INTRODUCTION 

The statue you're seeing now is the Thirteen Station of the Cross, "I Am Taken Down from the Cross," you are witnessing the deeply moving and solemn moment when Jesus' lifeless body is removed from the cross after His crucifixion.

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In the statue, you see Mother Mary, His mother, cradling His body in her arms. This is a poignant image, reminiscent of when she held Jesus as a baby. Now she holds Him again, but this time His life has been extinguished. This scene is often referred to as the "Pieta," an Italian term meaning "pity" or "compassion," and it's one of the most powerful depictions in Christian art.

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Mary's sorrow is immeasurable, yet she accepts His lifeless body with great love and tenderness. Her face often reflects a deep sadness, but also a quiet strength and acceptance. She mourns the loss of her Son, but also accepts that His death was not in vain, but part of a divine plan.

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This station is a reminder of the immense personal cost of Jesus' sacrifice. It brings to the forefront the human aspect of the crucifixion, the tangible loss felt by His loved ones. Yet, it is also a reminder of the hope that His death brings. Even in this moment of intense grief, the promise of resurrection lingers.

 

 PRAYER 

Leader: We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You.

Response: Because, by Your holy cross, you have redeemed the world.

 

Leader: Consider how, after Our Lord had died, He was taken down from the cross by two of His disciples, Joseph and Nicodemus, and placed in the arms of His afflicted Mother. She received Him with unutterable tenderness and pressed Him close to her bosom. 

Response: O Mother of Sorrows, for the love of Your Son, accept me as Your servant and pray to Him for me, And You, my Redeemer, since you have died for me, allow me to love You, for I desire only You and nothing more. I love You, Jesus my Love, and I am sorry that I have offended You. Never let me offend You again. Grant that I may love You always; and then do with me as You will.