The Mystery

THE fourth Station presents [for] your contemplation the meeting of the desolate Mother and her bleeding Jesus, staggering under the weight of the Cross.

Consider what pangs rent her soul, when she beheld her beloved Jesus covered with blood, dragged violently to the place of execution, reviled and blasphemed by an ungrateful, outrageous rabble. Meditate on her inward feelings, the looks of silent agony exchanged between the Mother and the Son ; her anguish in not being permitted to approach, to embrace, and to accompany him to death. Filled with confusion at the thought that neither the Son's pains nor Mother's grief have softened the hardness of your heart, contritely join in the following prayer.

Prayer

MARY, I am the cause of thy sufferings. O refuge of sinners let me participate in those heart-felt pangs, which rent thy tender soul, when thou did behold thy son trembling with cold, covered with wounds, fainting under the Cross, more dead than alive? Mournful Mother, fountain of love, let me feel the force of thy grief that [ may weep with You, and mingle my tears with yours, and thy Son's blood. O suffering Jesus, by Thy bitter passion, and the heart-braking compassion of Thy afflicted Mother, grant me the efficacious grace of perseverance ! Mother of Jesus, intercede for me! Jesus, behold me with an eye of pity, and in the hour of my death receive me to the arms of Thy mercy ! Amen, Jesus.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be..., etc. ...
Jesus Christ crucified, have mercy on us!

Exhausted, spent, see Jesus onward go,
With feeble step, in anguish faint and slow,
At last His grief-worn Mother He can see
Exclaiming: My Son, my heart is rent for You.