Jesus Christ suffered and died for our sins and the sins of the whole world. Nothing demonstrates God's never-ending love for us more than His willingness to endure humiliation, pain and suffering, and a horrendous and excruciating death on a cross. The final seven Stations drive home this point: "For God so love the world that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him might not perish but might have eternal life."

Station 8: Jesus Consoles the Women of Jerusalem. Christians everywhere should admire the women who followed Jesus and participated in His ministry. They were a "tower of strength and courage" at a time when women seldom spoke to men outside the home and never participated in activities reserved for men.

Jewish tradition prohibited people from wailing for those condemned to death. Yet, Saint Luke's gospel says, "A large crowd of people followed Jesus, including many women who mourned and lamented Him. Jesus turned to them and said, 'Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep instead for yourselves and your children.'" Mary Magdalene and many other women did not restrain their compassion for our Lord as they broke into tears and wailing. Where were the men at this critical time during the passion and suffering of Jesus? With the exception of the apostle John, they were no where to be found! They were hiding for fear of their own lives.

Station 9: Jesus Falls a Third Time. Again Jesus falls under the weight of His cross and the sins of mankind. If we were Jesus, would any of us not fall a third and a fourth time, a fifth and sixth time, a ninth and a tenth time? Sure we would. We would also be incensed that we were suffering for events that were not of our own doing. Jesus is an innocent man, but His focus in on His end purpose: death to sin and eternal salvation for those who love Him and are obedient to Him.

Station 10: Jesus is Stripped of His Garments. Think about being naked. Most of us are comfortable with our nudity when no one else is around; but our comfort turns to discomfort when others see us naked. Webster's Dictionary lists "unarmed" and "defenseless" as two synonyms for naked. The human body is one of God's most beautiful creations. When a husband and wife stand or lie naked in the presence of each other, they are not unarmed or defenseless but are comfortable and sensuous in sharing God beautiful creation with each other. When Jesus was stripped, He gave up the last thing he owned: His masculinity. Are we willing to give up everything we own, including our pride and possessions to follow Christ?

Station 11: Jesus is Nailed to the Cross. How much more pain is our Savior going to endure for us. He's been scourged and crowned with thorns. He's carried His cross a great distance. He's been exposed to men, women, and children. Now He must endure the excruciating pain of nails piercing his hands and feet. How much pain are you and I willing to endure for our Catholic Christian belief in Christ and His Church. We could endure anything if we truly loved Him with all our heart. We could endure anything if we always focused on our end goal: eternity with Jesus in heaven.

"Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."

"Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise."

Station 12: Jesus Dies on the Cross. Psalm 22 has been called the prayer of an innocent man. From the cross, Jesus cries out the opening verse from Psalm 22, "My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?" He doesn't utter these words because He feels the Father has abandoned Him. He utters them to draw attention to this Psalm, where the psalmist aligns human distress with God's never-ending mercy. Read Ps 22 slowly; then read it a second time even slower than the first. "The generation to come will be told of the Lord, that they may proclaim to a people yet unborn the deliverance you have brought," is the last verse of the psalm.

Station 13: Jesus is Taken Down From the Cross. Our Lord's sacrifice is finished. His pain and suffering has stopped. Let us never forget that nothing on earth lasts forever. As cruel and humiliating as the first Good Friday was, it came to an end, as all earthly things do. When we face pain, suffering, and humiliation let us find strength and courage in the example our Lord gave us.

Station 14: Jesus is Laid in the Tomb. If you were an eye witness to the crucifixion and burial of Jesus, you would have walked away convince that evil had won and good had lost. Your faith and hope in God would have been shattered.

Our trials and tribulations will never compare to that of Jesus; but He left us a perfect example of determination, perseverance, focus, and love. All four are necessary to withstand the anguish and cruelty man can inflict upon man.

Don't face your trials and tribulations alone. Seek God's help; and remember, good always triumphs over evil: if not in this world, then in the world to come.

Saint Paul tells us in Rom 6:8-11, "If we have died with Christ, we believe that we are also to live with Him. We know that Christ, once raised from the dead, will never die again; death has no more power over Him. His death was death to sin, once for all; His life is life for God. In the same way, you must consider yourselves dead to sin but alive for God in Christ Jesus."

For more insight read CCC paragraphs 603, 2605. Also, pull out your "Catholic" Bible and reference Mt 27:27-31, 46-50; Mk 15:16-20, 33-37; Lk 23:27-32, 42-43, 46; Jn 3:16-17; 19:31-34, 38-42.