THE THIRD STATION OF THE CROSS
Jesus Falls the First Time

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L:  We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you.
     (Bow)
All:  By your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

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L:  Justice is far from us, and righteousness does not reach us; we wait for light, and lo! there is darkness; and for brightness, but we walk in gloom. We stumble at noon as in the twilight, among the vigorous as though we were dead. The LORD saw it, and it displeased him that there was no justice. He saw that there was no one, and was appalled that there was no one to intervene; so his own arm brought him victory, and his righteousness upheld him.  (Isaiah 59:9,10b,15b-16)

(Kneel/sit and pause for reflection)

L:  Three times I appealed to the Lord about this:

All: That it would leave me, but he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness." So, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ; for whenever I am weak, then I am strong.   (2 Corinthians.12:8-10)

L:  Let us pray.  Lord God, your Son chose to be weak before the powers of this world, and you worked your power through him.  In our time of weakness, help us to turn to you, that your power may work in us also;  through Jesus Christ our Lord.

All:  Amen

(Stand and move to the next station, singing:)

          Jesus met his grieving Mother,
          She who made the Lord our Brother;
          Now the sword her heart has pierced.

On to THE FOURTH STATION
Jesus Meets His Afflicted Mother...

The Stations Of The Cross: . .

OPENING PRAYER
Before the Altar

THE FIRST STATION
Jesus Is Condemned to Death

THE SECOND STATION
Jesus Carries His Cross

THE THIRD STATION
Jesus Falls the First Time

THE FOURTH STATION
Jesus Meets His Afflicted Mother

THE FIFTH STATION
Simon Helps Jesus Carry His Cross

THE SIXTH STATION
A Woman Offers Comfort to Jesus

THE SEVENTH STATION
Jesus Falls a Second Time

THE EIGHTH STATION
Jesus Meets the Women of Jerusalem

THE NINTH STATION
Jesus Falls a Third Time

THE TENTH STATION
Jesus Is Stripped of His Clothes

THE ELEVENTH STATION
Jesus Is Nailed to the Cross

THE TWELFTH STATION
Jesus Dies on the Cross

THE THIRTEENTH STATION
Jesus Is Taken Down from the Cross

THE FOURTEENTH STATION
Jesus Is Laid in the Tomb

Closing Prayer
Before the Altar