VIA CRUCIS

The Way of the Cross / AL 34 [Poem Chapters 604 - 611]

311. FRI, 11:30AM The Way of the Cross.

---- ---- ---- Jn 19:17 604/p.593
Before Jesus begins the long walk to Golgotha led by the centurion
Longinus, He is offered a drink by the centurion, who feels compassion for Him.
Jesus drinks because He does not want to offend Longinus, a pagan.

312. FRI, 12 Noon Weep Not for Me but for Yourselves.

---- ---- Lk 23:27 32 ---- 604/p.597
On the way to Calvary with two other malefactors, Jesus meets a number of
His supporters. He sees the Bethlehem shepherd disciples and tries to smile at them.
Later, He sees a group of women disciples, including Veronica, who hands Jesus a
fine linen handkerchief with which He could wipe His face. He presses it upon His
face and gives it back. Though Jesus is completely exhausted, He manages to
compassionately address them, urging them not to weep over Him but for themselves.
“Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for Me...” Shortly after this, Mary and John
come into Jesus’ sight, along with Mary and Martha of Bethany and Mary Salome of
Zebedee, Mary Clopas/Alphaeus and Susanna (the bride of Cana).

313. FRI, 12 Noon Simon bears the Cross of Christ.

Mt 27:32 Mk 15:21 Lk 23:26 ---- 604/p.602
Simon the Cyrene, coming from the countryside with his cart of vegetables
to sell in the city, is summoned by Longinus to bear Jesus’ cross. Of the Apostles,
only John is present as Jesus is led to the cross or during the crucifixion. John’s
brother and James, the Lord’s two cousins, have taken refuge at Lazarus’ residence.
Simon Zealot, as he had promised Jesus, has taken Andrew, Bartholomew and
Matthew there, also. Philip has run away into the plains beyond Jericho (617/ p.715),
and Thomas takes refuge in the grotto where Jesus was born. Peter, after his fourth
denial runs away like a madman. He thinks he is damned. He goes to the place where
Jesus had been arrested and stays there until nightfall. (See 610/pp. 675,676)

314. FRI, 12 1PM Jesus Arrives at Calvary.

Mt 27:33 Mk 15:22 ---- ---- 604/p.603
Jesus is at Golgotha, the place of Calvary (literally “the place of the skull

315. FRI, 12-1PM The Chief Priests Object to the Sign.

---- ---- ---- Jn 19:20 22 [-]
The Jews renew their objections to the sign on the cross. [NOTE: John may
have been referring to the objection that occurred earlier when Pilate had the sign
made and only mentions it now at the time the sign was displayed. See 308. where
The Poem speaks of the objections of the Jews.]

316. FRI, 12 3PM Darkness Comes at Noon.

Mt 27:45 Mk 15:33 Lk 23:44 ---- 604/p.610
Darkness covers the land.

317. FRI, 12 1PM The Faithful Women at the Cross.

---- ---- ---- Jn 19:25 604/p.604

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 The three Marys at the crucifixion scene: With John the Apostle is Holy
Mary, her cousin (“sister”) Mary of Clopas or Alphaeus (who was Holy Joseph’s older
brother), and Mary Magdalene. A little further away is Martha (the Magdalene’s
sister), Johanna of Chuza, and her Bethlehem shepherd servant Jonathan, Old Eliza,
Anne of Lake Merom, Mary Clopas’ two oldest sons (Joseph and Simon who were not
Apostles), with a group of other Bethlehem shepherds and finally Mary Salome,
Susanna of Cana and Alphaeus of Sarah. A number of other supporters who had
accompanied Jesus to the summit of Calvary have departed. They include Nike,
Sarah, Marcella, and the Roman women Lydia, Valeria and one who was veiled who
was certainly Pilate’s wife Claudia Procula, as the soldiers had taken orders from her.

