Tenth Station

Tenth Station - Jesus is Stripped of His Garments

Consider the violence with which Jesus was stripped by his executioners. His inner garments adhered to his torn flesh and were dragged off so roughly that the skin came with them. Thus your compassionate Saviour was cruelly treated.

V. We adore thee O Christ and we bless thee,
R. Because by thy Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.

At length He has arrived at the place of sacrifice, and they begin to prepare Him for the Cross. His garments are torn from His bleeding body, and He, the Holy of Holiest, stands exposed to the gaze of the coarse and scoffing multitude.

Oh You who in Thy Passion was stripped of all Thy clothes, and held up to the curiosity and mockery of the rabble, strip me of myself here and now, that in the Last Day I come not to shame before men and Angels. You did endure the shame on Calvary that I might be spared the shame at the Judgment. You had nothing to be ashamed of personally, and the shame which You did feel was because You had taken on Thee man's nature. When they took from Thee Thy garments, those innocent limbs of Yours were but objects of humble and loving adoration to the highest Seraphim. They stood around in speechless awe, wondering at Thy beauty, and they trembled at Thy infinite self-abasement. But I, O Lord, how shall I appear if You shalt hold me up hereafter to be gazed upon, stripped of that robe of grace which is Yours, and seen in my own personal life and nature? O how hideous I am in myself, even in my best estate. Even when I am cleansed from my mortal sins, what disease and corruption is seen even in my venial sins. How shall I be fit for the society of Angels, how for Thy presence, until You burn this foul leprosy away in the fire of Purgatory?

Our Father, Hail Mary.

V. Have mercy on us, O Lord.

R. Have mercy on us.