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Via Crucis Station 07
Valinhos Sanctuary
The Sacred Way of the Cross
Via Crucis Station 07
JESUS FALLS THE SECOND TIME
Via Crucis Station 07 brings us to the second fall of Christ beneath the cross. Having risen from His first collapse, Jesus struggles forward only to fall again under the weight. This station confronts me with a painful reality I'd rather avoid: spiritual progress isn't linear. We rise from sin, resolve to do better, make real progress, and then fall again into the same patterns. Yet Christ's example teaches me never to despair. He falls, but He rises. He continues toward Calvary despite His failure to stay upright. At Valinhos Sanctuary, where Our Lady called sinners to conversion, this station offers hope to those of us who struggle with repeated failures. The path to holiness is paved with falling and rising, falling and rising, until we finally reach home. It's the getting back up that matters.
V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we praise Thee.
R. Because by Thy holy cross, Thou hast redeemed the world.
Jesus, You fall again. The weight is too much. Your strength is depleted. Yet You rise. Again. How many times have I fallen into the same sins—the same anger, the same pride, the same destructive patterns? How many times have I promised myself and You that I'll change, only to fail again within days or even hours? I'm so tempted to despair, to think I'll never overcome my weaknesses, to believe I'm hopeless. But here You show me something different: falling isn't final failure. What matters is rising. What matters is continuing forward despite repeated collapses. Your second fall teaches me that holiness isn't perfection but perseverance. It's not about never falling—it's about always getting back up. Give me the humility to keep returning to confession, to keep trying, to keep rising no matter how many times I stumble.
The Three Falls
Rising again through mercy and perseverance.
The First Fall
The Weight of Sin
Jesus collapses beneath the crushing burden of humanity's sins. Each unrepented sin adds weight to Christ's cross. This fall teaches us humility: we cannot stand on our own merit.
The Second Fall
The Persistence of Weakness
Despite His resolve, Jesus falls again. We return to the same sins, the same failures. Yet Heaven's patience persists, never tiring of calling souls to conversion. Each rise is a new chance for mercy.
The Third Fall
Final Surrender
Utterly exhausted, Jesus falls completely. This is the fall that precedes triumph—total abandonment to the Father's will. After darkness comes light. We must persevere to the end.
Deepen Your Journey
Explore the richness of this station through sacred history, spiritual wisdom, and contemplative practices.
The Fátima Connection
Our Lady's message at Fátima speaks directly to those of us who fall repeatedly. She doesn't demand perfection from us; she asks for perseverance. Her words echo in my mind: "Pray, pray very much, and make sacrifices for sinners; for many souls go to hell, because there are none to sacrifice themselves and to pray for them."
The second fall reminds me that Christ fell for those who keep falling—for me. The path from sin to sanctity isn't a single leap but a long journey marked by many falls and many risings. What matters is that I keep walking toward the light Our Lady shows me, never giving up, always trusting in God's infinite mercy.
Wisdom from Saints
St. Francis de Sales offered counsel that I return to often: Have patience with all things, but especially with yourself. Don't lose courage considering your own imperfections but instantly set about remedying them—every day begin the task anew. According to St. Padre Pio, we should pray, hope, and not worry, because worry is useless and God is merciful.
St. John Vianney taught that the devil doesn't fear lukewarm souls because they can do him little harm, but he greatly fears a soul burning with love of God. This gives me hope—my repeated falls matter less than my persistent love.
Contemplative Practice
I'm doing a Spiritual Inventory: honestly naming the sins I fall into repeatedly, actually writing them down. Then, one by one, I'm bringing each to Jesus fallen beneath the cross, saying: "Lord, You fell for this pattern in me. You rise despite my failure. Help me rise too."
I'm practicing the Perseverance Prayer: The moment I sin, instead of spiraling into shame, I immediately say: "Jesus, I fall. Help me rise." Then I get up spiritually and keep walking forward. If I've been avoiding Confession because I'm embarrassed to confess the same sins again, this station calls me back. I'm making a concrete plan to receive Reconciliation this week.