pulpit, was covered.
Generally, the Catholic Church recommends this practice to heighten the members’ senses and build within them a longing for Easter Sunday.
First station (Jesus is condemned to death)
The high priest began to ask Him, and said to Him, "Are you the Christ, the son of the blessed one?" And Jesus said to him; “I am and you shall see the son of man sitting at the right hand of the power and coming with the clouds of heaven.” But the high priest tore His garments and said; "What further need have we of witnesses? You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?" They all condemned Him as liable to death.
Second station (Jesus carries His cross)
Pilate said to the Jews’; "Behold, your king!", but they cried out, "Away with him! Away with hum! Crucify him!" Pilate said to them; "Shall I crucify your king?" The chief priests answered; "We have no king.” Then he handed him over to them to be crucified. And so, they took Jesus and led him away, bearing the cross for himself.
(John 19:14-17) Third station (Jesus falls the first time)
If the world hates you know that it has hated me before you. If you were of the world, the world would love what is its own. Because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I have spoken to you: No servant is greater than his master. If they have persecuted me, they will persecute you also.
(John 15:18-20) Fourth station (Jesus meets His afflicted mother)
Now there were standing by the cross of Jesus, His mother and His mother's sister Mary of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalime. When Jesus, therefore, saw His mother and the disciple standing by, whom he loved. He said to His mother; "Woman, behold, your son.” Then He said to the disciple; "Behold, your mother and from that hour the disciple took her into his home.”
(John 19:25-27) Fifth station (Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus carry His cross)
When they had mocked Jesus, they took the purple cloak off and put His own clothes on Him and they led Him out to be crucified. Then they forced a certain passer-by, Simon of Cyrene, coming from the country, to take up His cross. They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha, a name meaning the place of the skull.
(Mt. 15:20-22) Sixth station (Veronica wipes the face of Jesus)
"Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you; or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and take you in or naked and clothe you? Or when did we see you sick or in prison and come to you. Answering the king will say to them; ‘Amen, I say to you, as long as you did it for one of these, the least of my brethren, you did it for me."
Seventh station the second time) (Jesus falls
“It was our weaknesses that he carried, our sufferings that he endured, while we thought of him as stricken, as one struck by God and afflicted But he was pierced for our offences, crushed for our sins; upon Him was the punishment that makes us whole, by His stripes we were healed. We had all gone astray like sheep, each following his own way; but the Lord lay upon Him the guilt of us all.”
Eighth station (Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem)
There was following Jesus a great crowd of people, and among them were some women who were bewailing and lamenting Him. Jesus turning to them said; "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me but weep for yourselves and for your children.”
(Luke 23:27-28) Ninth station (Jesus falls a third time)
“I lie prostrate in the dust; give me life according to your word. I declared my ways, and you answered me; teach me your commands. Make me understand the way of your precepts, and I will meditate on your wondrous deeds. My soul weeps for sorrow; strengthen me with your words.”
(Ps 118-25-28) 10th statin (Jesus is stripped of his clothes)
They gave Jesus wine to drink mixed with gall, but when He had tasted it, He would not drink. Then, after they had crucified Him, they divided His clothes, casting lots, to fulfil what was spoken through the prophet. They divided my clothes among them, and upon my garment they cast lots
(Mt. 27:34-35) 11th station (Jesus is nailed to the cross)
When they came to Golgotha, the place called the Skull, they crucified Jesus and the robbers, one on His right and the other on His left. And Jesus said; "Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing.”
John 19:18) (Luke 23: 33 35,
“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me, far from my prayer, far from the words of my cry? Oh my God, I cry out by day and you answer me no. I cry out by night and there is no relief for me. All my buns are racked. My heart has become like wax melting away within my chest. My throat is dried up like baked clay, my tongue cleaves to my jaws; they have pierced my hands and my feet. I can count all my bones.”
(Psalms. 21:2-3, 1516,178) 12th station (Jesus dies on the cross)
It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. The sun was darkened, and the curtain of the temple was tom in the middle. Jesus cried out with a loud voice and said; "It is finished Father, into your hands I commend my spirit." Then, bowing His head, He died.
(Luke 23:44-46) 13th station (The body of Jesus is taken down from the cross)
When the soldiers came to Jesus, they saw that he was already dead so that they did not break his legs, but one of them opened his side with a lance and immediately there came out blood and water. Joseph of Aritmathea, because he was a disciple of Jesus (although a secret one for fear of the Jews), besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus. Pilate gave permission.
(John 19:33-34, 38) 14th station (Jesus is laid in the tomb)
Joseph of Aritmathea took the body of Jesus, and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth he laid it in His new tomb, which he had hewn out of rock. Then he rolled a large stone against the entrance of the tombs and departed (Mathew 27:59-60).