The Last 24 Hours of Jesus is an original, non-traditional version of the Station of the Cross. It is located on "The Island", an area of the St. Leonard Youth Retreat Center surrounded by a pond, and reachable through a bridge.

Each station is designated by a ceramic plaque fixed on the trunks of the large trees that populate the island. The plaques simply offer a symbol for each station, and indicate the station's number.

A booklet (available upon request, even for large groups) contains the text copied here below.

Each station offers, besides the title, a Quote From the Gospels, a Reflection By An Observer, a Passionate Address By Jesus Himself, a Response to Jesus' Words, a Short Mercy Prayer, a "Were You There?" Refrain, and a Quote From St. Leonard Murialdo.

Normally, the various parts of each station are distributed among different participants. Some groups choose to use only selected parts of the text for each station.

"During supper Jesus got up from the table, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself. Then he poured water into a basin and began washing his disciples' feet and to dry them with the towel that was tied around him. After he had washed their feet, had put on his robe and had returned to the table, he said to them, if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have set you an example, that you should also do as I have done to you."- (John 13) -

With the rest of the disciples, I can't believe what you are doing, Jesus, my friend of shocking surprises. I watch in disbelief as you wash their feet, my feet. You, a slave! I, the master!

My friend, will you continue to wash feet for me? Wash them clean, wash them humbly, wash them tenderly. Washing feet is a sure way to holiness. Do you see? What I have done, I, the Lord, I, the Master, you must do.

Yes, Jesus. I will wash feet. I will tend to the sores of my friends and of those who have no friends. And if I wash enough feet, will you let me wash yours when my time is up?

Lord Jesus, Servant of All,
Have Mercy on Me

Were you there when he washed the apostles' feet?

"The passion of Jesus is an ocean of love without boundaries... In vain would anyone search for its shores."- St. Leonard Murialdo -

"While they were eating, he took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to them, and said, 'Take; this is my body.' Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, and all of them drank from it. He said to them, 'This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many'."- Mark 14 -

You pass the bread to the disciples. You say, "Eat, this is my body." Then you pass the cup of wine. You say, "Drink, this is my blood." They all eat, they all drink, but do they understand?

Do you understand? I become bread to be eaten and wine to be drunk. You must become holy food for the hungry, you must become holy drink for the thirsty.

Jesus, I was so wrong! I have never really understood the Eucharist! It is not something to go to and bear patiently on Sunday; it is my very identity! It is who I have to become to be Your Disciple!

Lord Jesus, in the Eucharist,
Have Mercy on Me

Were you there when he ate the meal with them?

"How I wish I could possess the lips of an angel or the heart of a saint to move you to love the Lord! If I could only make you fall in love with him, who loved you to the point of giving all to you!"- St. Leonard Murialdo -

"He went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives. He withdrew from them about a stone's throw, knelt down and prayed, 'Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me; yet, not my will but yours be done.' In his anguish his sweat became like drops of blood falling down on the ground. When he got up from prayer, he came to his disciples and found them asleep."- Luke 22 -

The night is so dark in the Olive Garden, outside the city walls. But there's at least the stars for your comfort... How much darker the night within you! "Father, get me out of this mess, please, take this cup of pain away from me." Are You wrestling with God? Are You tempted to betray your mission?

What is the plan of God for your life? Search well, find it, it holds the key to your eternity. If God's will seems easy, look further and deeper! For God's will always demands the most you can give, and that is nothing easy to accomplish.

Jesus, sweating blodd in the Garden: Today I say yes to the plan of God for my life. With You I pray, "Your will be done, Father, Your will, not mine."

Lord Jesus, Alone in the Garden,
Have Mercy on Me

Were you there when his sweat fell down like blood?

