The Eleventh Station: Jesus is nailed to the cross
Upon His last resting place Jesus lays Himself down. No soft bed, no easy couch to ease the agony of His aching limbs, but a hard, rough beam must be His place of death. Meekly He extends His arms, those arms ever open to welcome back the repentant sinner, and offers His hands to be pierced as the Prophet had foretold. A long, blunt nail is placed upon the palm: a heavy, dull thud, the crunch of parting flesh and rending muscle, the spouting crimson blood which covers the face and hands of the hardened soldier and Jesus is fastened to the cross. Come, sinner, gaze upon your work for you have nailed Him there! Your sins it was which flung your Saviour down, your sins which drove the iron deep into His sacred flesh.
Again, Father Doyle helps us to imagine the cruel reality of Jesus’ final hours. Like Father Doyle, we must take the time to become aware of that Sacrifice, and what it means for you and me. The sights, the sounds, the crowd watching, Jesus’ Mother, Mary Magdalene, young St. John…and many others standing by, faithful to the end.
Father Doyle, please pray for us that our faith, perseverance, compassion will never fail especially when it comes to our love and loyalty to God and the faith.