WAY OF THE CROSS OF GOD’S INSTRUMENTS

Remarks

2301. The Schoenstatt Stations of the Cross or the Way of the Cross of God’s Instruments can, if desired, be spoken or sung in alternation [left side/right side, first choir/second choir or other similar arrangement]. If spoken, it is recommended that at least the closing verse, which is repeated at the end of each station, be sung.
2312. The two “choirs” are arranged in such a manner that the first choir always considers Christ from the standpoint of the station’s event in Palestine while the second considers the same mystery from the standpoint of our own day and age.
2323. If time does not allow the Stations to be prayed in their entirety, the second choir can be omitted.
2334. Thematically speaking, the Stations are a meditation on the qualities of our instrument piety:
234The first station concerns itself with perfect detachment, the second with complete attachment to the Father and the third with the attachment to one’s mission. In the fourth, fifth and sixth stations we find corresponding examples in the “apparitions”, i.e. in the lives [of Mary, Simon of Cyrene and Veronica]. The three following stations try to communicate a deeper understanding of these qualities so that the soul can come to rest in them. The tenth, eleventh and twelfth stations draw our attention to the instrument’s security in the Father rather than in sensual pleasures, selfish willfulness and possessions. The thirteenth and fourteenth stations expound on the fruitfulness of the instrument.
2355. At the same time, it is not difficult to use these stations to rediscover and reflect on the qualities of the Inscriptio.
236Perfect surrender is depicted in the first, perfect devotion in the second, and perfect transmission [of love] in the third station. The next three and the final five stations express our unlimited claims of love, while the seventh, eighth and ninth stations—as in the above considerations on instrument piety—deepen the themes of the previous stations.
2376. As the introductory prayer indicates, the entire Way of the Cross is a confrontation between the two great powers behind world history: on the one hand Christ and Our Lady, the permanent helpmate assigned to him by the Father, on the other hand the devil and his hosts. Between them both is the human soul. We want to be inspired to redecide wholeheartedly to serve as instruments of the divine powers.
238Special emphasis is placed on depicting the intimate oneness of Our Lord and his Bride. As a consequence, the idea of Mary’s motherhood recedes into the background in favor of her role as the second Eve, the “One who crushes the serpent.”
239Neither should it be overlooked how the Trinity and the work of redemption are integrated into the stations. This should awaken in us the desire to form our love of Mary in such a way that the mysteries of the Trinity and of redemption become favorites of ours, making us their zealous apostles. Then, if God wants to give us the gift of contemplation, he will find us prepared for it.

Introductory Prayer

Leader: 240Father, at the side of our Mother
let me accompany the Savior of the world
and see in his struggle of life and death
the powers standing behind all world events.
241With his Bride, the Great Sign,
help me extend my weak hands to him as his instrument.
He is the Lord whom you have commissioned in love
to pass judgment on Satan.
242I stand between the two great powers
which oppose each other in eternal battle.
In complete freedom I renew my decision for Christ
now and forever.
All: 243Let me joyfully embrace the cross with him
and fearlessly go the ways of Inscriptio,
that as his bride, I become like the Bridegroom,
fruitful as an instrument for his Schoenstatt realm.
244I ask you, Thrice Admirable Lady,
to let me look deeply into our Savior’s heart
and in the midst of an ocean of brimming hate
to let me stand at his side with the warmth of your love.
Amen.

FIRST STATION — Jesus is condemned to death

Leader: We adore you, Savior Jesus Christ,
All: who died for us on the cross.
First choir: 245Through his executioners and contrary to all justice
Satan has condemned you to death,
you who are truth, justice,
love and life in all eternity.
246With royal freedom you silently accept
the death sentence as the Father’s will.
You are so free of self,
entirely free to do the Father’s will alone.
Second choir: 247Pilate, the high priests and the masses,
who guiltily abandon you, the Light of the world,
often re-sentence you to death
with hate and mockery and strident clamor.
248As often as I have violated truth, justice and love
and cowardly opposed your wishes,
I have joined them in abandoning you
and deprived Schoenstatt of your love.
Leader: 249With your Bride who bears this suffering with you,
let me renounce all self-will.
At the Father’s word I am joyfully ready
to give up everything, even honor and justice.
All sing: 250Through you let us become the Father’s instruments
and build his Schoenstatt kingdom here on earth
in the Holy Spirit with your Mother-Bride,
who is united with you as the One who crushes the serpent.
Amen.