"Jesus drinks the bitter chalice of pain to the last drop. He is attempting to break through the hardness of our hearts with the harshness of his sufferings. If we can not give him the love he deserves out of gratitude, let us give him the love he deserves out of compassion!"- St. Leonard Murialdo -

"Judas, one of the twelve, arrived; and with him there was a crowd with swords and clubs. The betrayer had given them a sign, saying, 'The one I will kiss is the man. Arrest him.' So, when he came, he went up to him at once and said, 'Rabbi!' and kissed him."- Mark 14 -

I watch in horror as Judas approaches, picks you out from the shadows of the night, calls you "Master", and kisses you. I know you are not his master any longer: Satan is. I know that his kiss is not the kiss of friendship, but the kiss of death.

I do not care what names you have for me, the titles you use to address me... I do not care what outward signs you use to express your faith... I care for your true heart. I detest lies, I abhor phoniness. Will you be real with me?

Lord, why do I even try to hide my true self from you? To make things look right in your eyes when they aren't? I can't deceive you! I want to be honest with you, I want to be open and sincere. I need to be real with you and with myself!

Lord Jesus, Betrayed by Judas,
Have Mercy on Me

Were you there when the traitor kissed his lips?

"A sudden flare in the darkness. A man groping in the thickest of nights, leading a band of Roman soldiers and Jews. The man makes his way in the garden fearful and uncertain, like an assassin about to consume his crime. A kiss. The betrayer kisses Jesus!"- St. Leonard Murialdo -

"Now the chief priests and the whole council were looking for false testimony against Jesus so that they might put him to death, but they found none, though many false witnesses came forward. Then the high priest stood up and said, 'Have you no answer?' But Jesus was silent."- Matthew 26 -

I watch in disgust as the religious leaders of the time attempt to destroy you! Do they not stand for justice? Should they not honor and respect the Son of God? They have bought Judas, now they are looking for someone to fabricate some serious accusations against you. How can they be ministers of God, yet so far from him?

Are you truthful? Do you say "yes" when you mean "yes" and "no" when you mean "no"? Are not your words and attitudes often attempting to destroy people who hurt you? Why does the sin of the Jewish authorities scandalize you, but not your own malice and deceit?

Jesus, I want to be a person of Peace. I want to use compassion, not cruelty. I want to speak the truth, not lies. I want to respect others, not destroy them. Mold me into a person of integrity.

Lord Jesus, Falsely Accused in Your Trial,
Have Mercy on Me

Were you there when they made up all those lies?

"His face, the most beautiful face among all the children of the earth! I look in his face for that grace and majesty that ravished our hearts, but I only see spittle and blood... livid and swollen is his face, once so lovely, now become deformed for love of me!"- St. Leonard Murialdo -

"They shouted back, 'Crucify him!' Pilate asked them, 'Why, what evil has he done?' But they shouted all the more, 'Crucify him!' So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, after flogging Jesus, handed him over to be crucified."- Mark 15 -

So senseless. So monstrous. Every fiber of your body must bleed. Every inch of your flesh must be plowed. Your body and every smallest part of your body must suffer and die in a pool of blood.

Do not feel sorry for me? Instead, learn a powerful lesson: when God calls you, give everything, give all of yourself, every cell of your body, every breath of your soul, every thought of your mind, every moment of your day. Respond with all your love and all your strength. Give to the last drop.

I respond timidly, Lord. I respond fearfully. I am hesitant. Sometimes I ignore you, sometimes I act as if I didn't hear, sometimes I plainly say no! By your scourging at the pillar, make me generous in responding to you.

Lord Jesus, Scourged at the Pillar,
Have Mercy on Me

Were you there when they plowed into his flesh?

"Let's say you saw some brutal men flogging a lamb, tearing its flesh to pieces, enjoying making it bleat in pain... Would you have the heart to pick up a club and join them? And this is Jesus, the Lamb of God!"- St. Leonard Murialdo -

"Then the soldiers clothed him in a purple cloak; and after twisting some thorns into a crown, they put it on him. And they began saluting him, 'Hail, King of the Jews!' They struck his head with a reed, spat upon him, and knelt down in homage to him."- Mark 15 -

Wearing soldiers' gloves, they weave a crown of thorns. They place it on your head, then anchor it in your skull. Blood pours down your broken face among the laughs of scorn. You take it all, with majestic dignity.

