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TENTH STATION: Jesus is Stripped of his Garments

The Disrobing of Christ
El Greco, c. 1600
Oil on Canvas

  

 

In a final act of humiliation before being lifted up on the Cross, the Roman soldiers strip Jesus of his garments and divide them amongst themselves.

As you meditate upon Christ’s humiliation, consider the many acts of humiliation endured daily by God’s people who live in poverty.  Among the greatest humiliations is the inability to provide for one’s self, family, and community as a result of unfair international barriers to trade.   Like debt relief and development aid, fair-trade policy is an essential pillar of the Millennium Development Goals.  Whereas debt relief and development aid are, by nature, intermediary steps to lift certain structural barriers from impoverished people, fair trade is a lasting measure to allow disempowered people to build a better future for themselves.

To learn more about what makes trade fair, and how you can get involved, visit the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops at www.usccb.org/sdwp/international/tradebackground.htm.

Officiant:              We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you:
People:                  Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

Officiant:              When they came to a place called Golgotha (which means the place of a skull), they offered him wine to drink, mingled with gall; but when he tasted it, he would not drink it. And they divided his garments among them by casting lots. This was to fulfill the scripture which says, "They divided my garments among them; they cast lots for my clothing."

Officiant:              They gave me gall to eat:
People:                  And when I was thirsty they gave me vinegar to drink.

Officiant:              Let us pray.

Lord God, whose blessed Son our Savior gave his body to be whipped and his face to be spit upon: Give us grace to accept joyfully the sufferings of the present time, confident of the glory that shall be revealed; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

People                   Amen.

All:                         Holy God,
Holy and Mighty,
Holy Immortal One,
Have mercy upon us.

 

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