PRO TEMPORE

VIA CRVCIS — STATIO III

Station III — Jesus Falls the First Time

Station III: Jesus falls the first time. The meditation emphasizes that 'it was not the weight of the Cross, but the weight of my sins' that caused Christ's fall. By the merits of this first fall, the faithful ask deliverance from falling into mortal sin.

LATINE
V. Adoramus te, Christe, et benedicimus tibi.
R. Quia per sanctam Crucem tuam redemisti mundum.
STATIO III — Iesus cadit prima vice
Considera primum casum Iesu sub Cruce. Caro eius erat tota dilacerata flagellis, caput eius coronatum spinis; multum sanguinis amiserat; adeo debilitatus erat ut vix ambulare poterat.
Iesu mi, non pondus Crucis, sed peccatorum meorum pondus te ita afflixit. Per merita huius primi casus, libera me a cadendo in peccatum mortale.
Amo te, Iesu mi, super omnia, et ex toto corde me poenitet quod offenderim te. Numquam permittas ut iterum a te separar. Da ut semper te amem, et postea fac de me quidquid tibi placuerit.
Pater Noster. Ave Maria. Gloria Patri.
V. Miserere nostri, Domine.
R. Miserere nostri.
ENGLISH
V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee.
R. Because by Thy holy Cross Thou hast redeemed the world.
STATION III — Jesus Falls the First Time
Consider the first fall of Jesus under the Cross. His flesh was torn by the scourges, His head crowned with thorns; He had lost a great quantity of blood; He was so weakened that He could scarcely walk.
My Jesus, it was not the weight of the Cross, but the weight of my sins, which made Thee suffer so much. By the merits of this first fall, deliver me from falling into mortal sin.
I love Thee, my Jesus, above all things; I repent with my whole heart of having offended Thee. Never permit me to separate myself from Thee again. Grant that I may love Thee always, and then do with me what Thou wilt.
Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory Be.
V. Have mercy on us, O Lord.
R. Have mercy on us.
NOTA
FONS
S. Alphonsus de Liguori (1696-1787), Via della Salute; Raccolta
USUS
Lent, Fridays, any time of penance