Way of the Cross

Please feel free to take this booklet with you. Thank you

and may you have a most Holy Lent.

The Way of the Cross A Journey of Preparation and Reconciliation

Given to the glory of God and in most grateful thanksgiving for the life, ministry and love of the

Reverend Clifton Aynesworth Mann.

Cronaím leat da

INTRODUCTION Lent was originally a time of preparation for baptism for new Christians. Baptism was traditionally done during the Great Easter Vigil on the Saturday before Easter. Catechumens, as they were known, were instructed on Scripture and the aspects of being a Christian. A two or three year catechumenate is no longer the norm and many, many traditions have arisen in the centuries following the original purpose. Many have been taken to extremes that the true purpose of preparation has been lost in extreme self-denial and self-depravation. Looking back to that time of preparation, this service has been created to help us prepare our hearts for the Resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. This service uses the fourteen scriptural stations identified by Pope John Paul II in 1991. At each station, a characteristic of that scene that exemplifies a Christian virtue or aspect of the Christian life has been selected. Expounding on that virtue or theme, is the life of a recognized saint (holy person, not necessarily canonized) who can help us to live more fully into this life and strengthen our relationship with God and each other. On the facing page will be a practice or practices that can be used to enrich our life with God as incarnate in Jesus Christ and shared through the Holy Spirit, with additional resources listed and a final prayer. All prayers are taken from Holy Women, Holy Men and the 1979 Book of Common Prayer. All Scripture is from the New Revised Standard Version. All additional material included were selected by and are the theology and opinion of the author alone and not necessarily that of the hosting Parish. It is with humility that the author thanks the rectors of the hosting Parish for allowing the Way to be offered. Visit [email protected] Jerusalem Cross on cover from frontal created by Cindy Reid. Copyright © 2012 by mnewkirk, All rights reserved.

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Concerning the Service (Adapted from Church Publishing’s Way of the Cross, 1987) The devotion known as the Way of the Cross is an adaptation to local usage of a custom widely observed by pilgrims to Jerusalem: the offering of a prayer at a series of places traditionally associated with our Lord’s passion and death. Historically there are 14 stations, of which, only 8 are based on incidents from the Gospels. In 1991, Pope John Paul II identified 14 scriptural stations and this service is based on those scriptural stations. It is customary, in the Episcopal Church to do the service on Good Friday, but they can be done anytime during Lent The following service is appropriate for use as a private, personal devotion as well as a public service. The stations are traditionally observed as a public service on Good Friday. It is recommended that the entire Service be done in order the first time and then done in whatever way is most meaningful to the user: perhaps concentrating on a particular practice for one week, choosing one practice for the entirety of Lent, however you, as the user, finds most meaning. When done as a public service the officiant (lay or clerical) customarily least the opening versicle at each station and reads the concluding Collect. The Readings are appropriately assigned to other persons. It is appropriate that all present take part in the procession. In the form which follows, the Trisagion (“Holy God”) is the chant recommended as the procession goes from station to station. Alternatively, the Trisagion may be used to conclude each station.

Opening Devotions In the Name of God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen. Dear People of God: Our heavenly Father sent his Son into the world, not to condemn the world. But that the world through him might be saved; that all who believe in him might be delivered from the power of sin and death, and become heirs with him of life everlasting. Lord have mercy.

Christ have mercy. Lord have mercy. Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your Name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins,

as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial,

and deliver us from evil. For the Kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and Forever. Amen. Let us pray. (Silence) Almighty and everlasting God, in your tender love for the human race you sent your Son our Savior Jesus Christ to take upon him our nature, and to suffer death upon the cross, giving us the example of his great humility: Mercifully grant that we may walk in the way of his suffering, and also share in his resurrection; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Almighty and everlasting God, mercifully increase in us your gifts of holy discipline, in almsgiving, prayer, and fasting; that our lives may be directed to the fulfilling of your most gracious will; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Proceed to Station I

Station I OBEDIENCE Jesus prays at Gethsemane

They went to a place called Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” He took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be distressed and agitated. And he said to them, “I am deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and keep awake.” And going a little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. He said, “Abba, Father, for you all things are possible; remove this cup from me; yet, not what I want, but what you want.” Mark 13:32-36

Despite the terror of the coming hours, Jesus remains obedient to God and the purpose of his incarnation: to show us, in our own form, how to be in relation with God and humanity. It is in the study of Scripture that we learn of God’s actions in creation.

Let us pray. (Silence) Almighty and everlasting God, you found your martyr Justin wandering from teacher to teacher, seeking the true God, and you revealed to him the sublime wisdom of your eternal Word: Grant that all who seek you, or a deeper knowledge of you, may find and be found by you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Justin Martyr at Rome, c. 167

Toward the middle of the second century, there came into the young Christian community a seeker for the truth, whose wide interests, noble spirit, and able mind, greatly enriched it. Justin was born into a Greek-speaking pagan family about the year 110 in Samaria, near Shechem. He was educated in Greek philosophy. Like Augustine after him, he was left restless by all this knowledge. During a walk along the beach at Ephesus, he fell in with a stranger, who told him about Christ. “Straightway a flame was kindled in my soul”, he writes, “and a love of the prophets and those who are friends of Christ possessed me”. He became a Christian as a result of this encounter, and thereafter regarded Christianity as the only safe and profitable philosophy. Three of his works are known to us: a dialogue in Platonic style with a Jew named Trypho, and two apologies. (An apology in this sense, of course, is not an excuse, but a spirited defense.)

Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy Immortal One, Have mercy upon us.

STUDY Obedience to God and God’s incarnation is that we study Scripture. It is in the study of the Word of God and how God has worked in the lives of God’s people that we learn how we should live. We should live with love of God and God’s creation. The Book of Common Prayer is another text we should spend time studying. Consider:

• Attending a Bible Study at your parish • Setting a goal of reading a portion of the Bible

o One of the Gospels o All of the Gospels o The New Testament

• Reading the lessons prior to Sunday worship (www.lectionarypage.net and app)

• Following the reading plan for the Psalter pp 582-808 in the Prayer Book

• Reading the Catechism in the Prayer Book pp 844-862

• Reading the Historical Documents of the Church pp 863-878

Resources: There are thousands of available resources for Bible and Prayer Book study but here are a few useful ones.

• The Art of Reading Scripture by Davis and Hays • Praying Shapes Believing by L. Mitchell • Biblical commentaries by N.T. (Tom) Wright • Olive Tree pc/mac program and app

Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which you have given us in our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

http://www.lectionarypage.net/

Station II ACCEPTANCE Jesus is betrayed by Judas and arrested Judas, one of the twelve, arrived; with him was a large crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the elders of the people. Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man; arrest him.” At once he came up to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him. Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you are here to do.” Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and arrested him. Matthew 26:47-50

The silence of the night in the garden is broken by the crowd of men come to arrest Jesus. Even as he begins the final journey to the cross he has fully accepted who he is and his place in God’s action with humanity.

Let us pray. (Silence) O God of peace, by whose grace the abbess Hilda was endowed with gifts of justice, prudence, and strength to rule as a wise mother over the nuns and monks of her household, and to become a trusted and reconciling friend to leaders of the Church: Give us the grace to recognize and accept the varied gifts you bestow on men and women, that our common life may be enriched and your gracious will be done; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. Hilda Abbess of Whitby, 680

Hilda, born in 614, was the grandniece of King Edwin. She lived, chaste and respected, at the Kings court for twenty years, and then decided to enter the monastic life. She became renowned for her wisdom, eagerness for learning, and devotion to Gods service. Some years later, she founded the abbey at Whitby, where both nuns and monks lived in strict obedience to Hilda’s rule of justice, devotion, chastity, peace, and charity. Those living under her rule devoted so much time to the study of Scripture and to works of righteousness that many were found qualified for ordination. In 663, Whitby was the site of the famous synod convened to decide divisive questions involved in the differing traditions of Celtic Christians and the followers of Roman order. Hilda favored the Celtic position, but when the Roman position prevailed she was obedient to the synods decision.


JOURNALING It is vitally important to God that we come to, not only see who we were created to be, but to accept it. We can find, through the practice of journaling, who we are, our gifts, and even our limitations. When we accept who we are we are able to see how God is able to use our gifts and limitations to fit with other’s gifts and limitations – as puzzle pieces – to live in Godly community.

Consider:

• Journaling on a regular schedule • If you already journal try including drawing • Creating a special journal just for Lent • Reading Knowing Me, Knowing God: Exploring Your

Spirituality with Myers-Briggs by M. Goldsmith

Resources:

• Visual Journaling: Going Deeper than Words by B. Ganim • Journaling as a Spiritual Practice: Encountering God Through

Attentive Writing by H. Cepero • Spiritual Journaling: Recording Your Journey Toward God by

R. Peace • The Journaling Life: 21 Types Of Journals You Can Create To

Express Yourself And Record Pieces Of Your Life by S. Russ • Writing to Save Your Life: How to Honor Your Story Through

Journaling by M. Weldon • 100 Positive Journaling Prompts by K. Orse • www.journalinglife.com

Almighty and most merciful God, drive from us all weakness of body, mind, and spirit; that, being restored to wholeness, we may with free hearts become what you intend us to be and accomplish what you want us to do; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

http://www.journalinglife.com/

Station III PATIENCE

Jesus is condemned by the Sanhedrin When day came, the assembly of the elders of the people, both chief priests and scribes, gathered together, and they brought him to their council. They said, “If you are the Messiah, tell us.” He replied, “If I tell you, you will not believe; and if I question you, you will not answer. But from now on the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God.” All of them asked, “Are you, then, the Son of God?” He said to them, “You say that I am.” Then they said, “What further testimony do we need? We have heard it ourselves from his own lips!” Luke 22:66-71

What must it have been like for Jesus to hear the lack of understanding from those who should have been the first to understand? Hearing of his patience through these trials should show us how important it is to be patient with ourselves and each other.

Let us pray. (Silence) O God, by the preaching of your blessed servant Columba you caused the light of the Gospel to shine in Scotland: Grant, we pray, that, having his life and labors in remembrance, we may show our thankfulness to you by following the example of his zeal and patience; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen

Columba Abbot of Iona, 597

Columba was born in Ireland in 521, and early in life showed scholarly and clerical ability. He entered the monastic life, and almost immediately set forth on missionary travels. He was given possession of the island of Iona, where, according to legend, his tiny boat had washed ashore. Here he founded the celebrated monastery. From Iona, also, his disciples went out to found other monasteries, which, in turn, became centers of missionary activity. For thirty years, he evangelized, studied, wrote, and governed his monastery at Iona. He supervised his monks in their work in the fields and workrooms, in their daily worship and Sunday Eucharist, and in their study and teaching. He had put down his pen, rested a few hours, and at Matins was found dead before the Altar, a smile on his face.


