First station

Jesus rises from the death
 

P We adore, O Risen Christ, and we bless you. 

A Because by your resurrection you have given life to the world.

R From the Gospel according to Mathew (Mt 28,1-7)
<Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the sepulchre. And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone, and sat upon it. His appearance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow. And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid; for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.>

G1 After the Saturday comes the feast. After waiting in the dark comes the light. From the depth of the night dawn appears; the only one among so many, first before all, the dawn of the Easter, the beginning of a day without a sunset. The new man is inaugurated: yesterday crucified, today risen to live without end. The earthquake, the whiteness of snow, the light like on the Mount Tabor - these are the signs of God's presence. He overturns all things like the stone of the sepulchre: "Behold, I make all things new." (Rev 21,5). God is newness, He is ancient and always new, because is eternally young. He wants us to be forever young. In the baptism He has given us the seed of youthfulness. We are the apostles of this novelty. The women, faithful to their Master carry in their hands the jars with the spices for anointing. The angel announces a new reality: "Do  not be afraid." For a long time mankind waited for this news: death has died. And life has emerged.

G2 Man of today risks running toward the grave to embalm his life. Crying is more comfortable than planning. It's urgent to be rievangelized by this novelty brought to us from the dawn of that endless Day. Easter is the centre of the new evangelisation of man today: in the world full of informations, we run a risk of being suffocated by the communication. This Easter news could remain submerged. It's necessary to place it in the centre of man's heart and all his life. It gives taste to every conquest. Whom would this most beautiful news serve, if it wasn't known that death doesn't have the last word?

A  Rejoice, O Virgin Mother Mary: Christ is risen, Alleluia! 

P Risen Jesus, the world needs to be rievangelized. The new evangelisation soothes a confused heart by so many messages. Make it resound always anew. And make women enthusiastic messengers of a root of this new life: your Easter. Create  in me: a new head, a new heart, and a new life. Make us think the way you think, love the way you love, plan the way you plan, and serve the way you serve.

A  Amen.

A  O Mary, temple  of the Holy Spirit,
    guide us, the witnesses to the Risen Christ, 
    on the path of light.