Christians have faced persecution since the earliest days of the Church. Sadly, this continues in the present day. Whether in Syria or Egypt, India or China, Sudan or Nigeria, Christians must face ridicule, intimidation, lack of religious freedom...even outright violence.

As the voice of the suffering Church, Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), a pontifical foundation under the guidance of the Holy Father, would like to invite you to pray the Way of the Cross with us this Lent, in remembrance of Christ’s suffering and the suffering of all those Christians who are facing persecution for their faith.

“Christianity is being tested. Persecuted Christians are tested in their faith. They ought to have a blind trust in God and believe in His unfathomable providence. But we are all being tested in our love.”

— Father Werenfried van Straaten, Founder of ACN

Lord’s PrayerOur Father, who art in heaven

hallowed be Thy name;Thy kingdom come;

Thy will be doneon earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread;and forgive us our trespasses

as we forgive thosewho trespass against us;

and lead us not into temptation,but deliver us from evil.

Amen.

Hail MaryHail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee;

Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is thefruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God

pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Glory Be to the FatherGlory be to the Father, and to the Son, and theHoly Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now,

and ever shall be, world without end.Amen.

Lord Jesus Christ,Son of the Living God,

have mercy on us sinners.By Your sacrifice on CalvaryYou redeemed us, freed us.

We live todaywith freedom of the

sons and daughters of God.

We come to You, Holy Redeemer, our hearts deeply aware todaythat millions of Your people,

our brothers and sisters in faith,suffer pain and persecution.

Help us to support Your Churchin need everywhere.

Give us the courage we needto witness to Your truth every day.

Amen.

Opening PrayerI love You, O my God, and my sole desire is to love You

until the last breath of my life...

Jesus is sentenced to death. Although entirely innocent, He remained silent and did not defend himself. A Christ-like silence in certain circumstances is a great spiritual power. There are many situations in our lives where we should carry on in silence out of love.

I Pilate Condems Jesus to Die

God never wanted us to suffer! Nor did He want the cause of suffering – sin. But God took our suffering upon Himself. To forgive sins, He carried our Cross and gave His life for us. Through His love, He made the Cross sacred and precious. If we carry the Cross with Jesus, it will become a blessing.

II Jesus Accepts His Cross

God always gives us another chance. We can begin again at any moment on any day. Although He sees our faults, He only looks at the good in us because He is our Father. We can get up again from our falls through sincere contrition.

III Jesus Falls the First Time

Jesus and Mary were united by one profound, single love, and therefore, one single suffering for one single goal. In pain and love, Our Lady bore us new life under the Cross. “Behold your mother!” With these words from the Cross, Our Lord gave us Mary as our Mother.

IV Jesus Meets His Mother

Simon had to be forced to carry the Cross. Only later did he understand that he was able to participate in the act of redemption and that souls are saved through sacrifices out of love. Lord, help me to accept my Crosses and carry them out of love for you.

V Simon Helps Carry the Cross

Veronica had the courage to help Jesus on the Way of the Cross, and to comfort Him; this gesture could have cost her her life. Through service we can also help ease the pain of Jesus and see His face in our neighbor.

VI Veronica Wipes the Face of Jesus

The Cross mercilessly drives Jesus to the ground so that we might learn humility and to never be discouraged. We must learn to live not from our own strength but in perfect trust in God’s mercy.

VII Jesus Falls the Second Time

Despite His own Cross, Jesus sees the suffering women and comforts them. We can see the needs of others only when we pray with the heart. In prayer, we recognize how we can console one another and ease the suffering in the world.

VIII Jesus Speaks to the Women

Jesus lived entirely from the Father. He told us that we can do nothing without Him. Everything good comes from God. God will be glorified most if we trust Him as His children and seek His will in all things.

IX Jesus Falls the Third Time

Jesus sacrificed everything He was and everything He had. He emptied himself and became like a slave, that we may be freed of our selfishness. True purity of heart is to imitate Jesus and do everything out of love for God

X Jesus is Stripped of His Garments

Jesus is God and man. He shows us how God loves and how man should love. True love is vulnerable. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for his friends. Lord help me to love without fear of my vulnerability.

XI Jesus is Nailed to the Cross

We were redeemed not by Jesus’ passion, but by the power of His love. Suffering, which in and of itself is useless, receives a redemptive power through love. It is this suffering carried out of love that brings about real conversion.

XII Jesus Dies Upon the Cross

The Sorrowful Mother receives the martyred body of her son. Through her, the Mediatrix of all grace, the lost paradise is opened. The victory over evil is in her hands.

XIII Jesus is Taken from the Cross

Closing PrayerO my God, if my tongue cannot say in every moment that I love You, I want my heart to say it in every beat. Allow

me the grace to suffer loving You, to love You suffering and one day to die loving You and feeling that I love You.

St. John Vianney, Cure d’Ars

When the seed falls into the ground, it produces much fruit. Through the Cross, death is transformed into life. Through forgiveness, hatred is transformed. Through hope, despair is transformed. The dark, cold grave becomes the place of resurrection and light. Lord by your Cross and resurrection, you have set us free. You are the Savior of the world.

XIVJesus is Laid in the Tomb

725 Leonard Street • Box 220384 • Brooklyn, NY • 112221-800-628-6333 • www.churchinneed.org

K E E P I N G T H E F A I T H A L I V E

Aid to the Church in NeedA Catholic charity under the guidance of the Holy Father

K E E P I N G T H E F A I T H A L I V E

725 Leonard Street Box 220384 Brooklyn, NY 11222-0384 www.churchinneed.org

Images compliments of Katholische Pfarrkirche

St. Peter und Paul Kronberg im Tanus, Germany

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