LABYRINTH It is in walking the labyrinth that we are able to slow down and be patient, not only with ourselves and each other (especially when we walk the labyrinth together), but also with God.

Consider:

• Walking a labyrinth • Walking a labyrinth with a friend • Walking with a child • Walking a labyrinth then recording your impressions • Creating your own labyrinth, full or pocket sized

Resources:

• Christian Prayer and Labyrinths: Pathways to Faith, Hope, and Love by J. Geoffrion

• Living the Labyrinth: 101 Paths to a Deeper Connection With the Sacred by J. Geoffrion

• Praying at Every Turn: Meditations for Walking the Labyrinth by C. Camp

• Walking a Sacred Path: Rediscovering the Labyrinth as a Spiritual Tool by L. Artress

• The Labyrinth Society, www.labyrinthsociety.org

Give ear to our prayers, O Lord, and direct the way of your servants in safety under your protection, that, amid all the changes of our earthly pilgrimage, we may be guarded by your mighty aid; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

http://www.labyrinthsociety.org/

Station IV REPENTENCE

Jesus is denied by Peter Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. A servant-girl came to him and said, “You also were with Jesus the Galilean.” But he denied it before all of them, saying, “I do not know what you are talking about.” When he went out to the porch, another servant-girl saw him, and she said to the bystanders, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.” Again he denied it with an oath, “I do not know the man.” After a little while the bystanders came up and said to Peter, “Certainly you are also one of them, for your accent betrays you.” Then he began to curse, and he swore an oath, “I do not know the man!” At that moment the cock crowed. Then Peter remembered what Jesus had said: “Before the cock crows, you will deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly. Matthew 26:69-75

Very likely we have felt, as Peter does here. We were sure we would be able to do or say some thing and when the time came were not able. Through the confession of our sins, God takes them and, for God, they are no more.

Let us pray. (Silence) Revive your Church, Lord God of hosts, whenever it falls into complacency and sloth, by raising up devoted leaders, like your servant John Henry Hobart whom we remember today; and grant that their faith and vigor of mind may awaken your people to your message and their mission; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

John Henry Hobart Bishop of New York, 1830

John Henry Hobart was one of the leaders who revived the Episcopal Church, following the first two decades of its independent life after the American Revolution. Born in Philadelphia in 1775. A strong and unbending upholder of Church standards, Hobart established the Bible and Common Prayer Book Society of New York, and was one of the first American Churchmen to produce theological and devotional manuals for the laity. Both friends and foes respected Hobart for his staunch faith, his consuming energy, his personal integrity, and his missionary zeal.


Reconciliation Confession may seem to be alien to Episcopalians but remember we say the confession at many (if not all) Holy Eucharist services. It was important to Jesus that we approach the altar with a reconciled heart (Matt. 5:23-26) and almost the entire 18th chapter of Matthew is about sin and the need for forgiveness. True and perceived hurts are one of the most serious barriers to being in right relationship with God, ourselves and others.

Consider:

• Reading the Rite of Reconciliation of a Penitent in the Prayer Book, pp. 446-452

• Scheduling appointment with a priest for the Rite • Apologizing to and asking for forgiveness from someone you

know you have hurt • Reconciling with someone you who has hurt you • If it is not possible to reconcile face to face, consider writing a

letter expressing your feelings • Forgive yourself

Resources:

• Reconciliation: Preparing for Confession in the Episcopal Church by M. Smith

• I Thought We'd Never Speak Again: The Road from Estrangement to Reconciliation by L. Davis

• Reconciling All Things: A Christian Vision for Justice, Peace and Healing by E. Katongole

• Reconciliation: The Ubuntu Theology of Desmond Tutu by M. Battle and D. Tutt

Grant, most merciful Lord, to your faithful people pardon and peace, that they may be cleansed from all their sins, and serve you with a quiet mind; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen

Station V HUMILITY Jesus is judged by Pilate Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” He answered him, “You say so.” Then the chief priests accused him of many things. Pilate asked him again, “Have you no answer? See how many charges they bring against you.” But Jesus made no further reply, so that Pilate was amazed. Pilate spoke to them again, “Then what do you wish me to do with the man you call the King of the Jews?” They shouted back, “Crucify him!” Pilate asked them, “Why, what evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Crucify him!” So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released Barabbas for them; and after flogging Jesus, he handed him over to be crucified. Mark 15:2-5, 12-15

Jesus was humble when accused by the chief priest and Pilate. It was in his assurance of who he was, as he discovered in praying constantly to God, that he was able to face these trials and the certain outcome.

Let us pray. (Silence) O Lord, through spiritual discipline you strengthened your servant Monnica to persevere in offering her love and prayers and tears for the conversion of her husband and of Augustine their son: Deepen our devotion, we pray, and use us in accordance with your will to bring others, even our own kindred, to acknowledge Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen

Monnica Mother of Augustine of Hippo, 387

Monnica’s life story is enshrined in the spiritual autobiography of her eldest son, in The Confessions of Saint Augustine. Born in North Africa about 331, Monnica was married to a Latinized provincial, whom she won to the Christian faith before his death. In her earlier years she was not without worldly ambitions and tastes. She grew in Christian maturity and spiritual insight through an ever-deepening life of prayer. Her ambition for her gifted son was transformed into a passionate desire for his conversion to Christ. After his baptism in Milan in 387, Monnica fell ill and died.


