Third Words From the Cross

By Anonymous

Suffering for love to be alive, and dying into eternal glory,

Jesus bears the penalty of the cross and beside Him, His mother Mary.


My heart weeps for the Mother who stands at the foot of the cross,

And courageously endures her Son’s agony and braces for her loss.



While others betrayed Jesus, denied Him, and fled when He was condemned,

One disciple remained by Him, a faithful follower and loving friend.

Jesus says with affection, “Woman, behold, your son! Behold, your mother!”

To Mary and John, that consolation may be theirs in one another.



Dying on the cross, Jesus expresses concern for His mother’s welfare,

Entrusting John to care for her, be her family, and give her shelter.

In this moment of darkness, Jesus prepares for the Church to be born,

When His Spirit would be given to God and the veil of the temple torn.



To the cross we may draw near and know that it forever stands,

Through the hearts of all believers on bended knees or with lifted hands.

Jesus lives on through the love we give, mercy we show, and what we believe,

And Mary is Mother to all, leading us to her Son, here to intercede.



Enkindled at the cross, the font of spiritual breath,

As Mary and John, I share in Jesus’ agony and death.

Ever at the cross I surrender to live in the fullness of charity,

Mystically united to the Body of Christ, given up for me.