SECOND STATION — Jesus accepts his heavy cross

Leader: We adore you, Savior Jesus Christ,
All: who died for us on the cross.
First choir: 251You will soon be permitted to receive the baptism of blood,
for which you have so ardently longed.
Yours will be the glory of the passion
granted to you by the Father for our salvation.
252I see you longingly embrace the cross
which loudly proclaims divine mercy.
What Satan’s madness has prepared for you
you accept as the instrument of salvation.
Second choir: 253In every age and on many different paths
you stagger, scorned and laden with the cross:
The persecution which your Church endures
is the cross placed on your shoulders.
254Ever since you generously took the cross upon yourself
it has gained radiant splendor and great value.
It is the noble pride of those who love you
to seek in you, with your powerful Bride, the wood of slavery.
Leader: 255May I always joyfully carry the splinter of the cross
which the Father sends me through the circumstances of my life,
that my Inscriptio may prove to be genuine
and what I am and do may give the Father childlike praise.
All sing: 256Through you let us become the Father’s instruments
and build his Schoenstatt kingdom here on earth
in the Holy Spirit with your Mother-Bride,
who is united with you as the One who crushes the serpent.
Amen.

THIRD STATION — Jesus falls the first time under the cross

Leader: We adore you, Savior Jesus Christ,
All: who died for us on the cross.
First choir: 257The bitter burden of our sins weighs heavily upon you;
you collapse because of the executioners’ haste.
Yet the work of redemption pulls you up
because the dragon is still lying at the gates of heaven.
258The work which the Father has entrusted to you
and to which your Mother-Bride could give her yes,
gives you no rest until it is completed
and Adam’s bill of debt has been forgiven.
Second choir: 259The guilt of humanity causes you to withdraw in silence,
even to flee at times from the presence of the peoples.
But your love as Redeemer powerfully compels you,
with your Bride, to brave the night again.
260You must not lose a single lamb;
you will lead all of them victoriously home,
so that in spite of Satan’s cunning they become like you
because it is the Father’s sacred mandate.
Leader: 261When nature’s guilt and weight oppress me,
and failure and the burden of being a shepherd bow me down,
then let me follow in your footsteps, Lord,
as a beacon of hope for the weakness of our nature.
All sing: 262Through you let us become the Father’s instruments
and build his Schoenstatt kingdom here on earth
in the Holy Spirit with your Mother-Bride,
who is united with you as the One who crushes the serpent.
Amen.

FOURTH STATION — Jesus meets his holy Mother

Leader: We adore you, Savior Jesus Christ,
All: who died for us on the cross.
First choir: 263The permanent helpmate for the salvation of souls
may not fail to be present on your difficult way of the cross.
The Father placed her at your side
just as he once joined Eve to Adam.
264An ocean of sorrow wells in both hearts,
but nothing can reverse their decision
to resolutely accept the Father’s will
and go the way of suffering together.
Second choir: 265As often as the fires of hell flare up,
you want to use the One who crushes the serpent,
shackling through the voice of a Woman
the beast whose dragon-mouth is wide agape.
266In union with her you want to save souls,
binding them, like yourself, to the Father’s will.
Mary is and will always be the lure and magnet
whom our hearts cannot easily resist.
Leader: 267In unspeakably overflowing kindness
you have given Schoenstatt humanity’s most noble blossom.
Let us cherish her in the shrine of our hearts
and courageously carry her into the world.
All sing: 268Through you let us become the Father’s instruments
and build his Schoenstatt kingdom here on earth
in the Holy Spirit with your Mother-Bride,
who is united with you as the One who crushes the serpent.
Amen.