PRAYER Prayer is our means of communication and communion with God. What is offered here will be some different ways to encounter and be encountered by God.

Consider:

• Centering Prayer • Using the Anglican Rosary • Praying in “color” • Reading, praying and memorizing prayers from the Prayers and

Thanksgiving section in the Prayer Book, pp. 810-841 • Reading, praying and memorizing prayers from the Collects in the

Prayer Book o Traditional, pp. 159-210 o Contemporary, pp. 211-261

• Keeping a prayer journal • Of the five types of prayers, trying to identify your usual prayer

types and try others o Praise and adoration o Confession o Intercession o Thanksgiving o Petition

Resources:

• Centering Prayer and Inner Awakening by C. Bourgeault • Praying in Color: Drawing a New Path to God by S. MacBeth and

for Kids • Writing to God: 40 Days of Praying with My Pen by R.

Hackenberg

O Lord, we beseech you mercifully to hear us; and grant that we, to whom you have given a fervent desire to pray, may, by your mighty aid, be defended and comforted in all dangers and adversities; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Station VI SUBMISSION Jesus is scourged, crowned with thorns and mocked After flogging Jesus, he handed him over to be crucified. Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the governor’s headquarters, and they gathered the whole cohort around him. They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and after twisting some thorns into a crown, they put it on his head. They put a reed in his right hand and knelt before him and mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” They spat on him, and took the reed and struck him on the head. After mocking him, they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him. Matthew 27:26b-31

Throughout these final hours Jesus continues to show us how we must live in the love of God. He submits himself to persecution and humiliation, continuing to be our guide in all things.

Let us pray. (Silence) Almighty God, you endowed the abbot Aelred with the gift of Christian friendship and the wisdom to lead others in the way of holiness: Grant to your people that same spirit of mutual affection, that, in loving one another, we may know the love of Christ and rejoice in the gift of your eternal goodness; through the same Jesus Christ our Savior, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Aelred Abbot of Rievaulx, 1167

Aelred was born in 1109, of a family which had long been treasurers of the shrine of Cuthbert of Lindisfarne at Durham Cathedral. He became a Cistercian monk at the abbey of Rievaulx in 1133. Aelred soon became a major figure in English church life. Sent to Rome on diocesan affairs of Archbishop William of York, he returned by way of Clairvaux. Here he made a deep impression on Bernard. By the time of his death from a painful kidney disease in 1167, the abbey had over 600 monks. Aelred writes: “There are four qualities which characterize a friend: Loyalty, right intention, discretion, and patience.”


GUIDANCE One area of devotion and discipline that is sometimes overlooked or missing is that of direction. If you or someone you know has played on a sports team you know how important a coach is. It is the same for our spiritual lives. Along this journey we must discern who we are created to be and guidance and direction are integral in finding what our ministry is.

Consider:

• Finding a spiritual director in your area o Visit Spiritual Directors International www.sdiworld.org

Connect on Facebook: Spiritual Directors International for spiritual care to interact and learn together. Twitter @SDIworld

• Meeting with a group of like-minded folks to discuss your own journeys

Resources:

• Discerning Life Transitions: Listening Together in Spiritual Direction by D. Judy

• Candlelight: Illuminating the Art of Spiritual Direction by S. Phillips

• Decision Making and Spiritual Discernment: The Sacred Art of Finding Your Way by N. Bieber

• The Way of Discernment: Spiritual Practices for Decision Making by E. Liebert

Direct us, O Lord, in all our doings with your most gracious favor, and further us with your continual help; that in all our works begun continued, and ended in you, we may glorify your holy Name, and finally, by your mercy, obtain everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

http://www.sdiworld.org/

Station VII PERSEVERANCE

Jesus carries his cross Then he handed him over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus; and carrying the cross by himself, he went out to what is called The Place of the Skull, which in Hebrew is called Golgotha. John 19:16-17

Jesus knows that no matter how terrible these final hours are, he must persevere to be our guide in life and in death. He has spent so much of his life in prayer and communion with God that he is sure that God will continue to be with him to the end and that God will be with us at all times giving us strength to persevere through our own trials.

Let us pray. (Silence) Everliving God, we rejoice today in the fellowship of your blessed servant Brigid, and we give you thanks for her life of devoted service. Inspire us with life and light, and give us perseverance to serve you all our days; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Brigid (Bride) 523

Next to Patrick, Brigid is the most beloved of Irish saints. She decided early in life to dedicate her life to God alone as a Christian. Gathering around her a group of women, Brigid, in 470, founded a nunnery at Kildare, a place whose name meant Church of the Oak. Here had flourished the cult of a pagan goddess, from which it was said to have derived the sacred fire, which she and her successors maintained. Brigid actively participated in policy-making decisions in Church conventions. One story has it that she received episcopal orders, which may reflect only the fact that she exercised the jurisdictional authority that was customarily wielded by medieval abbesses. Many stories are told of Brigid’s concern for the poor and needy. Brigid died about 523 at Kildare.


