Instruction:
A pious exercise called the Via Lucis has developed and spread to many regions in recent years. Following the model of the Via Crucis, the faithful process while meditating on the various appearances of Jesus – from his Resurrection to his Ascension – in which he showed his glory to the disciples who awaited the coming of the Holy Spirit (cf. John 14, 26; 16, 13-15; Lk 24, 49), strengthened their faith, brought to completion his teaching on the Kingdom and more closely defined the sacramental and hierarchical structure of the Church.
Through the Via Lucis, the faithful recall the central event of the faith – the resurrection of Christ – and their discipleship in virtue of Baptism, the paschal sacrament by which they have passed from the darkness of sin to the bright radiance of the light of grace (cf. Col 1, 13; Eph 5, 8).
For centuries the Via Crucis involved the faithful in the first moment of the Easter event, namely the Passion, and helped to fix its most important aspects in their consciousness. Analogously, the Via Lucis, when celebrated in fidelity to the Gospel text, can effectively convey a living understanding to the faithful of the second moment of the Paschal event, namely the Lord’s Resurrection.
The Via Lucis is potentially an excellent pedagogy of the faith, since “per crucem ad lucem” [through the Cross (one comes) to the light]. Using the metaphor of a journey, the Via Lucis moves from the experience of suffering, which in God’s plan is part of life, to the hope of arriving at man’s true end: liberation, joy and peace which are essentially paschal values.
The Via Lucis is a potential stimulus for the restoration of a “culture of life” which is open to the hope and certitude offered by faith, in a society often characterized by a “culture of death”, despair and nihilism.
From Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, Directory on Popular Piety and the Liturgy: Principles and Guidelines, December 2001, no. 153.
At Each Station:
1. Announcement of the Station
2. Response:
L: We adore You, O Christ and we praise You!
All: Because by the Wood of the Cross and the
Light of the Resurrection,
You have redeemed the world!
3. Scripture Passage
4. Silence
5. Hymn during which participants move to the next station
Introduction
Reading: Acts 2:14, 22-25, 32-33
Then Peter stood up with the Eleven and addressed them in a loud voice: ‘Men of Israel, listen to what I am going to say: Jesus the Nazarene was a man commended to you by God by the miracles and portents and signs that God worked through him when he was among you, as you know. This man, who was put into your power by the deliberate intention and foreknowledge of God, you took and had crucified and killed by men outside the Law. But God raised him to life, freeing him from the pangs of Hades; for it was impossible for him to be held in its power since, as David says of him: I kept the Lord before my sight always, for with him at my right hand nothing can shake me.
God raised this man Jesus to life, and of that we are all witnesses. Now raised to the heights by God’s right hand, he has received from the Father the Holy Spirit, who was promised, and what you see and hear is the outpouring of that Spirit.
All Sing:
This is the day that Lord has made
We will rejoice and be glad in it x 2
Station I
Jesus is Risen!
1. Response
2. Reading: Luke 24:1-9
On the first day of the week, at the first sign of dawn, they went to the tomb with the spices they had prepared. They found that the stone had been rolled away from the tomb, but on entering they could not find the body of the Lord Jesus. As they stood there puzzled about this, two men in brilliant clothes suddenly appeared at their side. Terrified, the women bowed their heads to the ground. But the two said to them, ‘Why look among the dead for someone who is alive? He is not here; he has risen. Remember what he told you when he was still in Galilee: that the Son of man was destined to be handed over into the power of sinful men and be crucified, and rise again on the third day.’ And they remembered his words. And they returned from the tomb and told all this to the Eleven and to all the others.
3. All Sing:
This is the day that He rose again
We will rejoice and be glad in it.
Station II
Peter and John run to the tomb.
1. Response
2. Reading: John 20:3-8
So Peter set out with the other disciple to go to the tomb. They ran together, but the other disciple, running faster than Peter, reached the tomb first; he bent down and saw the linen cloths lying on the ground, but did not go in. Simon Peter, following him, also came up, went into the tomb, saw the linen cloths lying on the ground and also the cloth that had been over his head; this was not with the linen cloths but rolled up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple who had reached the tomb first also went in; he saw and he believed.
