Jesus Is Taken Down from the Cross

After Jesus breathes His last on the Cross, Joseph of Arimathea asks Pilate's permission and, together with Nicodemus, takes His body down (cf. Jn 19:38-40). According to the devout tradition of the Church, the Lord's body is placed in the arms of His Mother Mary. It is a moment of silence, full of sorrow yet steeped in love. The Mother holds her Son in her arms; her heart is broken by the pain of losing Him, yet she keeps her complete trust in God. The women who had followed the Lord from Galilee are there too (cf. Lk 23:49, 55), in an atmosphere of grief and silence. They do not yet fully understand the meaning of what has just happened, but they remain with the Lord in this most painful moment. The Thirteenth Station invites us to contemplate the love of Mary and the faithfulness of those who follow the Lord. Even in the deepest suffering, love is still present and sustains us.

Pause for a moment

There are times when we go through loss, grief or things we cannot understand right away. At such times the heart easily feels empty and heavy. Looking at Mary holding Jesus in silence, we learn trust and steadfastness in suffering. Even if we do not understand everything, we can still remain with the Lord, pray, and believe that God is always present in every circumstance.