MEDITATION As we journey through this life a very important aspect is of that journey is perseverance. There will be good times and there will be difficult times and it is our perseverance through those difficult times that can show us who we are and help us through that next challenge. As with each of the practices described we are not good at them the first time or maybe the 100th time, but as we persevere in the practice (it’s not called a perfect) we learn more about ourselves, each other and God.

Consider:

• Practicing daily meditation • Practicing lectio divina (a combination of reading, prayer

meditation and contemplation) • Reading the works of the Christian Mystics

o Meister Eckhart o Teresa of Avila o Thomas Merton o The Cloud of Unknowing

Resources:

• Christian Meditation: Experiencing the Presence of God by J. Finley also on audio

• Into the Silent Land: A Guide to the Christian Practice of Contemplation by M. S. Laird

• Come to the Quiet: The Principles of Christian Meditation by J. Talbot

• Lectio Divina--The Sacred Art: Transforming Words and Images into Heart-centered Prayer by C. Paintner

• Perseverance by M. Wheatley • Christian Mystics: 365 Readings and Meditations by M. Fox • Insight timer app, timer with different bells

O God, with you is the well of life, and in your light we see light: Quench our thirst with living water, and flood our darkened minds with heavenly light; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Station VIII SERVICE

Simon helps carry the cross They compelled a passer-by, who was coming in from the country, to carry his cross; it was Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus. Mark 15:21

We don’t know why Simon was chosen but we do know he was called to serve Jesus. We don’t always know when or where we will be called to serve God, but though the guidance of Jesus that we do know how we should respond: with love.

Let us pray. (Silence) Almighty God, by your grace your servant Elizabeth of Hungary recognized and honored Jesus in the poor of this world: Grant that we, following her example, may with love and gladness serve those in any need or trouble, in the name and for the sake of Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Elizabeth Princess of Hungary, 1231

Elizabeth's charity is remembered in numerous hospitals that bear her name throughout the world. She was born in 1207. At an early age she showed concern for the poor and the sick, and was thus attracted to the Franciscans. From them she received spiritual direction. Her husband was sympathetic to her almsgiving and allowed her to use her dowry for this purpose. For some time Elizabeth lived in great distress. She then courageously took the habit of the Franciscans-the first of the Franciscan Tertiaries, or Third Order, in Germany. Finally, arrangements with her family gave her a subsistence, and she spent her remaining years in Marburg, living in self-denial, caring for the sick and needy.


GIVING Service and charity are important aspects of the Christian life and the giving of our time, talent and treasure is a vital demonstration of our Christian life. Even when we feel we have little to give there is often a time and a place where what we have is needed and would be appreciated.

Consider:

• Pledging money to your parish, if you do not already do so • Pledging time to your parish

o Find out where there are needs and help where you can • Pledging talent to your parish

o Of your special talents, is there a need • Asking your rector, associate priests, deacons, vestry, parish

administrators about opportunities for giving • Giving of your resources to your diocese, city, or other

opportunities

Resources:

• More Blessed to Give by J. MacNaughton • Giving and Tithing: Includes Serving and Stewardship by L.

Burkett • Not Your Parents' Offering Plate by J. Christopher • Transforming Stewardship by C. K. Robertson

Almighty God our heavenly Father, renew in us the gifts of your mercy; increase our faith, strengthen our hope, enlighten our understanding, widen our charity, and make us ready to serve you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Station IX COURAGE

Jesus speaks to the women of Jerusalem A great number of the people followed him, and among them were women who were beating their breasts and wailing for him. But Jesus turned to them and said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. Luke 23:26-28

This may seem to be a strange thing for Jesus to say to these women, but he is telling them they will have trials of their own soon to face. Jesus shows us that we should meet our own trials with courage and strength in the love of God.

Let us pray. (Silence) Almighty and everlasting God, your precepts are the wisdom of a loving Father: Give us grace, following the teaching and example of your servant Benedict, to walk with loving and willing hearts in the school of the Lords service; let your ears be open to our prayers; and prosper with your blessing the work of our hands; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Benedict of Nursia Abbot of Monte Cassino, c. 540

Benedict is generally accounted the father of western monasticism. He was born about 480 and was educated at Rome. Benedict’s disapproval of the manners and morals of Rome led him to a vocation of monastic seclusion. Sometime between 525 and 530, he moved south with some of his disciples to Monte Cassino where he established another community, and, about 540, composed his monastic Rule. Its average day provides for a little over four hours to be spent in liturgical prayer, a little over five hours in spiritual reading, about six hours of work, one hour for eating, and about eight hours of sleep. The entire Psalter is to be recited in the Divine Office once every week. At profession, the new monk takes vows of stability, amendment of life, and obedience. In the Anglican Communion today, the rules of many religious orders are influenced by Benedicts rule.


FASTING Have you ever wondered why ancient sacrifices were burned? Of the four elements (earth, air, fire, water) the only one that rises is fire and fire consumes the offering. Throughout the ages we have offered things that are important to us to the gods to keep them appeased, in hopes of better times, and in thanksgiving. Now, as Christians, we no longer sacrifice in this way but we still offer a sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving and we place things that are important to us on the altar to be transformed by God. One of the ways we honor God is by the sacrifice of our own bodies in the works of God but also when we fast (in whatever way we are able). Our own conversion of calories to energy is called burning and so we are offering ourselves as a sacrifice of thanksgiving to God.