3. All Sing:
Sing Alleluia to the Lord x 2
Sing Alleluia sing Alleluia
Sing Alleluia to the Lord.
Station III
Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene.
1. Response
2. Reading: John 20:11-18a
But Mary was standing outside near the tomb, weeping. Then, as she wept, she stooped to look inside, and saw two angels in white sitting where the body of Jesus had been, one at the head, the other at the feet. They said, ‘Woman, why are you weeping?’ ‘They have taken my Lord away,’ she replied, ‘and I don’t know where they have put him.’ As she said this she turned round and saw Jesus standing there, though she did not realise that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, why are you weeping? Who are you looking for?’ Supposing him to be the gardener, she said, ‘Sir, if you have taken him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will go and remove him.’ Jesus said, ‘Mary!’ She turned round then and said to him in Hebrew, ‘Rabbuni!’ — which means Master. Jesus said to her, ‘Do not cling to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to the brothers, and tell them: I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’ So Mary of Magdala told the disciples, ‘I have seen the Lord!’
All Sing:
Jesus is risen from the dead x 2
Jesus is risen, Jesus is risen
Jesus is risen from the dead
Station IV
Jesus joins the two disciples on the road to Emmaus.
1. Response
2. Reading: Luke 24:13-27
Now that very same day, two of them were on their way to a village called Emmaus, seven miles from Jerusalem, and they were talking together about all that had happened. And it happened that as they were talking together and discussing it, Jesus himself came up and walked by their side; but their eyes were prevented from recognising him. He said to them, ‘What are all these things that you are discussing as you walk along?’ They stopped, their faces downcast. Then one of them, called Cleopas, answered him, ‘You must be the only person staying in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have been happening there these last few days.’ He asked, ‘What things?’ They answered, ‘All about Jesus of Nazareth, who showed himself a prophet powerful in action and speech before God and the whole people; and how our chief priests and our leaders handed him over to be sentenced to death, and had him crucified. Our own hope had been that he would be the one to set Israel free. And this is not all: two whole days have now gone by since it all happened; and some women from our group have astounded us: they went to the tomb in the early morning, and when they could not find the body, they came back to tell us they had seen a vision of angels who declared he was alive. Some of our friends went to the tomb and found everything exactly as the women had reported, but of him they saw nothing.’ Then he said to them, ‘You foolish men! So slow to believe all that the prophets have said! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer before entering into his glory?’ Then, starting with Moses and going through all the prophets, he explained to them the passages throughout the scriptures that were about himself.
3. All Sing:
Walk with me O my Lord;
Through the darkness night and brightest day
Be at my side O Lord
Hold my hand and guide me on my way
Sometimes the road seems long my energy is spent!
Then Lord I think of you and I am given strength.
Station V
Jesus is recognized in the breaking of bread.
1. Response
2. Reading: Luke 24:28-35
When they drew near to the village to which they were going, he made as if to go on; but they pressed him to stay with them saying, ‘It is nearly evening, and the day is almost over.’ So he went in to stay with them. Now while he was with them at table, he took the bread and said the blessing; then he broke it and handed it to them. And their eyes were opened and they recognised him; but he had vanished from their sight. Then they said to each other, ‘Did not our hearts burn within us as he talked to us on the road and explained the scriptures to us?’ They set out that instant and returned to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven assembled together with their companions, who said to them, ‘The Lord has indeed risen and has appeared to Simon.’ Then they told their story of what had happened on the road and how they had recognised him at the breaking of bread.
3. All Sing:
I am the bread of life.
You who come to me shall not hunger
You who believe in me shall not thirst
You cannot come to me, unless the father draw you.
And I will raise you up. X2
And I will raise you up on the last day
Station VI
Jesus appears to a group of the apostles behind closed doors.