FIFTH STATION — Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus carry the cross

Leader: We adore you, Savior Jesus Christ,
All: who died for us on the cross.
First choir: 269According to the Father’s wish you may not dare
to continue carrying the heavy beams of the cross alone.
He sends you Simon of Cyrene
who brings you relief, courage and rest.
270At first Simon helps you against his will,
but soon he feels God’s power surging forth from you.
You so effectively imprint your image on him
that he is permitted to become your reflection in everything.
Second choir: 271Those whom the Father has chosen from all eternity in the Holy Spirit
to be the light and salt of the earth
may likewise offer their shoulders to you
and carry with you the sign of redemption.
272The dragon tries to keep them from drinking of your cup
whose bottom glistens with heavenly pearls.
Yet like your Bride, you make them resemble you,
entirely victorious in all they are and do and suffer.
Leader: 273I thank you that I may daily give you my shoulders
for the cross which bears all life.
In this way mold me into your image,
that in childlike spirit I may always fulfill the Father’s wish.
All sing: 274Through you let us become the Father’s instruments
and build his Schoenstatt kingdom here on earth
in the Holy Spirit with your Mother-Bride,
who is united with you as the One who crushes the serpent.
Amen.

SIXTH STATION — Veronica offers Jesus a cloth

Leader: We adore you, Savior Jesus Christ,
All: who died for us on the cross.
First choir: 275Veronica, free of fearful apprehension,
breaks through the ranks of the executioners.
Out of the compassion of her heart she calmly brings you
a cloth which you gratefully touch.
276You were so deeply gladdened by this act of love
that you impressed your countenance upon the cloth
and returned it to Veronica,
whom purest love had urged to you.
Second choir: 277Since then you have allowed noble women
to often choose you as the Bridegroom of their souls.
Out of the ardor of their love and with unbroken courage
they serve you in your members.
278They bear the pure and gentle features of Christ;
they are free of pretense, falseness and deceit.
They go through sinful creation
as radiant signs of Jesus and Mary.
Leader: 279I thank you that other Veronicas
may keep watch in our Schoenstatt world.
Never let them die out of our ranks
and may we always be their valiant defenders.
All sing: 280Through you let us become the Father’s instruments
and build his Schoenstatt kingdom here on earth
in the Holy Spirit with your Mother-Bride,
who is united with you as the One who crushes the serpent.
Amen.

SEVENTH STATION — Jesus falls the second time under the cross

Leader: We adore you, Savior Jesus Christ,
All: who died for us on the cross.
First choir: 281The wood of the cross is extremely heavy
and causes you to fall again.
Neither prince nor people will admit in their malice
that you alone can be the Lord of the world.
282They cannot grasp the folly of the cross
and therefore reject you with defiant hatred.
They pay homage to the prince of this world
who holds them chained in eternal enslavement.
Second choir: 283At times human spirits violently go separate ways
and restively re-seek their master.
The wall of division is raised on high:
by the sign of the cross the Lord will be recognized.
284I see the nations racing into the abyss
who allow themselves to be separated from the cross of Christ.
The tyrant rises from the deep,
proudly desiring to control the course of the world.
Leader: 285Lord, at the plea of your Bride do not allow your cross to fall
but lift it up again and let it shine from heaven.
I want to carry it with you into the world
until our nation pays it homage once more.
All sing: 286Through you let us become the Father’s instruments
and build his Schoenstatt kingdom here on earth
in the Holy Spirit with your Mother-Bride,
who is united with you as the One who crushes the serpent.
Amen.

EIGHTH STATION — Jesus meets the weeping women

Leader: We adore you, Savior Jesus Christ,
All: who died for us on the cross.
First choir: 287The eyes of the women are so blinded
that they fail to find true faith.
They see only your staggering form,
not God in you, who sustains all being.
288You sorrowfully point out to them their children
who will soon be the heralds of justice.
The holy city will lie in ruins
and the people that rejected you will be scattered.
Second choir: 289On every side I see millions staggering
because their eyes are inflicted with blindness.
Satan and the barriers of self-seeking
obstruct the light shining in the darkness.
290I hear the rolling thunder of the judgment
that crushes those who refuse to see.
Confusion and desolation reign in the nation
which so disdainfully rejected the Messiah.
Leader: 291Let me offer your blood to the Father.
May he consider the sorrows of our Mother
and accept me as his sacrifice of atonement
that he might relent from the severity of his justice.
All sing: 292Through you let us become the Father’s instruments
and build his Schoenstatt kingdom here on earth
in the Holy Spirit with your Mother-Bride,
who is united with you as the One who crushes the serpent.
Amen.