According to the Anglican calendar there are certain days of fasting and abstinence. Ash Wednesday and Fridays in Lent are recommended but not required. There is no definition for fasting and abstinence.

! One important thing to note is that any consideration of fasting should be done safely and, if necessary, under the supervision of or after consulting with your physician. God wants you healthy more than anything we can sacrifice.

Sundays, as the Day of the Lord, are not days on which to fast for any reason (except medical)

Consider:

• Fasting on Ash Wednesday • Fasting during Fridays in Lent

o Abstain from a particular food Meat or sugar

o During a particular time of the day Daylight, sunset to the next sunset

Support us, O Lord, with your gracious favor through the fast we have begun; that as we observe it by bodily self-denial, so we may fulfill it with inner sincerity of heart; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Station X SOLITUDE

Jesus is crucified When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” Luke 23:33-34

Jesus often spent time alone, praying to God, and though alone in this most horrific situation, his only thought is to pray to his Father for our forgiveness.

Let us pray. (Silence) Creator of wonder and majesty, you inspired your poet Thomas Traherne with mystical insight to see your glory in the natural world and in the faces of men and women around us: Help us to know you in your creation and in our neighbors, and to understand our obligations to both, that we may ever grow into the people you have created us to be; through our Savior Jesus Christ, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in everlasting light. Amen.

Thomas Traherne Priest, 1674

Thomas Traherne was one of the seventeenth century’s most searching, inventive poets and theologians. He was among about twelve Anglican lyricists dubbed by the rather prosaic Samuel Johnson as the Metaphysical Poets. Johnson meant this to imply that their poetry was pretentious and obscure. What he missed was not only their erudition but their subtlety and their profound awareness of the depths of Divine Mystery through which they tried to articulate the Christian Faith in a world which was changing from the sure faith of the Middle Ages to the bewildering maze of conflicting opinion which was the Modern. Born in 1637, the son of a humble shoemaker in Hereford, Traherne went to Oxford thanks to the generosity of a prosperous relative.


SILENCE We are currently bombarded with noise everywhere we turn. Many of us have very little time alone. In this hustle and bustle we need to have a time to be alone, just us and our Creator. Practices for this Station are more about time with God than they are about the absence of sound. We can meet God in a thunderstorm and in music, the important thing is to meet God and being quiet enough to be aware of God is the key, for God is always with us.

Consider:

• Taking a walk and listen to the wind in the leaves and seeing God in nature

• If it occurs, listen for God in a storm, feel the rain, see the lightening, hear the thunder

• Listening to Bach • Listening to sacred music • Going to a garden • Looking at the trees around your home or church • Praying Psalm 62:6-9 • Taking time just to be with God

Resources:

• All Creation Sings: The Voice of God in Nature by J. E. Kalas • Keeping Silence: Christian Practices for Entering Stillness by C.W.

McPherson • The Desert: An Anthology for Lent by J. Moses

Grant, most merciful Lord, to your faithful people pardon and peace, that they may be cleansed from all their sins, and serve you with a quiet mind; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Station XI GRACE

Jesus speaks with the criminals One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, “Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” He replied, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” Luke 23:39-43

The grace of God which passes all understanding is with this man, knowing his own guilt, recognizing Jesus and asking to be remembered. In this manner we all ask to be with Jesus in Paradise as we worship with all the saints.

Let us pray. (Silence) Almighty God, we bless your Name for the life and work of Nathan Søderblom, Archbishop of Uppsala, who helped to inspire the modern liturgical revival and worked tirelessly for cooperation among Christians. Inspire us by his example, that we may ever strive for the renewal of your Church in life and worship, for the glory of your Name; who with Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Nathan Søderblom Archbishop of Uppsala and Ecumenist, 1931

Born in Sweden in 1866, Søderblom attended the University of Uppsala and was ordained a priest in the (Lutheran) Church of Sweden in 1893. He was a highly respected scholar and teacher, a prolific writer, and an early proponent of the study of comparative religions. Søderblom took a great interest in the early liturgical renewal movement among Roman Catholics, Anglicans, and Lutherans. This coincided with his deep commitment to the unity of the churches of Christ and his passion for ecumenical advancement. Archbishop Søderblom saw a profound connection between liturgical worship, personal prayer, and social justice. A rich cohesion of these elements was, in his mind, the foundation of a Christian commitment well lived.


WORSHIP Our Episcopal worship is corporate and liturgical. On Sunday we gather together for our principal worship service to read and hear the Word of God, to have the lessons explained by sermon or homily, and to partake in Holy Eucharist. We also worship God in other services like the Daily Office (morning, noon, evening and compline-just before going to bed).

Consider:

• Participating in service you do not normally attend in your parish • Participating in an Evensong service (sung evening prayer) • Reading the Daily Office

o Private or Corporate (as a group) • Visiting another Episcopal parish, if nearby • Attending in a worship service of another denomination • Volunteering in a worship support group

o Altar guild Lector/Epistoler o Acolyte Chalice Bearer o Flower guild Lay Eucharistic Visitor

• Sing in the choir • Participating in the planning of a worship service

Resources:

• Liturgical Life Principles: How Episcopal Worship Can Lead to Healthy and Authentic Living by I. Markham

• The Joy of Worship by M. Micks • Mission St. Clare Daily Office online and app

www.missionstclare.com

O Lord our God, in your holy Sacraments you have given us a foretaste of the good things of your kingdom: Direct us, we pray, in the way that leads to eternal life, that we may come to appear before you in that place of light where you dwell for ever with your saints; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

http://www.missionstclare.com/

Station XII STEWARDSHIP

Jesus speaks to his mother Meanwhile, standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, “Woman, here is your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home. John 19:25-27

In one of Jesus’ final acts before his death, makes sure his beloved mother will be cared for. We are each called to care for all creation in whatever way we are able.

