Way of the cross virus
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This document is a reflection on the 14 Stations of the Cross during the COVID-19 pandemic. Each station is summarized with references to how Jesus' suffering relates to those impacted by the virus. Key points include: Jesus accepting our suffering to walk with us; accepting social distancing to trust scientists; and reaching out to others. Healthcare workers find themselves in the midst of the crisis with insufficient resources. After the crisis, there will be many grieving and depression due to losses. We must support those in grief and prevent suicides. In the end, we will no longer jeer at warnings and must care for those in need.
Way of the cross virus
- 1. By Rev. Cornelius T. McQuillan,C.S.Sp., Psy.D
- 2. Way of the Cross During a Pandemic © 2020 by Cornelius T. Mc Quillan Edited by Daniel Abba, C.S.Sp., MA
- 3. Way of the Cross During a Pandemic Begin by making the sign of the cross. Make an act of Contrition. After reading the title of each Station say: “We adore you Oh Christ and praise you for by your cross you have redeemed the world.” After each station pray the Lord´s Prayer, a Hail Mary and Glory be.
- 4. First Station Jesus Is Condemned to Death Jesus, although completely innocent, was condemned to death because of our disobedience to God. Many will succumb to the corona virus through no fault of their own. Many have died and will die because they choose to help those already suffering from this disease. Others will contract this virus out of ignorance. Many have caused the death of others by their laxity.
- 5. Jesus accepted suffering in order to walk with us in every human experience save sin. We accept the inconveniences, interruptions and anxiety by altering our life style because we trust medical scientist who insist that our only weapon is social distance. We accept the opportunity by creatively finding ways as a family to spend more quality time studying, praying, eating, playing and sharing chores. We reach out to others via letters, emails, calls and texting.
- 6. Third Station Jesus Falls The First Time Jesus was during his life a healthy and vigorous man, but he was beaten until and inch of his life and stumbles easily. Many of us have been weakened by breathing contaminated air, polluted water, while others are forced to live in subhuman hovels lacking sanitation and denied access to healthy foods. Others are highly suceptical because of chronic disease or past battles with illness.
- 7. Forth Station Jesus Meets His Holy Mother Jesus suffers as He beholds the pained face of his most sorrowful mother. Many young mothers have had to watch impotently as their most vulnerable children succumb with lungs no longer able to supply them with sufficient oxygen. Many of us will have to stand idle as we watch both young and old fighting for their last breath.
- 8. Fifth Station Simon of Cyrene Helps Jesus Carry His Cross Unable to bear the weight of the cross, a bystander is enlisted to hasten Jesus on his way to Calvary. Many healthcare providers find themselves in the midst of the fray with insufficient tests, medications, protective garbs, respirators and hospital beds. Many family members of healthcare providers find themselves at high risk while others have already contracted this insidious virus.
- 9. Because of the Courage of one woman to go against the mob hungering to witness the execution of an innocent man, Jesus lifts the ban on images as a gift for her faith and leaves us one of the three images we have of his face. (Shroud of Turin, el Sudario of Barcelona). So many have selfishly cared for the ill and dying with no or little concern for their own well-being. Others risk their own health to insure that others’ needs are met.
- 10. Seventh Station Jesus Falls the Second Time So weakened by punches, whips, thorns and shoves, Jesus easily trips and goes down on all fours. He for whom every knee should bend bows solemnly to the Will of his Father no matter the cost. Many if not most of us will eventually fall sick from this influenza. Let us not lose hope. It may knock us down, but we know the power of God’s love and the healing power he gives us through prayer. Our first prayer is for those working arduously to find effective medications and an eventual vaccine. We also pray for the leaders of our countries, that they learn the importance of stockpiling medical supplies as much as oil.
- 11. Eighth Station Jesus Meets the Women of Jerusalem The woman came to console a condemned man, but Jesus, exhausted to an extreme, consoles them. The aftermath of this medical disaster will be many grief stricken souls. So many loved ones will have died that the need for emotional support for the survivors and the depression suffered by others due to material and financial losses will be the second wave. Jesus teaches us to be pro-active toward those in grief, the depressed and especially those who become suicidal. We must become their beacon of hope!
- 12. Ninth Station Jesus Falls the Third Time Unable to bear the weight of his own body, Jesus identifies completely with human frailty. He lies prostrate, face in the dirt of the world He came to save. Some of us are too proud to bow our heads at the name of Jesus, others use his most holy name merely as an emotional grammatical exclamation as if they could be saved by some other name. In the aftermath of this virus, we will no longer be the haughtly people who jeered at this supposed hoax. We can only be made great again by assuming a humble posture of the anawim before creation by preparing for the worst while hoping and preparing for the Kingdom announced by Christ.
- 13. Totally humiliated Jesus stood naked but innocent before us sinners. Adam hid ashamed of his body soiled by his sin. Jesus’ body was covered with bruises, blood, spit and dirt. Medical facilities are inadequate for the high numbers of the infected. There will not be sufficient beds in emergency rooms. Those with no medical insurance, the indignant, the poor and the aged, those most at risk, are left indefensless before a cold and for profit health system.
- 14. Eleventh Station Jesus Is Nailed to the Cross Each and every sin we commit pierces the body of Christ, the Church. Every baptized person has a special vocation to help advance the coming of the Kingdom. Our small vices slow the progress of the entire project. Our scandalous behavior impedes or delays evangelization. You cannot offer your sacrifice to God, until you first reconcile with each member of Christ’s body, which you nailed to the wood of the cross. We manifest our repentance by caring for those in need: we feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, care for the sick, clothe the naked, visit the imprisoned, educate the ignorant, etc.
- 15. Twelfth Station Jesus Dies on the Cross Jesus did battle with Death at the Gates to the City. He chose to lose the battle in order to win the war. He died rather than let death take the city. Many Doctors, Nurses, healthcare workers, first responders and family members will also die because they chose to help the contagious. They too will lose the battle and thus help us and themselves win the war. May our celestial Father bless them in the name of Jesus.
- 16. Thirteenth Station Jesus Is Taken Down From the Cross Those that lowered the body of Jesus from the Cross were ever so careful not to allow a single drop of his blood to fall from his body. For the Israelites, blood is life and therefore sacred. Before removing him from the cross, they covered his head with a sudario (which also contains his image) which Holy Scripture records was left in the tomb. We are saved by the Blood of the Lamb, which like that on the doorpost in Egypt, coats our lips and defends us from eternal death. We are also saved by donated blood to the Red Cross, whose reserves are desperately low. Please donate a pint of your blood, because you are of the saving body of Christ.
- 17. Fourteenth Station Christ’s Body Was Placed in a Tomb Nailed naked to the wood of the tree of Life in place of the fruit stolen by the first couple, Jesus’ dead body was wrapped in a burial cloth. This cloth records in a series of MRI images his turning over and getting up at the moment of the Resurrection. He left the tomb naked so as to be clothed in glory! When will we learn that a person is not measured by his wealth, academic degrees, titles or fame, but by who he or she is? Who we are is measured by what we give.
- 18. Pray five Our Fathers, Hail Marys and Glory bes for the intention of the Holy Father.