318. FRI, 12 1PM Jesus Must Reject the Drink [from Johanna] for His Relief.
Mt 27:34, 37-38 Mk 15:23,25*-28 Lk23:33 Jn19:18
604/p.606
Jesus, while waiting crucifixion, is offered but rejects the drink with myrrh.
The drink is somewhat of an anesthetic and is given to the centurion Longinus by
Johanna of Chuza for Jesus’ relief. The victims are ordered to undress and put on the
criminal rag. Mary now gives Longinus the centurion her veil so Jesus can cover
Himself. Jesus positions Himself on the cross. His right arm is nailed to the cross into
the predrilled hole through the wrist, not through the palm as commonly thought. The
hole for the nail to hold the left arm, however, was beyond the wrist area. The
executioners pull the left arm to force a fit and pull his arms out of their sockets,
dislocating his arms and shoulders. [This fulfilled Psalm 22:14 (21:15 Douay).] Still
not being successful, they end up nailing the left arm through the palm. This is far
more painful. The lifting of the cross, its final drop into the hole, and its tipping and
swaying movements which tossed the impaled victim in every direction until the cross
was stabilized, is an almost unbearable scene. Jesus is crucified with two thieves.
[NOTE: That the executioners would have nailed through the wrists would have been
understood by very few until very recently. What The Poem reveals is exactly what
the Shroud of Turin reveals about the position of the nail in right arm. The Shroud
clearly shows the right arm puncture in the wrist, not the palm. The location of the
puncture on the left arm is obscured by the position of the right hand over it. The
misleading rendition of John 20:27, where Jesus tells the doubting Thomas, “see My
hands,” has perpetuated the popular but false notion that crucifixion involved the
piercing of the palms of the hands. The Greek word “cheir” included the wrist.]
*[NOTE: Mark’s reference to Christ’s crucifixion at the third hour speaks of Jesus’
trial before Pilate at 9 AM which sealed His fate.]
604/p.593 - The Way of the Cross from the Praetorium to Calvary. (Gospel Episodes
311. to 318.)

319. FRI, 1 PM The Soldiers Gamble for Jesus’ Clothes.

Mt 27:35,36 Mk 15:24 Lk 23:34b Jn 19:23 24 605a/p.610
Besides the large number of mounted and armed soldiers at the summit
who have their eyes on the mob, there are ten dismounted soldiers who are now
gambling for Jesus’ clothes. Mary has specially made this purple garment, suitable
for a King for this Passover (608a/p.650). She understandably grieves over having
lost this and over the inability of Longinus to later relocate it among his soldiers.

320. FRI, 1-2PM Come Down from the Cross and Save Yourself.
Mt 27:39 44 Mk 15:29 32 Lk 23:35 38 ---- 605a/p.611
Now the insults, indecent comments and gestures from the maddened
religious rulers are hurled at not only Jesus but against the Holy Mother. “Come
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down from the cross and save yourself.” The mockery of the soldiers, however, while
showing an indifference to Jesus, is a verbal show of their contempt for the crowd, the
Judeans in particular. Picking up from their mockery, “Come down and save
Yourself,” they tell Jesus, “So save Yourself! Burn to ashes this suburra of the
suburra! Do so! Rome will . . . worship You as god!” When the rulers come over to
Mary Magdalene and threaten to get Lazarus, she faces them boldly, and verbally puts
them in their place. Suddenly, feeling the points of Roman lances in their rears, they
run off like frightened roosters. Matthew’s reference to both thieves reproaching
Jesus and cursing took place when they were being hung on their crosses. (See V,
p.607.)
605a/p.605 - The Crucifixion. (Gospel Episodes 319. to 320., 322.to 336.)

321. FRI, 1-2 PM Judas Hangs Himself.

Mt 27:5b ---- ---- ---- 601a/p.605
Judas hangs himself from a tree on an estate he had purchased shortly
before with money he had gotten from spying for the Jewish rulers and from stolen
money. Judas had remained prostrate on this spot since about 11:30 AM in full sight
of the Crucifixion. Seeing the raising of the cross, he curses Jesus. His face
convulses and he howls like a wolf. His eyes roll wildly. He searches for a tree and
then hangs himself.
601a/p.605 - The Death of Judas of Kerioth. The Behavior of Mary towards Judas
Cancels Eve’s Bearing toward Cain. (This chapter of The Poem is placed here in
chronological order.)

322. FRI, 2 PM The Two Thieves.

---- ---- Lk 23:39 41 ---- 605a/p.612
The two thieves: While the one thief continues to curse God and deny He
exists, the thief on the right of Jesus, named Disma, having observed the striking
contrast between Jesus and His accusers and revilers and particularly the grief of the
Mother of Jesus, is moved to a deep repentance over his own sins that sent his own
mother to the grave in grief. He asks for her prayers to find forgiveness.

323. FRI, 2-3 PM Father, forgive Them.

---- ---- Lk 23:34a ---- 605a/p.614
Jesus speaks for the first time: “Father forgive them, for they know not
what they do.” These words give Disma the assurance he needs and so he, addressing
Jesus, makes his urgent request: . . .

324. FRI, 2-3 PM Remember Me when Thou Comest into Thy Kingdom.
---- ---- Lk 23:42,43 ---- 605a/p.614
. . . “Lord, remember me when you are in your kingdom.” Jesus responds
with a tortured smile, “I tell you: today you will be with Me in Paradise!” [NOTE:
Paradise is not heaven, because Jesus did not go to heaven until after the Resurrection.
(See Jn 20:17 at 346.) Paradise, at this time, was a place for the righteous waiting for
Heaven to be opened, and for some of these it was a place of preparation and purging
in anticipation of that day.]

325. FRI, 2 -3PM Holy Mary is Given to John and the Church.
---- ---- ---- Jn 19:26,27 605a/p.616
Jesus speaks to Mary concerning John: “Woman, this is your son.” To
John He says, “Son, this is your Mother.”

