Way of the Cross for Loved Ones

We are heading into the homestretch of Lent 2021. I pray it has been a fruitful one for you. One of the most commonly practiced devotions during Lent is the Stations of the Cross. We practice the stations as a memorable and commemoration of what Jesus endured for us during his Passion; what if this devotion could be even more powerful? Father Jeffrey Kirby has found a way to do just that by combining this devotion with a prayer to bring the lost sheep back to the Church. Way of the Cross for Loved Ones Who Have Left the Faith is a fantastic devotion for Lent and anytime during the year.

Perhaps the biggest crisis facing our Church today is the number of people who have left the Church. Their reasons are various. The worst part is the family and friends they leave behind. When a family member leaves the Church, it is a challenging circumstance to deal with. It is often young adult children doing the departing, which is extremely painful for parents and grandparents.

This is where Father Kirby’s book can be so helpful. First, it replaces the all too frequent self-blame that we go through when our loved ones choose another path. All of that energy on blaming ourselves can be shifted to a more positive mission of praying our loved ones back into the Church. This is not to say we should stop taking a more active role. Of course, we should invite loved ones back and engage in conversation with them about why they left. But, as with anything else, we need to have a solid foundation built upon prayer. This book does that.

In Father Kirby’s Way of the Cross, the fourteen stations serve a dual purpose. Not only do they engage us in prayer for intercession, but they also act as a guide for us. By using the stations and following them, Jesus is asking us to pick up on our own crosses and journey with Him. In this circumstance, we are carrying the pain and suffering of knowing a loved one has left the Church. Much as Christ did, we can turn our personal pain into good. Through intercessory prayer, we can ask the Lord for His help in bringing our loved ones back to the Church family they left.

If you have a loved one, be it a child, grandchild, brother, sister, or friend, Way of the Cross for Loved Ones Who Have Left the Church offers a much fruit. It serves as both an instrument of healing and an instrument of intercession. Get a copy and use it throughout the year to take an active role through prayer in bringing your loved one home.

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I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.