NINTH STATION — Jesus falls the third time under the cross

Leader: We adore you, Savior Jesus Christ,
All: who died for us on the cross.
First choir: 293Again you are so hard pressed by the bitter agony
that you must fall a third time.
At fault are all of the many souls
you have cared for with such special kindness.
294They should have prepared triumphs for you
but let themselves be led by evil spirits.
They did not completely detach themselves from the world
which, like a spider’s web, holds them ensnared.
Second choir: 295Such apostles are to be found in every age;
they painfully increase your suffering as the Redeemer.
They shackle your effectiveness,
so that your Spirit cannot penetrate them.
296Your enemy can play with them at will.
He only fears those who aim to give all for all
and are wholly governed by the Spirit
who leads your Helpmate into battle.
Leader: 297Destroy the secret reservations
which nest in the hidden corners of our hearts
and are to blame that our outward efforts
lack the fruitfulness God desires.
All sing: 298Through you let us become the Father’s instruments
and build his Schoenstatt kingdom here on earth
in the Holy Spirit with your Mother-Bride,
who is united with you as the One who crushes the serpent.
Amen.

TENTH STATION — Jesus is stripped of his garments

Leader: We adore you, Savior Jesus Christ,
All: who died for us on the cross.
First choir: 299You are so sheltered in the Father’s heart
that you endure the divestment with serenity.
You wince at every blow but remain silent
because it is the heavenly Father’s will.
300The times we have capitulated to our sensuality
have delivered you up to this burning shame.
With complete freedom you make the decision
that fills your body and soul with greatest suffering.
Second choir: 301I still see you standing there divested
because the avarice of our senses refuses to subside.
And next to you are untold hosts of heroes
who offer themselves to you in sacrifice.
302They keep body and soul undefiled
and are virginal in all they are and do,
seeing it their honor, fame and glory
to stand silently next to you in affliction and disgrace.
Leader: 303In you let me always take my bearings from the Father
and help me relinquish earthly shelteredness
so that in holy and undivided unity I may travel homeward
and look upon the hands and eyes of my Mother.
All sing: 304Through you let us become the Father’s instruments
and build his Schoenstatt kingdom here on earth
in the Holy Spirit with your Mother-Bride,
who is united with you as the One who crushes the serpent.
Amen.

ELEVENTH STATION — Jesus is nailed to the cross

Leader: We adore you, Savior Jesus Christ,
All: who died for us on the cross.
First choir: 305I see you willingly extend your arms
and abandon yourself entirely to the work of the executioners.
The nails pierce your hands and feet;
you accept them as the Father’s greeting of love.
306Because we refuse to renounce our stubbornness
you no longer want to have a will of your own.
The Father’s wish is your favorite food;
in it your security is complete.
Second choir: 307The ancient serpent is constantly seeking to beguile souls
so that they fail to hear the Father’s word
and selfishly go astray,
placing themselves at the disposal of dark powers.
308You gather souls who, in you,
are willing to freely bind themselves to the Father’s wish.
They are proud of the nails of obedience
as befits a bride of Christ and a child of God.
Leader: 309Help me to always make the free decision
to let my love be guided by obedience alone.
Then the Father’s eternal plan of love
can be fulfilled in my life.
All sing: 310Through you let us become the Father’s instruments
and build his Schoenstatt kingdom here on earth
in the Holy Spirit with your Mother-Bride,
who is united with you as the One who crushes the serpent.
Amen.