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 [NOTE: Jesus does not say, “Mary,” or “Mother, this is your son,” because at this
point Mary His Mother is “The Woman” of Genesis 3 and Revelation 12, the “Second
Eve.” Jesus is thus giving to the New Eve the entire human family to mother,
especially true spiritual sons, of whom John was merely the first.]
[NOTE: This also is further evidence that Mary had no other children than Jesus.
If she had other children they would be legally required to care for Her. Certainly, if
any of the four “brothers” of Jesus had been Her sons, they would have been given
this responsibility, particularly when two of them (Judas Thaddaeus and James) had
become Apostles.] Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea now appear at the site of the
Crucifixion.

326. FRI, 2-3 PM My God, My God, Why Hast Thou Forsaken Me?
Mt 27:46,47 Mk 15:34,35 ---- ---- 605a/p.618
Jesus shouts in a loud but tortured voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lamma scebacteni!”

327. FRI, 2-3 PM I Thirst.

---- ---- Lk 23:45a Jn 19:28 605a/p.619
The sun is darkened; a violent wind is filling the air with dust. Jesus says,
“I thirst.”

328. FRI, 2-3 PM Jesus Drinks the Painful Offering of Love from a Pagan
Soldier.
Mt 27:48,49 Mk 15:36 ---- Jn 19:29,30a 605a/p.619
A soldier gives Jesus vinegar. He drinks, because a refusal would be
considered rejection of a gift of love from a pagan (see chapter 623/p.745, 746), but
the drink, intended to increase salivation, only stings his bleeding lips and mouth. It
is the act of love, however, from this pagan that Jesus so deeply appreciates.
Longinus and the soldiers who hear the pitiful, almost delirious exchanges between
Jesus and His Mother are deeply moved.

329. FRI, 3 PM It is Finished.

---- Mk 15:37a Lk 23:46a Jn 19:30b 605a/p.620
Jesus utters the words, “Everything is accomplished!”

330. FRI, 3 PM Father, Into Thy Hands I Commend My Spirit.

---- ---- Lk 23:46b ---- 605a/p.620
Jesus declares, “Father, into your hands I commend My spirit.”

331. FRI, 3 PM Jesus’ Last Cry was “MOTHE . . .”

Mt 27:50 Mk 15:37b Lk 23:46c Jn 19:30c 605a/p.621
After one last cry of agony, the first part of the word “MOTHER!,” Jesus
bows His head and dies.

332. FRI, 3 PM> The Temple Veil is Rent. Many Saints Rise from the Dead.
Mt 27:51 53 Mk 15:38 Lk 23:45b ---- 605a/p.621,
624
Immediately, lightning begins to crack across the blackened sky, sending
down volleys of thunderous, striking bolts. Then there descends upon the city a
cyclonic whirlwind and a violent earthquake, all of which strike the city three times.
The Temple is so shaken that its massive door is thrown off its hinges and the Veil of
the temple is rent from top to bottom. Many sepulchers are opened and there are
those who swore they see skeletons, taking human appearances, coming out of them
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and going about accusing and condemning those who are guilty of the deicide. Many
die in the quake (V,p.765). Lazarus reports that several houses were set on fire(V,
p.902). John reports several houses of the rulers of Israel set on fire (V, p. 782) and
that the house of Helkai was completely destroyed (V, p. 643). The High Priest’s
house, behind the city wall, is also struck by lightning and catches fire. Naham, father
of Annas, the High Priest is stricken with insanity and his unnamed son is killed by a
falling wall (V, p. 767). (See 610/p.676 for the shepherd Isaac’s incredible testimony
to the rent TempleVeil.)

333. FRI, ~4 PM Jesus’ Side is Pierced.

---- ---- ---- Jn 19:34 37 605a/p.622
After the terrorized crowd flees and the remaining faithful women disciples
and John pick themselves up off the ground and recover from the shock, Nicodemus
and Joseph of Arimathea ask Longinus for the body of Jesus and are told they must
get permission from Pilate for the body, and to also intercept a request of the Jews to
break His legs, their final sacrilege. In the meantime, the centurion Longinus, to
avoid any demand to break Jesus’ bones, provides another more honorable proof of
death, the death of a warrior, and so after explaining to Mary and John, he pierces His
side.

334. FRI, 4-5 PM Joseph of Arimathea Asks for the Body of Jesus.
Mt 27:57,58 Mk 15:42 45 Lk 23:50 52 Jn 19:38 605a/p.624
Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea are on their way to meet with the
Proconsul to obtain the body of Jesus and a release from the order to break His legs
when they meet Gamaliel coming from the city, utterly terrorized having seen the
Temple shaken and desecrated and the people of the city going mad with fear. They
remember the sign given at the Temple that Jesus had promised Gamaliel, “These
stones will shudder at My last words!”