I am a king. I am the king of the Jews. I am the king of the universe! But it is meaningless if I can not be the king of your heart. I want you to put that crown on my head with your own hands. Will you accept me as your king?

Yes, Jesus. I accept you as my King. Free my life from all impostors, from all other idols and false gods. I crown you today as the only King of my life!

Lord Jesus, Crowned with Thorns,
Have Mercy on Me

Were you there when they crowned him with the thorns

"My dear young friends, the hand of God has made the hearts of young people tender and compassionate. For whom will you display all your tenderness and love if not for a God immersed in a sea of pain?"- St. Leonard Murialdo -

"When Pilate saw that he could do nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took some water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, 'I am innocent of this man's blood.' Then the people as a whole answered, 'His blood be on us and on our children!'- Matthew 27 -

Pilate washes his hands of you. 'I take no responsibility for the blood of this man.' No, Pilate, you are responsible. You are condemning an innocent man! You are sentencing my Lord and my God to death!

Do you take responsibility? When a friend is in trouble, when a stranger has no friends, when a classmate is sick, when your parents argue, when your siblings need comfort, do you wash your hands?

Jesus, I understand today that every action of mine, but also every inaction of mine, bears a heavy responsibility on myself and serious consequences on others. I will wash my hands clean of sin, Lord, not my responsibility toward your people.

Lord Jesus, Unjustly Condemed to Death,
Have Mercy on Me

Were you there when he washed his hands of him?

"The reason Jesus suffered and died for us is to open our eyes to His love. He wanted us to know how much He loves us, so that we would love Him in return."- St. Leonard Murialdo -

"As they led him away, they seized a man, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming from the country, and they laid the cross on him, and made him carry it behind Jesus."- Luke 23 -

You keep falling, my Lord. You are just too weak to make it. For the first time in your life, you need someone else to bring to completion your Father's plan. They force Simon to carry the cross beam for you.

Why not Peter, or James, or even John? Why not the leper I cured, or the blind Bartimeus, to whom I gave sight? Is there no one but a total stranger to help me? Why not you? When the time will come to carry the cross of salvation forward with boldness, where will you be?

Here I am, Lord! I want to be the Simon you need today! I want to carry your glorious and Holy Cross with pride and dignity. I am ready to do my part for the salvation of the world.

Lord Jesus, Helped by a Stranger,
Have Mercy on Me

Were you there when he needed someone's help?

"There he goes, gathering the little strength left, embracing the cross, placing it on his shoulder: the cross from which only death will now separate him..."- St. Leonard Murialdo -

"When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his clothes and divided them into four parts, one for each soldier. They also took his tunic; now the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from the top. So they said to one another, 'Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see who will get it.'"- John 19 -

Somehow you have reached the top of the mound of Golgotha. An insignificant hill, but the peak of the universe for you. This is holy ground, this is the altar of sacrifice. You, the victim, will stand naked before God.

Do not be scandalized to see me naked. The human body, even when tortured and disfigured, is God's most beautiful creation. Nothing can deprive the human body of its original dignity and sacredness. Will you keep your body holy?

Yes, Lord! No matter the wounds of the past, no matter the pain of the present, I want to honor my body and respect it as your most Holy and awesome creation. I offer you my body, naked of all impurity of sin.

Lord Jesus, Stripped of Your Clothes,
Have Mercy on Me

Were you there when they gambled for his clothes?

"Let us promise that we will never again intentionally commit a grave sin. We know that we are weak, but we are strong with the grace of God and the protection of the Virgin Mother."- St. Leonard Murialdo -

"When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. Jesus said, 'Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.'"- Luke 23 -

The experienced executioners work quickly together. They throw you down with your back on the cross beam, immobilize one arm against it, and with a few strokes of the hammer nail one wrist, then the other to the beam. They raise you to the vertical beam waiting for you and nail your feet to it. You are crucified.

