Station 5: Simon of Cyrene Helps Jesus to Carry the Cross

The 5th Station of the Cross invites us to walk with Jesus on the way to Calvary. This traditional meditation follows a classic English form of the Way of the Cross.

The Prayer

We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee, because by Thy holy Cross Thou hast redeemed the world. Consider how the Jews, seeing that at each step Jesus from weakness was on the point of expiring, and fearing that He would die on the way, when they wished Him to die the ignominious death of the Cross, constrained Simon of Cyrene to carry the Cross behind our Lord. My most sweet Jesus, I will not refuse the Cross as the Cyrenian did; I accept it, I embrace it. I accept in particular the death Thou hast destined for me, with all the pains which may accompany it; I unite it to Thy death, I offer it to Thee. Thou hast died for love of me; I will die for love of Thee. Help me by Thy grace. I love Thee, Jesus my love; I repent of having offended Thee. Never permit me to offend Thee again. Grant that I may love Thee always, and then do with me what Thou wilt.

Traditional Way of the Cross; cf. St. Alphonsus / Baltimore Manual tradition, public domain English.

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