The way of the Cross

THE WAY OF THE CROSS WITH BLESSED STEPHEN SÁNDOR

Written by Fr. Zoltán Márkus SDB

Introduction

Lord Jesus Christ! You gave Your life and Blood for us. We thank You for this immeasurable mercy You have shown us, and we thank You for Your example!

Throughout history, thousands of people have given their lives for You, recognizing the value of Your sacrifice and knowing that following You, through all suffering, leads to eternal life.

So today, we join You on Your Way of the Cross, asking the heroic intercession of Your martyrs. Towering before us is the example of the Apostles and the testimony of Your heroic martyrs throughout the ages. Persecuted Christians of evil regimes walked this path before us, from young girls to grown men. Now we ask the intercession of Blessed Stephen Sándor, that we too may courageously follow You! We pray for Hungarian youth, for all people of goodwill, for every member of the Salesian Family, and for all who are persecuted around the world for their Christian faith!

I. Jesus is condemned to death

We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You, because by Your Holy Cross You have redeemed the world!

Power reigns, with armies at its side, yet it cannot guarantee justice! It acts out of interest, unscrupulously, sacrificing even the innocent! Show trials sweep away all who still possess integrity. Even the first victims of the Roman Empire were not truly guilty. In the 20th century, we saw this again; Stephen Sándor’s innocence was inconvenient, and so he had to be defamed.

His crime was remaining faithful to his Salesian mission and accompanying the young workers of Rákospalota, the twelve “big boys,” even when it meant persecution and prison. He never denied the Father and the Son during interrogations. His sentence: “death by hanging.”

King of Martyrs! Help us embrace silence that builds. May we never be provoked into anger but instead endure all things in silence for You – for our salvation!

Have mercy on us, O Lord – have mercy on us!

II. Jesus takes up His Cross

We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You, because by Your Holy Cross You have redeemed the world!

Jesus accepts His fate! He knows this is the only path, and He calls us to walk it too! Our martyr brother Stephen Sándor did not flee! He could have escaped abroad, but he knew his cross awaited him at home – to be embraced for Hungarian youth. Nor was he the only Hungarian religious or priest who chose this consciously! Let us also remember Blessed Zoltán Meszlényi, Blessed Theodore Romzsa, Blessed János Brenner, Blessed Sára Salkaházi – and countless nameless cross-bearers.

King of Martyrs! Bless our nation, our families, and our faith, that we may always follow You and love our crosses!

Have mercy on us, O Lord – have mercy on us!

III. Jesus falls the first time

We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You, because by Your Holy Cross You have redeemed the world!

The weight of the cross is multiplied when carried alone. The interrogations only deepened this burden for our Brother Stephen Sándor – especially after a month of nightly questioning, when in September 1953 he was assigned a new, more violent interrogator.

Yet, drawing strength from grace, he remained strong and stood up again. Though evil may seem victorious, its fate is sealed before God. And we may hope that the Lord gives us a cross that best serves our salvation.

Let us also remember those martyrs who, despite torture and false promises, never renounced their faith. Many bore witness to Jesus in distant lands – China, Vietnam, Canada.

Have mercy on us, O Lord – have mercy on us!

IV. Jesus meets His Blessed Mother

We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You, because by Your Holy Cross You have redeemed the world!

This station is about encounter, yet it hides the deepest loneliness. We do not know what was said, but we sense that their souls met and strengthened each other. Not all martyrs were granted such a moment with family. Often, even news of their death was withheld.

Stephen Sándor’s family only learned much later what happened. His brother János never gave up searching for his grave. After his death, he helped from heaven to identify the remains of his martyred brother buried anonymously. DNA from a letter envelope served as proof.

Even the Coptic Christians executed by ISIS were held in isolation. But Jesus promised: “Whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother, sister, and mother.”

Those persecuted for You, Lord, often cannot count on family support. We thank You for our loved ones’ prayers and sacrifices. Thank You for the new family we received in You! May we never be ungrateful to anyone!

Have mercy on us, O Lord – have mercy on us!

V. Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus carry His Cross

We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You, because by Your Holy Cross You have redeemed the world!

The cross has always been the symbol of belonging to Jesus! Not just the one on church steeples or our walls, but the one pressing on our shoulders. We can only truly recognize it through the eyes of Jesus. Simon the Cyrene, a mere bystander at first, came to this understanding—even if reluctantly.

So many have carried this cross. Some, like St. Paul Miki and his companions, were crucified. Others, like Stephen Sándor, were hanged. But they knew: the cross is not something to escape, but something to sanctify us.