I am one with the cross. I can not detach myself from it. Nor can I walk away with it. I am nailed to it for life. Commitment. Big, tough, scary word. Look at me, nailed to the cross: this is how I am committed to you. Will you commit yourself to me in the same way?

Yes, Lord, I want to be committed to you! I want you to be the cross unto which I am nailed. I want to be one with you for life! I gave all of myself to you today.

Lord Jesus, Nailed to the Cross,
Have Mercy on Me

Were you there when they nailed him to the tree?

"Let us gather afflicted and sorrowful around the cross. Let us climb the mountain of bitterness, let us reach the top of Mt. Calvary: up there, let us fill our lungs with that air dense with the love of Jesus for us."- St. Leonard Murialdo -

"One of the criminals who were hanged there said, 'Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.' He replied, 'Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.'"- Luke 23 -

Even nailed to the cross, gasping for every breath of life, in your final agony, you have not changed. As long as there is even a hint of life, you find an opportunity to forgive. And you save the repentant thief.

Even when you seem trapped, even when there seems to be no way out and nothing more to ask of life, there is still something left to give. You can offer forgiveness. You can comfort someone near you. You can reach out to others in love.

Yes, my dying Savior! I will take my eyes off myself and notive the needs of the persons around me. I wish to learn today your extreme lesson of giving love and compassion until my very last breath.

Lord Jesus, Forgiving to the Last Breath,
Have Mercy on Me

Were you there when he saved that last lost soul?

"When we reflect on how much Jesus suffered for us, unless we have hearts of steel, we will break down and weep for him."- St. Leonard Murialdo -

"Standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother and the disciple whom he loved. He said to his mother, 'Woman, here is your son.' Then he said to the disciple, 'Here is your mother.'"- John 19 -

Now that you are beyond the point of no return, they allow your mother to approach the cross. No hint of shame on the face of this mother whose son is dying the death of a criminal: only sorrow and dignity. She's holding on to the disciple next to her. From the cross, the throne of glory, you pronounce them mother and son.

I have given you my Body and Blood. Before I give you even my last breath, I offer you my very mother. She will console you, guide you, strengthen you. She will lead you to me. Will you accept and honor this last gift I have to give?

Yes, my sweet Jesus! Today I take Mary as my tender mother. I will honor her and love her by my loyalty to you until my last breath.

Lord Jesus, Son of Mary, My Mother,
Have Mercy on Me

Were you there when he gave his mom to you?

"My dear young people, stop for a moment at the foot of the cross with Mary: let a drop of Jesus' blood fall on your heart..."- St. Leonard Murialdo -

"It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, when the sun's light failed. Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, 'Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.' Having said this, he breathed his last."- Luke 23 -

A final cry. A last gasp. Your whole life flashes in an instance before your eyes. Yes, you have done well. Yes, you have accomplished the Father's mission. Go back, o soul of Christ, to the Father who sent you. Go back, o soul of Christ, to the Spirit who anointed you. Go back, o soul of Christ, to the throne of your glory.

When my task ends, yours begin. My death marks the end of my time on earth as Jesus of Nazareth, but signals your time for action as a disciple of the risen and living Christ. Go forth, o child of light, your time to shine has come!

Yes, my crucified Lord! I will shine with Your light! Before Your body motionless and already rigid in death, I promise: I will be Your hands to forgive and heal; Your feet to seek after the lost; Your lips to proclaim Your Gospel of trust; Your heart to love as You did. Amen!

Lord Jesus, Dead on the Cross,
Have Mercy on Me

Were you there when he closed his eyes in death?

"There is no wood on earth capable of setting our hearts on fire with God's love but the wood of the cross on which Jesus died for us!"- St. Leonard Murialdo -