Seventh Station: Jesus Bears the Cross

R. We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you.

V. Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

Reader: When the chief priests and the guards saw [Jesus] they cried out, “Crucify him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and crucify him. I find no guilt in him.” ... They cried out, “Take him away, take him away! Crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your king?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.” Then he handed him over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus, and carrying the cross himself he went out to what is called the Place of the Skull, in Hebrew, Golgotha.

John 19: 6, 15-17

Prayer

As you carried the cross, Lord, you fell again and again. Hear our prayer for all who bear the weight of fatal diseases. May their love for life give them hope, and their confidence in the creator of life bring them joy. For you are Lord, forever and ever. Amen.