1. Response
2. Reading: Luke 24:36-43
They were still talking about all this when he himself stood among them and said to them, ‘Peace be with you!’ In a state of alarm and fright, they thought they were seeing a ghost. But he said, ‘Why are you so agitated, and why are these doubts stirring in your hearts? See by my hands and my feet that it is I myself. Touch me and see for yourselves; a ghost has no flesh and bones as you can see I have.’ And as he said this he showed them his hands and his feet. Their joy was so great that they still could not believe it, as they were dumbfounded; so he said to them, ‘Have you anything here to eat?’ And they offered him a piece of grilled fish, which he took and ate before their eyes.
3. All Sing:
Keep in mind that Jesus Christ has died for us and is risen from the dead!
You are our risen Lord; you are joy for all ages!
In you Lord our challenge, in you all our hope!
In you our salvation, in you all our love.
Station VII
Jesus empowers his disciples to forgive sins.
1. Response
2. Reading: John 20:21-23
And Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. ‘As the Father sent me, so am I sending you.’ After saying this he breathed on them and said: Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven; if you retain anyone’s sins, they are retained.
3. All Sing:
God forgave my sins in Jesus’ name
I’ve been born again in Jesus’ name;
And in Jesus’ name I come to you,
To share his love as he told me to!
He said: Freely freely you have received;
Freely freely give!
Go in my name and because you believe
Others will know that I live!
Station VIII
Jesus confirms the faith of Thomas.
1. Response
2. Reading: John 20:24-29
Thomas, called the Twin, who was one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples said to him, ‘We have seen the Lord,’ but he answered, ‘Unless I can see the holes that the nails made in his hands and can put my finger into the holes they made, and unless I can put my hand into his side, I refuse to believe.’ Eight days later the disciples were in the house again and Thomas was with them. The doors were closed, but Jesus came in and stood among them. ‘Peace be with you,’ he said. Then he spoke to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here; look, here are my hands. Give me your hand; put it into my side. Do not be unbelieving any more but believe.’ Thomas replied, ‘My Lord and my God!’ Jesus said to him: You believe because you can see me. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.
3. All Sing:
He is Lord, He is Lord
He has risen from the dead and He is Lord!
Every knee shall bow and every tongue confess,
That Jesus Christ is Lord.
Station IX
Jesus appears on the shore of lake Tiberias.
1. Response
2. Reading: John 21:1-14
Simon Peter said, ‘I’m going fishing.’ They replied, ‘We’ll come with you.’ They went out and got into the boat but caught nothing that night. When it was already light, there stood Jesus on the shore, though the disciples did not realise that it was Jesus. Jesus called out, ‘Haven’t you caught anything, friends?’ And when they answered, ‘No,’ he said, ‘Throw the net out to starboard and you’ll find something.’ So they threw the net out and could not haul it in because of the quantity of fish. The disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, ‘It is the Lord.’ At these words, ‘It is the Lord,’ Simon Peter tied his outer garment round him (for he had nothing on) and jumped into the water. …
As soon as they came ashore they saw that there was some bread there and a charcoal fire with fish cooking on it. Jesus said, ‘Bring some of the fish you have just caught.’ Simon Peter went aboard and dragged the net ashore, full of big fish, one hundred and fifty-three of them; and in spite of there being so many the net was not broken. Jesus said to them, ‘Come and have breakfast.’ None of the disciples was bold enough to ask, ‘Who are you?’. They knew quite well it was the Lord. … This was the third time that Jesus revealed himself to the disciples after rising from the dead.
3. All Sing:
Alleluia Alleluia give thanks to the risen Lord;
Alleluia Alleluia give praise to his name!
Spread the good news all over the earth
Jesus has died and is risen!
Station X
Jesus commissions Peter to take care of his flock, the Church.
1. Response
2. Reading: John 21:15-17
When they had eaten, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me more than these others do?’ He answered, ‘Yes, Lord, you know I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my lambs.’ A second time he said to him, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’ He replied, ‘Yes, Lord, you know I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Look after my sheep.’ Then he said to him a third time, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’ Peter was hurt that he asked him a third time, ‘Do you love me?’ and said, ‘Lord, you know everything; you know I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my sheep.
