Book Reviews and More: The Way of the Cross for our Enemies

Sunday, 14 May 2023

The Way of the Cross for our Enemies - Fulton J. Sheen

The Way of the Cross for our Enemies

Fulton J. Sheen

St. Anthony’s Guild

1938

I love praying the Stations of the Cross, It is one of my favourite devotions. I enjoy praying along with audio versions, and enjoy praying with a book or booklet like this time, and communally during Fridays at my Parish during Lent. This was one of three different stations I have found published by Fulton J. Sheen. After some extensive research I believe he only published the three and this was the final one released. I try an pray a Stations every Friday throughout the year, and endeavour to pray one each day during Lent. This is the shortest of the three editions from the pen of Sheen I have been able to track down, but it is an excellent version. It is clear to see in this edition and based on other volumes I have read by and about Sheen that he Spoke against Communists frequently, and that is evident in this volume. And I believe if he was around today we would preach against socialism, and wokeness. And this version would be a tool for praying for those we disagree with politically and socially.

A Sample station is:

“Eleventh Station:

Jesus is Nailed to the Cross

The sickle mowed down the weeds on Calvary’s hill, and the hammer drove the nails; and above both was unfurled the Banner of the world’s salvation, Whose First Word from the Cross was a prayer for the wielders of the sickle and the drivers of the hammer: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”

Does that mean, dear Jesus, that we must forgive even the Communists who drove Thee out of Russia, massacred Thy religious in Spain, and closed Thy churches in Mexico? They words can mean nothing else, for on another mount we heard Thee say: “Do good to them that hate you.” It will be had, dear Jesus; but make it easy for us to forgive by seeing – as Thou dost see so clearly – that they know not what they do. We do forgive them, for if we had wrongly believed all the evil they did about Thee, we would probably have done worse!”

This booklet has no introductory prayers, or concluding prayers. It only has the reflection and prayer for each station. It was easy to pray the opening and the Stabat Mater at the end of each station by having another version open. This was an excellent stations, and I know I will return to it, and plan on praying the other two by Sheen over the next week.

This is a great version of this devotion.