335. FRI, 4-5 PM The Roman Centurion Believes.

Mt 27:54-56 Mk 15:39-41 Lk 23:47-49 ---- 605a/p.625
Gamaliel has arrived at Golgotha, and thinking Jesus to be yet alive, falls
on his face and asks for forgiveness. A Roman centurion rebukes him, saying, “Get
up and be silent. It is of no use! You should have thought of that previously. He is
dead. And I, a heathen, am telling you: this Man, Whom you have crucified, was
really the Son of God!” This soldier is the commander over the soldier whom Jesus
healed in Beth-Horon five months before. He had had a very
meaningful conversation with Jesus, as well as being a witness to that miracle. Jesus
had promised him that they would meet again on a different mountain. (See IV,
512/p.626-629 and 513/p.638)

336. FRI, 4-5 PM The Jews Ask for Jesus’ Legs to be broken.
---- ---- ---- Jn 19:31 33 605a/p.626
To desecrate Jesus’ body, the Jews ask for the legs to be broken, but they
are denied because permission for exclusion was obtained from Pilate through the
intercession of Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea. Nicodemus and Joseph of
Arimathea have also been given the body of Jesus. As the body is removed, the left
arm falls without the removal of the large headed nail, showing what is now
recognized, that the palm cannot support any real weight and thus tore away from the
nail. (See Note at 314.)
605a/p.605 - The Crucifixion. (Gospel Episodes 319. to 320.; 322. to 336.)

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337. FRI, 4-5 PM Joseph of Arimathea Gives his New Garden Tomb for Jesus.
Mt 27:59,60a Mk 15:46a,b Lk 23:53,54 Jn 19:40 42 606a/p.628
Jesus is wrapped in a linen cloth and carried down from the hill of
Golgotha by John, Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea. Following them are the
women disciples who are with Holy Mary, Mary Magdalene, Martha, and the women
of Galilee: Mary of Alphaeus, Mary Salome of Zebedee and Susanna. They have
picked up the nails, the tongs, the crown, the sponge and the cane. Jesus is buried in
Joseph of Arimathea’s new garden tomb.
606a/p.628 - The Burial of Jesus and the Spiritual Distress of Mary

338. FRI, 5 PM The Women at the Tomb for Jesus’ Burial.

Mt 27:61 Mk 15:47 Lk 23:55 ---- 606b-
d/p.630
Jesus’ body is prepared for burial while the Mother speaks from the deep
state of Her incredible spiritual distress. This is truly a heart-rending account of
Mary’s suffering. Deprived of sleep and sustenance, having endured the vile insults
and this unimaginable injustice towards her Son, the abandonment of the Disciples,
which would have killed any other woman, she is driven to the point of near delirium
by the reality that her Son is now gone; He is dead. She can no longer even look into
His eyes to tell Him even one more time how she loves Him! She can do nothing to
heal the horrible wounds on His body, every wound of which she also still feels. All
she can see is what the world has done to Him and the Gift, so torn and bruised and
cold, she gave so the world might know Him.
Because all six women disciples have been here at the Tomb, they all know where
to go Sunday morning after having been unintentionally separated into three parties in
the confusion created during the earthquake.
606d/p.637 - Jesus speaks plainly of His Mother’s part in redemption. He says
redemption was not complete with His death: “The Mother completed it by adding
Her treble torture to redeem the treble concupiscence, struggling for three days against
Satan, who wanted to induce Her to deny My word and not to believe in My
Resurrection. Mary was the only one who continued [without any doubt whatever] to
believe.”
606b-d/p.630 - The Burial of Jesus and the Spiritual Distress of Mary.

339. FRI, 5-6 PM The Stone is Rolled Over the Door.

Mt 27:60b Mk 15:46c ---- ---- 607/p.638
Finally separating the Sorrowful Mother from the funeral bed of Her Son,
Joseph of Arimathea rolls a heavy stone over the tomb. Mary’s heart and soul
struggle desperately against the closed tomb and then against the thought that she
must leave the tomb before He rises.

L APRIL / PASSOVER SABBATH / AL 34

340. FRI eve The Chief Priests Ask for the Tomb to be Sealed and Guarded.
(Sabbath) Mt 27:62 66 ---- Lk 23:56a ---- 607/p.641
The Pharisees come to seal the tomb and set a watch. The Sorrowful
Mother is able to detach Herself from the Tomb only when She realizes She must go
back and look for the Apostles, all the others, and especially Judas and say to him,
“He forgives you,” because “he is the biggest sinner.” Thus Mary Magdalene and the
other women disciples are able to return, with Joseph and Nicodemus, to the “Supper
Room” house with the Sorrowful Mother.
607/p.638 - The Return to the Supper Room.
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