It is an ancient tradition in the Catholic Church, on Good Friday evening, to walk with Mary, the mother of Jesus, as she returns from the tomb. These meditations are meant to help revive this practice. They are the meditations of Mary as she retraces the steps Jesus took as He walked the road to Calvary.

These meditations are especially effective when done in a softly lit church on Good Friday evening after having already celebrated the Solemn Good Friday Service with the reading of the Passion of our Lord. They are best read slowly. We should try to put ourselves at the scene with Mary as she describes her feelings and reactions to the events that have transpired.

The verses of the "Stabat Mater" are sung as we move from one station to another.

Some time for quiet reflection should be allowed for at the conclusion of the meditation. We begin at the end of the story, at the tomb of Christ.

May the Passion, Death and Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ bring you all to knew life in the Spirit and may you experience the true Easter Joy.

Ed Blaine

At the cross her station keeping,

Stood the mournful Mother weeping,

Close to Jesus to the last.

JESUS IS LAID IN THE TOMB

I watched as they wrapped my son in the linen shroud, as they laid Him in a tomb that was not his own.

Was it so long ago that I wrapped Him in swaddling clothes and laid Him in a crib that was not His own? There was no room for Him then, no place for Him to be born, and now, again, there is no room for Him, no place for Him to rest in death.

Now it is time. I must leave my son in the tomb, alone. Even the sky mourns.

It is so cold.....and dark.