# The last seven words of Jesus Christ
*2015-06-19*

> Bill Young reflects on the feast of St. Romuald and leads a devotion centered on the seven final utterances of Jesus on the Cross.

## Introduction and St. Romuald

Good afternoon. This is Bill Young and welcome to the Prayer and Lunch podcast. Today is Friday, June 19th, the feast day of St. Romuald, who was a monk in the early 11th century in Italy.

## The Devotion to the Seven Words

Today we will be doing the prayer of the last seven words of Jesus Christ. Devotion to the seven precious words of Jesus on the cross is not widely known, although Pope John Paul II has strongly recommended that the faithful meditate upon these words. Many souls have obtained graces by practicing this devotion.

This reflection draws on the words of Our Lady to Sister Josephina Mendez (1890–1923), a humble sister of the Congregation of the Religious of the Sacred Heart in Spain. Sister Josephina was asked by the Lord in a private revelation to be the apostle of His mercy. Jesus encouraged her to meditate upon His Passion and communicated to her the feelings He experienced, saying on one occasion, "In my most holy wounds sinners will find forgiveness and life. My blood will wash away and remove the stain of their sins."

## Meditations on the Cross

We reflect first on the words: "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." They have not truly known Him who is their life, but we beg the Father to pour out the strength of His mercy upon them.

Then we hear: "Today, you will be with me in paradise." Faith in the mercy of the Savior covers sins and leads the soul to eternal life.

Jesus then says: "Woman, behold your son." Through this, we are given a mother in whom we can take refuge for all our necessities. He has united us to Him with a very tight bond by giving us His own mother.

In His agony, He cries: "My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?" Through the mystery of the Redemption, men and women became children of God once more—brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ and heirs to eternal life.

He says: "I am thirsty." He is thirsty for the Father's glory and thirsty for souls to find life. For this thirst, He shed His blood to the last drop.

Then He declares: "It is fulfilled." The great mystery of love, where God gave His own Son unto death to restore life to humanity, is brought to fulfillment. He came into the world to obey the Father's will.

Finally: "Into your hands, I commend my spirit." The soul who fulfills God's will can truly say, "My Lord and my God, receive my soul; I place it in your hands."

## Prayers for Charleston

Please pray for those who lost their lives in Charleston, South Carolina, while they were reading the Lord's Word from the Bible. May their souls go to heaven, and may their families have strength at this time. We also pray for forgiveness for the one who committed these crimes. Mary, please protect us and ask your Son to protect us from these types of crimes.

*By meditating on the last seven words of Christ, we find a path to mercy, forgiveness, and eternal life.*