Prayer
Prayer is seen as a dialogue with God. Catholics believe God listens and responds in His own way, and prayer helps foster a living relationship with Him.
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Mysteries of the Rosary
Have you noticed that many of our beautiful stained glass windows depict the Mysteries of the Rosary?
Below you will see pictures of nine of our stained glass windows, each one depicting the Glorious, Sorrowful and Joyful Mysteries.
Perhaps when you visit the Cathedral you may wish to take a closer look at these windows (as close as possible!) and pray on the meaning of each Mystery.
Stations of the Cross
‘May I never boast of anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.’
St Paul – Galatians 6:14
The Stations of the Cross is a Catholic devotion whereby we walk with Jesus in His Suffering & Death. Each station focuses on a specific moment on His last day, starting with his condemnation and ending with the laying of His body in the tomb. At each station we mediate on each moment, reflecting on the love Jesus shows us on this journey. We recite specific prayers and then move on to the next station. In most Catholic churches, the Stations of the Cross are depicted around the walls of the church. Whilst this devotion is particularly appropriate on Fridays during the season of Lent, it can also be prayed by individuals or groups at any time of the year.
I – Jesus is Condemned to Death
Consider how Jesus, after having been scourged and crowned with thorns, was unjustly condemned by Pilate to die on the Cross.
II – Jesus Receives the Cross
Consider how Jesus, in making this journey with the Cross on His shoulders, thought of us, and offered for us to His Father the death He was about to undergo.
III – Jesus Falls the First Time
Consider this first fall of Jesus under the Cross. His flesh was torn by the scourges, His head was crowned with thorns; He had lost a great quantity of blood. So weakened He could scarcely walk, He yet had to carry this great load upon His shoulders. The soldiers struck Him rudely and He fell several times.
IV – Jesus Meets His Mother
Consider the meeting of the Son and the Mother, which took place on this journey. Their looks became like so many arrows to wound those hearts which love each other so tenderly.
V – Simon of Cyrene Helps Jesus
Consider how His cruel tormentors, seeing Jesus was on the point of expiring, and fearing He would die on the way, whereas they wished Him to die the shameful death of the Cross, constrained Simon of Cyrene to carry the Cross behind Our Lord.
VI – Veronica Wipes the Face of Jesus
Consider how the holy woman named Veronica, seeing Jesus so ill-used, and bathed in sweat and blood, wiped His face with a towel, on which was left the impression of His holy countenance.
VII – Jesus Falls the Second Time
Consider the second fall of Jesus under the Cross; a fall which renews the pain of all the wounds in His head and members.
VIII – Jesus Speaks to the Women
Consider how these women wept with compassion at seeing Jesus in such a pitiable state, streaming with blood as He walked along. ‘Daughters of Jerusalem’ He said, ‘weep not for Me, but for yourselves and for your children’.
IX – Jesus Falls the Third Time
Consider the third fall of Jesus Christ. His weakness was extreme, and the cruelty of His executioners excessive, who tried to hasten His steps when He could scarcely move.
X – Jesus is Stripped of His Garments
Consider the violence with which Jesus was tripped by the executioners. His inner garments adhered to His torn flesh, and they dragged them off so roughly that the skin came with them. Compassionate your Saviour, thus cruelly treated.
XI – Jesus is Nailed to the Cross
Consider how Jesus, having been placed upon the Cross, extended His hands, and offered to His Eternal Father the sacrifice of His life for our salvation. Those barbarians fastened Him with nails, and then, securing the Cross, allowed Him to die with anguish on this infamous gibbet.
XII – Jesus Dies on the Cross
Consider how Jesus, being consumed with anguish after three hours’ agony on the Cross, abandoned Himself to the weight of His body, bowed His head and died.
XIII – Jesus is Taken Down from the Cross
Consider how, after Our Lord had expired, two of His disciples, Joseph and Nicodemus, took Him down from the Cross, and placed Him in the arms of His afflicted Mother, who received Him with unutterable tenderness, and pressed Him to her bosom.
XIV – Jesus is Laid in the Tomb
Consider how the disciples accompanied by His holy Mother, carried the body of Jesus to bury it. They closed the tomb, and all came sorrowfully away.
History of our Stations
Joseph Cribb (1892-1967) designed and carved our stations (pictured below) in his workshop in Ditchling, Sussex in 1956. Joseph Cribb trained under Eric Gill (1882-1940) during 1906-1913. He then established his own workshop, often assisting Gill, but also creating his own inscriptions and sculptures.
As well as carving the Plymouth stations, he made another eighteen sets for other churches across Britain, and one set for a mission church in Nigeria. He also assisted Eric Gill in carving the Stations in Westminster Cathedral and carved those in the Catholic church in Leatherhead to Gill’s designs. Joseph and Eric became founder members of the Guild of St Joseph and St Dominic in 1920. This was a community of Catholic craft workers, all lay members of the Dominican Order. Joseph remained a leading member of the guild until his death.
Adoration – Plymouth Cathedral
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament – a time of silent meditation takes place every Friday at 9:30am
For 2,000 years, the Church has been the cradle in which Mary places Jesus and entrusts Him to the adoration and contemplation of all peoples. May the humility of the Bride cause to shine forth still more brightly the glory and power of the Eucharist, which she celebrates and treasures in her heart. In the sign of the consecrated Bread and Wine, Christ Jesus risen and glorified, the light of the nations, reveals the enduring reality of His Incarnation. He remains living and real in our midst in order to nourish the faithful with His Body and Blood.
Pope Saint John Paul II
Prayer and meditation before our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament are great ways to spend some special time with Him. You can ask Him for graces for yourself or for loved ones, reflect on His Word, or just keep Him company! And it’s no bother for Jesus. In fact, He very much wants to see you!
We Catholics believe that at Mass bread and wine truly become the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ during the Consecration by the priest.
Treat Him as you would one of your closest friends, with love and respect. Feel free to tell Him whatever troubles or pleases you (silently or very quietly, Silence is key for concentration in this intimate setting.) You can also pray whatever prayers you’d like: the Rosary, the Anima Christi, An Act of Spiritual Communion, or any number of very good Blessed Sacrament prayers. If you’d prefer, just give our Lord your heartfelt thoughts in mediation or reflection. Or, if you’re feeling particularly harried or hurried, you can just keep him company!