Let us pray. (Silence) O God, whose blessed Son became poor that we through his poverty might be rich: Deliver us from an inordinate love of this world, that we, inspired by the devotion of your servant Clare, may serve you with singleness of heart, and attain to the riches of the age to come; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Clare Abbess at Assisi, 1253

In the latter part of the twelfth century, the Church had fallen on evil days, and was weak and spiritually impoverished. It was then that Francis of Assisi renounced his wealth and established the mendicant order of Franciscans. At the first gathering of the order in 1212, Francis preached a sermon that was to make a radical change in the life of an eighteen-year-old young woman named Clare. She became Mother Superior of the order, which was called the Poor Ladies of St. Damian. The orders practices were austere. They embraced the Franciscan rule of absolute poverty. Their days were given over to begging and to works of mercy for the poor and the neglected. Clare herself was servant, not only to the poor, but to her nuns. Clare governed the convent for forty years, caring for the sisters, ready to do whatever Francis directed. On her last day, she was heard to say: “Go forth in peace, for you have followed the good road. Go forth without fear, for he that created you has sanctified you, has always protected you, and loves you as a mother. Blessed be God, for having created me.”


FRUGALITY When Jesus sends the disciples and the seventy on their first mission trip, he is very clear about what they should take and how they should interact with those they meet. They are to be frugal and simple, taking nothing extra for the journey and to accept what is offered. In this modern world we have so much more than we could ever need if we can pay for it. There are many, many people – even in your own community – that cannot afford even the most basic necessities. Perhaps with some of the extra we have we can help those who have little or nothing. We do not need to go to extremes but we need to examine what we are doing with what we have.

Consider:

• While shopping do you really need to pay for the more expensive brand-name

o Is the quality really worth the cost? • If you have electronic devices, do you really need all bells and

whistles? • Reusing or recycling when possible instead of buying new • Shopping at thrift stores • Sharing with friends and family instead of buying your own • Not getting the next new version as soon as it is released • Growing some of your own food or shopping at the Farmer’s

Market

Resources:

• The New Frugality: How to Consume Less, Save More, and Live Better by C. Farrell

• The American Frugal Housewife by L. Child • Muddling Toward Frugality by W. Johnson

O Lord, strong and mighty, Lord of hosts and King of glory: Cleanse our hearts from sin, keep our hands pure, and turn our minds from what is passing away; so that at the last we may stand in your holy place and receive your blessing; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Station XIII RELEASE

Jesus dies on the cross It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, while the sun’s light failed; and the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” Having said this, he breathed his last. Luke 23:44-46

It is the end. The darkness is all around. But here, as a final act, Jesus releases his spirit into his Father’s hands. Jesus lived a simple life and it is through this simplicity that he was able to be who God had created him to be.

Let us pray. (Silence) Gracious God, we thank you for the life and witness of Emily Malbone Morgan, who helped to establish the Society of the Companions of the Holy Cross so that women who live in the world might devote themselves to intercessory prayer, social justice, Christian unity and simplicity of life. Help us to follow her example in prayer, simplicity, ecumenism and witness to your justice, for the glory of your Name; through Jesus Christ, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Emily Malbone Morgan Prophetic Witness, 1937

Emily Malbone Morgan, was the founder of the Society of the Companions of the Holy Cross (SCHC), in 1884. Begun as an order of Episcopal laywomen rooted in disciplined devotion, SCHC became a strong force for social justice reform during the social gospel era around the turn of the twentieth century. Morgan was born in 1862, in Hartford, Connecticut. Her family were prominent Hartford citizens and her Anglican roots ran deep on both sides of her family. Emily Malbone Morgan, together with her sisters in the Society of the Companions of the Holy Cross, lived a life of prayer and contemplation, rooted in the tradition, which led to powerful personal and communal commitments to social justice particularly for women.


SIMPLICITY We often long for a simpler way of life, the way it used to be, but find it is just out of our reach. The hope here is that it is within our reach to the extent we want to make the changes necessary. A simplified life does not necessarily mean moving to the wilderness and providing all your needs from the land. One way of living simpler is to be more intentional in your actions – what are you really doing all day?

