"Oración del Vía Crucis, San Juan 1763"

  XIV The fever took my child from me I buried her beneath a tree They laid your bones inside a borrowed grave Where hesitating hope stands silently   At the fourteenth Station of the Cross Jesus is laid in the tomb. The Gospel writers recorded the event like this: “Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb” (Matthew 27: 59-61). “So Joseph bought some linen cloth, took down the body, wrapped it in the linen, and placed it in a tomb cut out of rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joseph saw where he was laid” (Mark 15:46-47). “Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen cloth and placed it in a tomb cut in the rock, one in which no one had yet been laid...

  XIII The doors are opened quietly I feel the stones beneath my knee Those who remained took all that they could save This praying gives tranquility   At the thirteenth Station of the Cross Jesus’ body is taken down from the cross. The Gospel writers remembered the event like this: “As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth…” (Matthew 27:59-61). “It was Preparation Day (that is, the day before the Sabbath). So as evening approached, Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Council, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. Pilate was surprised to hear that he was already dead. Summoning the centurion, he asked him if Jesus had already died. When he learned fro...

  XII Daylight fades, the hour is late I leave the fields and close the gate The dark stole day and held you to the tree Wrapped in darkness there we wait   At the twelfth Station of the Cross Jesus dies on the cross.   Listen to the ways the gospel writers record the last breath of Jesus on the cross. “And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life.   They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people.   When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, ‘Surely he was the Son of God!’” ( Matthew 27:50-54). “With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last....

  XI The bells of San Juan set us free And bind us in community A hammer’s blow consigned you to your fate The ringing resonates in me   At the ninth Station of the Cross Jesus is nailed to the cross.   “When they had crucified him, they divided up his clothes by casting lots. And sitting down, they kept watch over him there. Above his head they placed the written charge against him: this is jesus, the king of the jews .   Two rebels were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left” (Matthew 27:35-38). “And they crucified him. Dividing up his clothes, they cast lots to see what each would get.   It was nine in the morning when they crucified him.   The written notice of the charge against him read: the king of the jews .   They crucified two rebels with him, one on his right and one on his left” (Mark 15:24-27). “When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the...

  X   My loom and shuttle swift create Colors bold and perfect weight The soldiers’ hands stripped cloth and dignity My weaving cannot mend the hate   At the tenth Station of the Cross, Jesus clothes are taken away.   All four gospels record Jesus’ final possession being taken away from him.   “When they had crucified him, they divided up his clothes by casting lots” ( Matthew 27:35).   “And they crucified him. Dividing up his clothes, they cast lots to see what each would get” (Mark 15:24).   “Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots” (Luke 23:34). “‘Let’s not tear it,’ they said to one another. ‘Let’s decide by lot who will get it.’ This happened that the scripture might be fulfilled that said, ‘They divided my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment.’ So this is what the soldiers did” (John 19:23). Ref...

  IX Others work a slower pace Their weakness signifies disgrace A final time you fell beneath the weight Pride with tolerance replace   At the ninth Station of the Cross Jesus falls for the last time. In the traditional Stations of the Cross, Jesus falls three times, although there is no reference to his falling in the Gospels. Perhaps these stations were included to accentuate the humanity of Christ. Isaiah 53 reminds us of the price Jesus paid for our sin.   “Yet it was the Lord ’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer,      and though the Lord make his life an offering for sin, he will see his offspring and prolong his days,      and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand. After he has suffered,      he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many,      and he will bear their in...