VII Station - Jesus falls a second time.

(Editor's note, I was unable to edit the 7th Station at Abbey Roads2, therefore I published the finished work here.)

Lectio

"Many good deeds have I shown you from the Father, for which of these do you wish to kill me? - Jn 10: 32

"My spirit is broken, my lamp of life extinguished; I am indeed mocked, and as their provocation mounts, my eyes grow dim." Job 17: 1-2

"But I am a worm and no man, the butt of men, laughing-stock of the people. All who see me deride me. They curl their lips, they toss their heads. 'He trusted in the Lord, let him save him; let him release him if this is his friend.'" Psalm 21: 7-9

Meditatio

Fallen upon the ground, exhausted with grief, derided for all of your good works, mocked for your teaching, the authorities are convinced you deserve to be reduced to such shame, you, the great teacher laying prostrate in the dust. "You deserve what you get!"

The wicked delight at the fall of the just.

Yet here you are gazing at me...on my level now. You have emptied yourself and descended to share my my misery...loving me even in my sins, sharing my shame, a companion in my loneliness and pain. Those who see me in my humiliation - do not notice you. Those who see you, fallen and humiliated - do not see the lowly and afflicted you have made yourself one with...they do not see that you have fallen and meet us on our level, no matter how low we have fallen, even in serious sin. For as the Psalmist says, "darkness is not dark for you." Ps 138: 12.

Oratio

O my Jesus, your falling, laying prostrate in the dust, fills my soul with pity and sorrow for my sins. Yet the sight of your abasement inspires my heart with confidence and love, a gift from your mercy. Conscious of my sins in the light of your merciful love, I cry out; 'My God, I am so intimately convinced that you watch over all those who hope in you. Men may turn against me; sickness may take away my strength; I may even lose your grace by sin, but I will never lose my hope. O Lord, my confidence shall be my confidence itself...for you have wonderfully established me in hope. I am sure I cannot hope too much in you; that I cannot obtain less than I hope for from you. I hope you will uphold me and make my weakness triumph over my most formidable enemies.' (S. Claude de la Colombiere.) Jesus, I trust in you! Amen.

Contemplatio

"Arise, my beloved, my beautiful one, and come!" Songs 2:13

We praise thee O Christ and we bless thee, for by thy holy cross thou hast redeemed the world.

O most sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, my Mother, my confidence!

Where To Purchase Books...

Many booksellers are often out of stock on popular titles or new books, they often buy in bits and drabs in order to avoid heavy inventories, or they just may be negligent in keeping up with demand and offering good customer service.

Here is a little heads-up: In the future you should check out Amazon.com for books. For instance, Raymond Arroyo's newest book on Mother Angelica sells for $11.53 at Amazon, $5.42 cheaper than the list price of $16.95 - even if you paid shipping it may be cheaper to purchase online than from a walk-in bookstore. (Also - it is in stock, you don't have to wait for the bookseller to order it in.) If you purchased both of Raymond's books on Mother, or any other book with it, when your purchase is over $25.00 you get free shipping.

This was better than my employee discount where I formerly worked - hence I often ordered from Amazon. (I have no connection with Amazon, nor do I receive any benefits from them for reporting this. I simply know how expensive books can be, as well as what the publisher's discounts happen to be and what the mark-up is in stores. I'm not aware that it affects the author's profits one bit.)

It's a good thing, as Martha would say.

Abbey-Roads2 has the story...

Who is this pregnant woman? Check out Abbey-Roads2.