Eighth Station

Eighth Station - Jesus Consoles the Women of Jerusalem

Consider how these women wept with compassion at seeing Jesus in such a pitiable state, streaming with blood as he walked along. "My children," said he, "weep not for me, but for yourselves and for your children."

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

At the sight of the sufferings of Jesus the Holy Women are so pierced with grief that they cry out and bewail Him, careless what happens to them by so doing. Jesus, turning to them, said, "Daughters of

Jerusalem, weep not over Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children."

Ah ! can it be, O Lord, that I shall prove [to be] one of those sinful children for whom You bid their mothers to weep. "Weep not for Me," He said, "for I am the Lamb of God, and am making atonement at My own will for the sins of the world. I am suffering now, but I shall triumph; and, when I triumph, those souls, for whom I am dying, will either be my dearest friends or my deadliest enemies." Is it possible? O my Lord, can I grasp the terrible thought that You really did weep for me--weep for me, as You did weep over Jerusalem? Is it possible that I am one of the reprobate? Is it possible that I shall lose by Thy passion and death, not gain by it? Oh, withdraw not from me. I am in a very bad way. I have so much evil in me. I have so little of an earnest, brave spirit to set against that evil. O Lord, what will become of me? It is so difficult for me to drive away the Evil Spirit from my heart. You alone can effectually cast him out.

Our Father, Hail Mary.

V. Have mercy on us, O Lord.

R. Have mercy on us.