These beautiful Stations of the Cross were brought to S Paul’s in 1972 from the church of S Peter in Eastbourne, after its demolition. They are thought to have come from Oberamergau and to have been carved in German lime wood.
After the devastating fire of Christmas 2010 the figures were restored by Antiques World.
The tablets on which they stand were renovated, repainted and gilded by Mr David McBain.
Prayer of S Alphonsus
O Jesus Christ, my Lord, with what great love did you pass over the painful road which led you to death; and I, how often have I abandoned you! But now I love you with my whole soul, and because I love you, I am sincerely sorry for having offended you.
My Jesus, pardon me, and permit me to accompany you in this journey. You are going to die for love of me, and it is my wish also, my dearest Redeemer, to die for love of you. My Jesus, in your love I wish to live. In your love I wish to die.
Amen.
First Station ~ Jesus is condemned to death
Consider how Jesus, after having been scourged and crowned with thorns, was unjustly condemned by Pilate to die on the Cross.
Second Station ~ Jesus receives the Cross
Consider how Jesus, in making this journey with the Cross on his shoulders, thought of us, and offered for us to His Father the death He was about to undergo.
Third Station ~ Jesus falls for the first time
Consider this first fall of Jesus under His Cross. His flesh was torn by scourges, His head was crowned with thorns; He had lost a great quantity of blood. So weakened He could scarsely walk, He yet had to carry this great load upon his shoulders. The soldiers struck Him rudely and he fell several times.
Fourth Station ~ Jesus is met by His Blessed Mother
Consider the meeting of the Son and the Mother, which took place on this journey. Their looks became like so many arrows to wound those hearts which love each other so tenderly.
Fifth Station ~ The Cross is laid upon Simon of Cyrene
Consider how His cruel tormentors, seeing Jesus was on the point of expiring, and fearing He would die on the way, whereas they wished Him to die the shameful death of the Cross, constrained Simon of Cyrene to carry the Cross behind Our Lord.
Sixth Station ~ Veronica wipes the Face of Jesus
Consider how the holy woman named Veronica, seeing Jesus so ill-used, and bathed in sweat and blood, wiped His face with a towel, on which was left the impression of His holy countenance.
Seventh Station ~ Jesus falls the second time
Consider the second fall of Jesus under the Cross; a fall which renews the pain of all the wounds in His head and members.
Eighth Station ~ The Women of Jerusalem mourn for Our Lord
Consider how these women wept with compassion at seeing Jesus in such a pitiable state, streaaming with blood as He walked along. ‘Daughters of Jerusalem’, He said, ‘weep not for Me, but for yourselves and for your children’.
Ninth Station ~ Jesus falls the third time
Consider the third fall of Jesus Christ. His weakness was extreme, and the cruelty of His executioners, who tried to hasten His steps when He could scarsely move.
Tenth Station ~ Jesus is stripped of His garments
Consider the violence with which Jesus was stripped by the executioners. His inner garments adhered to His torn flesh, and they dragged them off so roughly that the skin came with them. Feel compassion for your Saviour thus cruelly treated.
Eleventh Station ~ Jesus is nailed to the Cross
Consider how Jesus, having been placed upon the Cross, extended His hands, and offered to His Eternal Father the sacrifice of His life for our salvation. Those barbarians fastened Him with nails, and then, securing the Cross, allowed Him to die with anguish on this infamous gibbet.
Twelfth Station ~ Jesus dies on the Cross
Consider how Jesus, being consumed with anguish after three hours of agony on the Cross, abandoned Himself to the weight of His body, bowed His head and died.
Thirteenth Station ~ Jesus is taken down from the Cross
Consider how, after Our Lord had expired, two of His disciples, Joseph of Arimathæa and Nicodemus, took Him down from the Cross and placed Him in the arms of His afflicted Mother, who received Him with unutterable tenderness and pressed Him to her bossom.
Fourteenth Station ~ Jesus is laid in the sepulchre
Consider how the disciples, accompanied by His holy Mother, carried the body of Jesus to bury it. They closed the tomb and all came sorrowfully away.
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