St. Jerome is almost always portrayed in art in some degree of nakedness. The following statement is attributed to him: Nudus nudum Christum sequi. Naked to follow the naked Christ. So Jesus, stripped of his garments, is then nailed to the Cross, our 11th Station. The expression “crucifixion dance” refers to the crucified person moving up and down on the cross to breathe. The prisoner ultimately dies, not necessarily from the wounds, but from asphyxiation.

Meditation
Please reflect/meditate on the following as if Jesus were speaking personally to you. Insert your name where you see N.

N. as I lay with My back on the wood of the cross,
I listened to my executioners chop away at it
to prepare an opening to receive the nails through My hands and My feet.
Indeed, it was an eerie feeling as I listened to the hard noises
that would soon nail my flesh to the wood.
I was too young to be dying, I recall, as the fastening to the cross began.
Yet, I did it for you, for love of you!

N., the nails used to fix Me to the wood of the cross
had large flat tops for fastening as well as for holding arms and legs in place.
Were there no heads on the nails, then both feet and wrists could break free.
So, after My death, they had to bang from the back of the cross
to loosen the nails to set Me free.
So, it’s not that I was ripped away from the wood,
but the nails were removed to unfasten Me.
No one at that time paid any mind to the nails nor the cross,
for these were their means of execution.
It was only later that the nails were sought as relics.
In your heart, kiss my nailed hands and feet.

N. you pray with Me at the very hour when I was nailed to the cross.
Each nail brought such pain that I thought I would die just from those nails.
But I endured each wound—for you, for your sins.
And I would do it all over again, for you, for your sins!
My wounds are forever open before the throne of God. Memory is eternal there.
And the memory of your love and affection for Me makes it all worth it.
I ask nothing more than love in return for My love for you
which led me to receive such wounds.
They, my wounds, ever remain open to you, loved poured out for your love.

N., look, the men have prepared the crossbeam and now come for Me.
You come with Me, please.
I invite you to embrace and hold My body as they nail Me to the cross.
Lay here on the cross with Me.
Hold Me.
They have my left hand, searching for the spot to place the nail—they have it!
Hold me, they are about to strike.
Pain and blood burst forth together.
It is done.
Now they grab my right hand.
They hold both arms down and nail my right wrist.
Hold Me, for they begin arranging My feet for the nails—
pain/ pain/ pain/blood/ blood/ blood.
Stay here with Me.
Reach out your arms and grasp the nails with your hands.
Let your feet feel the nail heads as well.
Are you willing to go through this with Me?
Are you willing to be nailed, wounded, pained, and bloodied?
Then place your hands and feet over Mine and be nailed
to Me, with Me, for Me, through Me.
Let Me see your face, your eyes full of love for Me.
When you are one here with Me, our love is complete, fulfilled,
and will never fail you.

N., the soldiers are about to raise the cross up
and place it in the hole they have dug.
They are binding My arms with rope so I do not rip off the cross
when it sets in its place.
Stay with Me.
Observe the pain I endure for you as they place Me upright.
I cry out in pain,
pain in My arms, pain in My hands, pain in My legs,
pain in My feet, pain in My head.
As the thud sounds, I am made upright,
lifted on the cross and draw you to Myself.
Come closer.
Feel My warm blood dripping down on your head, your shoulders, all over you,
the blood that saves you, cleanses you, gives you life.
Feel My legs tense, My nailed feet strain to raise My body up as I try to breathe.
 You try to hold them in the up position,
but the energy has drained from Me to support this position for long.
You feel Me collapse back down again, losing My breath, suffering asphyxiation.
This is My “crucifixion dance” for you.

I want you to begin to feel the pain I endured on your account.
I absorbed the pounding of each nail for love of you, on your account.
Hold Me close, tightly that you may share My pain.
For pain shared with a lover is halved in intensity.
Hold Me, Hold Me, Hold Me!
My blood is pouring out of each of My wounds, dripping on you.
Can you feel its warm stickiness on your body?
Hold Me, Hold Me, Hold Me!
Come closer to My face. Touch it.
My blood from those thorns stains your hands.
Your touch soothes My pain.
Hold Me, Hold Me, Hold Me!
For now I take My arms dripping and covered with My blood
and wrap them around your body, smearing you with My blood.
The drops of this sticky blood smeared on your body cleanses it,
purifies and sanctifies it.
This bloody embrace removes your sin
so that your body may become a sanctuary for My Indwelling Presence.
By My smeared blood you are cleansed, healed, and restored.
My cleansing blood covers you completely.
Hold Me, Hold Me, Hold Me!

N., reflecting on the wounds in My feet,
the huge nail was pounded through both feet together—the left over the right.
They had difficulty aiming the nail where they wanted.
Moreover, not every stroke hit the nail on the head.
So, I endured much heavy-duty pain.
They were aiming for My death, so little consideration for Me was manifested.
You look at Me being nailed.
I cannot any longer walk the soft Mother Earth.
I cannot bring good news to people.
But you can walk still and you can preach My word.
Let your feet take you wherever you can go.
Go in My Name, proclaim the good news.
I am with you!


Meditation provided by Father Andre Cirino, OFM and art work by Adam Monz (www.atmonizarts.com)

Artist is Adam Monz;www.atmonizarts.com