Consider

• Reducing the use of time wasting devices • Being intentional about personal and family schedules • Organizing your home, one room at a time • Giving away those things that are cluttering your space • Planning smaller events such as birthday parties • Identifying those things that are not making your life better and

remove them

Resources

• Simpler Living, Compassionate Life: A Christian Perspective by M. Schut

• Simplicity: The Freedom of Letting Go by R. Rohr • Freedom of Simplicity: Finding Harmony in a Complex World by

R. Foster • Simplicity Parenting: Using the Extraordinary Power of Less to

Raise Calmer, Happier, and More Secure Kids by K. Payne • Enough, Revised and Updated: Discovering Joy through

Simplicity and Generosity by A. Hamilton • Less is More: Embracing Simplicity for a Healthy Planet, a Caring

Economy and Lasting Happiness by C. Andrews

Grant us, O Lord our Strength, a true love of your holy Name; so that, trusting in your grace, we may fear no earthly evil, nor fix our hearts on earthly goods, but may rejoice in your full salvation; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Station XIV FAITHFULNESS

Jesus is laid in the tomb When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who was also a disciple of Jesus. He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus; then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. So Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn in the rock. He then rolled a great stone to the door of the tomb and went away. Matthew 27:57-60

Joseph shows us his faithfulness to Jesus by the strength of his love to go to Pilate to ask for Jesus’ body. Joseph learned, as a disciple of Jesus, how to live his life so he knew what he had to do with the gifts he had been given.

Let us pray. (Silence) Holy and Mighty One, whose beloved Son Jesus Christ blessed the pure in heart: We give you thanks for the life and teachings of John Cassian that draw us to a discipline of holy living for the sake of your reign. Call us to turn the gaze of the eyes of our soul always toward you, that we may abide in your love, shown to us in our Savior Jesus Christ; who with you and the Holy Spirit is one God, living and true, to the ages of ages. Amen.

John Cassian Abbot at Marseilles, 433

John Cassian struggled with the problems of living the Christian life in a time when the world seemed to be falling apart. In so doing, he laid the foundations for what would be the spirituality of the Western Church. Born Romania around 365, Cassian traveled as a young man to a monastery in Bethlehem and later moved to Egypt where he sought the tutelage of the great founders of the ascetic movement of the desert. At the heart of desert monasticism was the idea that the image of God in each person, tarnished by sin but not destroyed, yearns to and has the capacity to love God with the purity of heart with which God loves us. Their aim was to rid themselves of the anxieties and distractions that called their attention away from loving God. Though Cassian remained committed to the desert ideal of individual perfection, his insistence on the necessity of Christian community and loving moderation was the basis for Benedictine monasticism, which eventually became the basic spirituality of the Western Church.


RULE OF LIFE A Rule of Life is written plan of intentional Christian living that includes various spiritual disciplines that are important to you and to your life in Christ. Your Rule is yours and should include those things you find are important to your life. It is a living Rule and should change as your needs, abilities and discernment changes. Things to include would be disciplines include in this manual, others you may already be doing, new practices discovered, whatever will help you be intentional about living in right relationship with God and your community. Consider:

• Creating your own Rule of Life o Begin creating and goal to have completed by Holy Week

Include things like: Time for prayer Time for study Time for worship Time with family Resources:

• The Rule of Benedict: A Spirituality for the 21st Century by J. Chittister

• Crafting a Rule of Life: An Invitation to the Well-Ordered Way by S. Macchia

• At Home in the World: A Rule of Life for the Rest of Us by M. Guenther

• Saint Benedict on the Freeway: A Rule of Life for the 21st Century by C. Ware

• www.nationalcathedral.org/pdfs/cor_rule.pdf • www.kingofpeace.org/resources/ruleoflife.pdf

Bless us, O God, in this holy season, in which our hearts seek your help and healing; and so purify us by your discipline that we may grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

http://www.nationalcathedral.org/pdfs/cor_rule.pdf

http://www.kingofpeace.org/resources/ruleoflife.pdf

Concluding Prayers O: Savior of the world, by your cross and precious blood you have redeemed us:

P: Save us, and help us, we most humbly beseech you, O Lord. Let us pray. (Silence)

O God, by your Word you marvelously carry out the work of reconciliation: Grant that in our Lenten fast we may be devoted to you with all our hearts, and united with one another in prayer and holy love; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. The General Thanksgiving Officiant and People Almighty God, Father of all mercies, we your unworthy servants give you humble thanks for all your goodness and loving-kindness to us and to all whom you have made. We bless you for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all for your immeasurable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory. And, we pray, give us such an awareness of your mercies, that with truly thankful hearts we may show forth your praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up our selves to your service, and by walking before you in holiness and righteousness all our days; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory throughout all ages. Amen. O Lord, in your goodness you bestow abundant graces on your elect: Look with favor, we entreat you, upon those who in these Lenten days are being prepared for Holy Baptism, and grant them the help of your protection; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Go in peace to love and

serve the Lord.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES Following Christ: A Lenten Reader to Stretch Your Soul by C. Acevedo Butcher The Spirit of the Disciplines: Understanding How God Changes Lives by Dallas Willard Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth by Richard Foster Celebrating the Disciplines: A Journal Workbook to Accompany “Celebration of Discipline” by Richard Foster Discover Your Spiritual Type by Corinne Ware Mudhouse Sabbath: An Invitation to a Life of Spiritual by L. Winner The Desert Fathers: Sayings of the Early Christian Monks by B. Ward Art of Spiritual Living DVD series

Episcopal Relief and Development Lenten email devotions

Spirituality and Practice website www.spiritualityandpractice.com

A Network for Grateful Living website www.gratefulness.org

Sr. Joan Chittister’s online community Monasteries of the Heart www.monasteriesoftheheart.org

Please visit [email protected] for complete list of resources with link, additional information and to share your thoughts and comments.

http://www.spiritualityandpractice.com/

http://www.gratefulness.org/

http://www.monasteriesoftheheart.org/

http://[email protected]/

Way of the Cross

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