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March 2012

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Following Christ to Calvary

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By Sculptures by Virginia Maksymowicz, text by Alfred McBride, OPraem

STATION 1
Jesus Is Condemned to Death

When I look at the unfair judgments endured by Jesus for our salvation, I think of the judgments I have made in my lifetime. I mistreat innocent people and sometimes, sadly, those closest to me. I rush to judgment when patience is needed. Even my own relationship with Jesus is sometimes marred by unjust thoughts. ... Standing beside Jesus when he bore my sinfulness in silence, I experience a mix of regrets and a power flowing from him into my soul.

Virginia Maksymowicz is an award-winning sculptor. In 2001 she was granted a commission by St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Lancaster, Pa., to create these Stations of the Cross. Alfred McBride, OPraem, holds a diploma in catechetics from Lumen Vitae, Brussels, and a doctorate in religious education from the Catholic University of America.

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Cristóbal Magallanes and Companions: Like Blessed Miguel Agustín Pro, S.J., Cristóbal and his 24 companion martyrs lived under a very anti-Catholic government in Mexico, one determined to weaken the Catholic faith of its people. Churches, schools and seminaries were closed; foreign clergy were expelled. Cristóbal established a clandestine seminary at Totatiche, Jalisco. Magallanes and the other priests were forced to minister secretly to Catholics during the presidency of Plutarco Calles (1924-28).
<p>All of these martyrs except three were diocesan priests. David, Manuel and Salvador were laymen who died with their parish priest, Luis Batis. All of these martyrs belonged to the Cristero movement, pledging their allegiance to Christ and to the Church that he established to spread the Good News in society—even if Mexico's leaders once made it a crime to receive Baptism or celebrate the Mass. </p><p>These martyrs did not die as a single group but in eight Mexican states, with Jalisco and Zacatecas having the largest number. They were beatified in 1992 and canonized eight years later.</p>

The most meaningful goals in life are those that can be accomplished with the help of God's graces. We should use those graces to give us confidence that, with God's guidance and help, our gifts are capable of being developed well beyond our imagined potential.

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