3. All Sing:
Lord you have come to the lakeside;
Seeking neither wealthy nor wise ones.
You only ask Lord, that I should love you.
With love you have looked in my eyes Lord
Smiling gently you called out my name.
And I left my boat by the lakeside
Now with you I will seek other shores!
Station XI
Jesus entrusts his disciples with his mission to the whole world.
1. Response
2. Reading: Mark 16:15-18
And he said to them, ‘Go out to the whole world; proclaim the gospel to all creation.
Whoever believes and is baptised will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned. These are the signs that will be associated with believers: in my name they will cast out devils; they will have the gift of tongues; they will pick up snakes in their hands and be unharmed should they drink deadly poison; they will lay their hands on the sick, who will recover.’
3. All Sing:
God’s Sprit is in my heart
He has called me and set me apart
This is what I have to do; what I have to do
He sent me to bring good news to the poor
Tell prisoners that they are prisoners no more
Tell blind people that they can see;
And set the downtrodden free
And go, tell everyone the news that the kingdom of God has come.
And go, tell everyone the news that God’s Kingdom has come.
Station XII
Jesus ascends into heaven.
1. Response
2. Reading: Lk 24:50-51; Acts 1:10-11
Then Jesus took them out as far as the outskirts of Bethany, and raising his hands he blessed them. Now as he blessed them, he withdrew from them and was carried up to heaven.
They were still staring into the sky as he went, when suddenly two men in white were standing beside them, and they said, ‘Why are you Galileans standing here looking into the sky? This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will come back in the same way as you have seen him go to heaven.’
3. All Sing:
Jesus, name above all names
Beautiful Saviour, glorious Lord.
Emmanuel, God is with us,
Blessed Redeemer, living word!
Station XIII
Mary and the apostles wait for the coming of the Holy Spirit.
1. Response
2. Reading: Acts 1:12-14
The apostles went back to Jerusalem, a short distance away, no more than a Sabbath walk; and when they reached the city they went to the upper room where they were staying; there were Peter and John, James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Jude son of James. With one heart all these joined constantly in prayer, together with some women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.
3. All Sing:
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me/us x2
Melt me, mould me, fill me, use me!
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me/us!
Station XIV
Pentacost – The Holy Spirit descends upon the apostles in the form of tongues of fire.
1. Response
2. Reading: Acts 2:1-12
When Pentecost day came round, they had all met together, when suddenly there came from heaven a sound as of a violent wind which filled the entire house in which they were sitting; and there appeared to them tongues as of fire; these separated and came to rest on the head of each of them. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak different languages as the Spirit gave them power to express themselves. Now there were devout men living in Jerusalem from every nation under heaven, and at this sound they all assembled, and each one was bewildered to hear these men speaking his own language. They were amazed and astonished. ‘Surely,’ they said, ‘all these men speaking are Galileans? How does it happen that each of us hears them in his own native language? …Jews and proselytes alike — Cretans and Arabs, we hear them preaching in our own language about the marvels of God.’ Everyone was amazed and perplexed; they asked one another what it all meant.
3. All Sing:
Sing Alleluia to the Lord x 2
Sing Alleluia sing Alleluia
Sing Alleluia to the Lord.
Come Holy Spirit fill our hearts x 2
And kindle in them the fire of your love.
Come Holy Spirit fill our hearts.
Conclusion
1. Reading: John 20:30-31
There were many other signs that Jesus worked in the sight of the disciples, but they are not recorded in this book. These are recorded so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing this you may have life through his name.
2. Regina Coeli
3. All Sing:
Sing Alleluia to the Lord x 2
Sing Alleluia sing Alleluia
Sing Alleluia to the Lord.
Jesus is risen from the dead x 2
Jesus is risen, Jesus is risen
Jesus is risen from the dead