Eight station
The Risen Christ strengthens the faith of Thomas 

 

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 John (Jn 20, 24-29)
<Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails, and place my finger in the mark of the nails, and place my hand in his side, I will not believe."
Eight days later, his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. The doors were shut, but Jesus came and stood among them, and said, "Peace be with you." Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side; do not be faithless, but believing."  Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe."> 

G1 The unbelieving Thomas is led by the hand to touch the wounds of the risen dead. He touches, prostrates himself and exclaims: My Lord and my God!. Those scars are the credentials of God, they are the signature of God in deeds of Jesus of Nazareth. They are the guarantee of his declarations, with his self-affirmation at the centre: "I am the way and the truth, and the life." (Jn 14,6) "I and the Father are one (Jn 10,30). Here the world touches the true sign of the living God. Thomas had his experience in the name of us all. He was invited to touch the wounds of Jesus for you and for me. He was invited to touch His wounds  for us each one of us. And this healed him from his personal wound of unbelieving. And through this experience we recover from our wound too. It revives our faith.

G2 The modern man, who accepts nothing without proof, needs the experience of Thomas. Also to the people of today the Risen Christ says: touch me in the Church, touch me in the saints. To us believers has been entrusted a task to multiply signs of resurrection through the life commitment. Experts in life that grows, in the name of the Lord who has defeated death, we  promote life in all its beauty. The Church of the believers makes herself credible above all in her testimony. If she presents wounds to touch, if she presents martyrs and servants she will be certainly believable. 

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

P O Risen Jesus, we say to you every day in faith, "My Lord and my God."  Faith is not a noon of the vision. Faith is not easy, but it makes happy. Faith is trusting You in the darkness. Faith is entrusting ourselves to You in time of trial. Lord of life, increase our faith. Give us faith, which is the root of your resurrection. Give us trust, which is the flower of your resurrection. Give us fidelity, which is the fruit of this resurrection.
A  Amen.

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