Station 9: Jesus Falls for the Third Time
Henri Matisse
Date:
1951
Medium:
Black enamel brushwork on ceramic panel
Visual Description:
Station 9 is positioned to the far left of the center row. The scene is approximately three tiles high and three tiles wide. In this Stations of the Cross story, Jesus has fallen for a third time while carrying the cross. The single outlined figure representing him props itself up and leans on its right elbow, facing right. A single line representing the figure’s right leg extends out to the right, while two lines representing the figure’s left leg bend upwards. The pose suggests a figure that has fallen backwards to the ground and struggles to get up again. The cross is not represented in this station.
BMA
Additional Audio
Transcript
[Fr. Josemaría Guzmán-Domínguez] The Ninth Station. Once again, we see Jesus fallen on the ground
under the weight of the cross, but we can consider this time Jesus’ patience and perseverance, that he gets
up one more time and goes all the way to the cross.
Let us pray. Almighty and eternal God, You permitted your Son to be weakened, crushed, and profaned so
that He might rise from the dead freed from the ravages of sin. Help us to accept our weaknesses and
failings as forerunners of our glorious resurrection in union with your Son. Amen.