TWELFTH STATION — Jesus dies on the cross

Leader: We adore you, Savior Jesus Christ,
All: who died for us on the cross.
First choir: 311You now hang between heaven and earth
that there may be a new creation of love.
Omnipotence is so inexpressibly poor
because your love is so deep and warm.
312In the hour of your death you want to give us your Mother
in order to lead us quickly and surely to you:
“Behold your Mother”—“Behold your son,”
these are the words you speak from your cross and royal throne.
Second choir: 313The souls who cling to their possessions,
which easily take the place of God’s true image,
nail you to the wood of affliction and disgrace,
which powerfully shakes the conscience into waking.
314Those who overlook Mary,
who according to the Father’s plan should always stand at your side,
do not grasp the fullness of your task,
nor the entirety of its strength and light.
Leader: 315As often as I may lovingly contemplate your cross,
let me trust no longer in money and possessions
so that I can give myself with heart and mind,
carefree and completely, to you and to my Mother.
All sing: 316Through you let us become the Father’s instruments
and build his Schoenstatt kingdom here on earth
in the Holy Spirit with your Mother-Bride,
who is united with you as the One who crushes the serpent.
Amen.

THIRTEENTH STATION — Jesus is placed in the arms of his Mother

Leader: We adore you, Savior Jesus Christ,
All: who died for us on the cross.
First choir: 317After defeating death and Satan
you lie limply in the arms of your Mother.
You are so deeply and tenderly united with her
that the Father’s plan shines warmly into our hearts.
318The sacrifice she was allowed to make in you
will sing forever in my soul:
Redeeming love calls for the deed of sacrifice
which completed the work of salvation.
Second choir: 319This is the profound meaning of all suffering
which the Father’s love so richly prepares for us:
The grain of wheat which does not fall to the ground and die
can be certain it will remain alone.
320Ever since the second Eve gave you up to death,
she understands all the sorrows of the heirs of Adam
and takes care in her motherly way
that they become valuable for the work of redemption.
Leader: 321May I always remain a faithful child of this Mother,
deeply inscribing her name into all hearts.
Then the sorrows that afflict the nations
will awaken a jubilant and resounding hymn of redemption.
All sing: 322Through you let us become the Father’s instruments
and build his Schoenstatt kingdom here on earth
in the Holy Spirit with your Mother-Bride,
who is united with you as the One who crushes the serpent.
Amen.

FOURTEENTH STATION — Jesus is laid in the tomb

Leader: We adore you, Savior Jesus Christ,
All: who died for us on the cross.
First choir: 323The stone on your tomb will cover you for only a short time;
then you will rise victoriously from the dead.
You ascend as victor from the grave
and jubilantly open to us the gates of heaven.
324The might of the ancient serpent is chained;
the universe has found its center.
You are the Lord of heaven and earth
to whom all creation falls down in worship.
Second choir: 325In your Church you want to go forth blessing the nations
in order to extend your kingdom
with your Bride, the Queen of Heaven,
and to draw them in the Holy Spirit to the Father.
326Whenever your Mystical Body is despised,
condemned to die and considered dead,
the power of God breaks through
and victoriously creates a new earth.
Leader: 327In sorrow and persecution teach me to believe
that nothing can rob you of the crown of victory.
Use Schoenstatt as your chosen instrument
to gloriously increase the holy ranks of the Church.
All sing: 328Through you let us become the Father’s instruments
and build his Schoenstatt kingdom here on earth
in the Holy Spirit with your Mother-Bride,
who is united with you as the One who crushes the serpent.
Amen.

Concluding Prayer

329O Holy Cross, I fall before you
and sing to you ardent hymns of thanks and jubilation:
On you our Lord completed the work
which made us children of God.
330I want to plant you deeply in my joyous heart
and constantly give you all my love;
my life’s hope is built on you,
my crucified Lord, and on your Bride.
331Let me proclaim you both to those around me,
daring my life’s battle for you each day.
Then your kingdom will be victorious everywhere
and extend its boundaries to the ends of the universe.
332Let me present the cross and the picture of Mary
to the nations as the sign of redemption
so that the two who stand as one in the Father’s plan of love
may never be divided.
333May Schoenstatt always be your loyal instrument,
inscribing your names, together, into human hearts,
that Satan’s realm may truly be destroyed
and in the Holy Spirit the Father’s glory be increased.
Amen.