Brother Stephen carried not only his own cross, but also that of others. He prayed with his cellmates even when they were ready to give up hope. When transferred to the death row floor—ironically nicknamed the “gentlemen with ropes” floor—at the AVH prison on Fő Street in Buda, he continued to offer comfort to his fellow condemned.

Lord, grant us a heart always ready to help others, in every circumstance!

Have mercy on us, O Lord – have mercy on us!

VI. Veronica wipes the face of Jesus

We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You, because by Your Holy Cross You have redeemed the world!

This Face should never be forgotten! Nor the faces of the martyrs! Blessed Fr. Martín Martínez Pascual smiles in his final photo just before his execution on August 18, 1936, in Spain. His face was captured on film, but Jesus imprinted His image on our hearts. The purer and braver our good deeds, the more clearly the Face of Jesus shines before those who do not yet know Him.

Let us ask the intercession of Blessed Veronika Antal, who gave her life for Jesus in 1958, so that we may always look upon our Savior with pure souls and angelic eyes. And may this beatific vision continue forever in the Kingdom of God, to which we are called by our good works!

Have mercy on us, O Lord – have mercy on us!

VII. Jesus falls the second time

We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You, because by Your Holy Cross You have redeemed the world!

The Way of the Cross is paved with stumbles and falls—just like our lives. The path of the saints was no easier. Indeed, martyrdom is preceded by a life of martyrdom: each fall is followed by rising again. Nothing can take away our faithfulness and perseverance when it comes to the cause of Jesus!

Stephen Sándor experienced difficulty and misunderstanding even in his service to the Church: in the beauty of the church, in printing work, and in youth ministry. Yet he remained steadfast. Even during the many weeks of underground ministry, he waited faithfully for the boys under the Újpest Water Tower, though they had not come in weeks. God rewarded him with the grace of martyrdom!

Lord, grant us a heroic spirit, that we may carry out our duties precisely, according to Your will, and rise joyfully from the small, everyday stumbles. May we never delay our conversion! Blessed János Brenner was not frightened by threats—he fulfilled his priestly duty even on his final night!

Have mercy on us, O Lord – have mercy on us!

VIII. Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem

We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You, because by Your Holy Cross You have redeemed the world!

No power has ever been shaken by weeping alone. Tears alone cannot bring change. Jesus’ response may seem harsh, but He calls us to turn even our sorrow and compassion toward the salvation of our own souls. The gift of tears is only valuable when born not of sentimentality, but of the Holy Spirit.

Stephen Sándor did not seek pity, yet he showed deep compassion. He only expressed sorrow once to a fellow prisoner-informer—when, after over a month of nightly interrogations, his case was reopened, and the torment continued. His greatest act of compassion came as he was led past his confrères, through the line of bayonets, from the judgment hall to execution. He turned to them with one brief, powerful word: “Forgive me.”

Many wept at the execution of the early Christians. But something else was present there—a power that rendered all executioners powerless. Those early Christians knew: “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.”

Lord, let our behavior never bring sorrow to others. And bless all our efforts to console the sorrowful in Your name.

Have mercy on us, O Lord – have mercy on us!

IX. Jesus falls the third time

We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You, because by Your Holy Cross You have redeemed the world!

This is not just a fall—it is a collapse, a plunge into the dust. And yet, the good news is: this is the last fall. No more will follow. This is the lowest point to which sin can cast a person. From here, only God’s love and mercy can lift us.

Jesus, You know how weak we are, how often we fall. We become confused and hesitant, especially when called to witness to You. Our greatest fall is trying to live our lives without You.

Stephen Sándor gave everything to You. Now, with his prayer of offering, we turn to You:

“Lord Jesus! I offer You today’s prayers, work, joys, disappointments, and sufferings. Grant me and all my fellow workers the grace to think like You, to pray, work, and live with You. Let us love You with all our hearts and serve You with all our strength everywhere. May Your Kingdom come among us, in our factories, in our families. May You be known and loved always and everywhere. Deliver us from all harm and sin. May Your grace be with those in danger. May the dead who died at work rest in peace. Amen.”

Have mercy on us, O Lord – have mercy on us!

X. Jesus is stripped of His garments

We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You, because by Your Holy Cross You have redeemed the world!

We may reach a point where we have nothing left—not even our dignity or trustworthiness. People may look at us with disdain and turn away. Whoever wants to follow You, Lord, must not expect to be treated better than You were!

The saints have shown us this path: to be holy, we must possess nothing but Your grace. Earthly treasures weigh us down. We must be brave, even when the eyes of the world judge us harshly!

The early virgin martyrs—Barbara, Lucy, Agnes—did not care about public opinion. Nor did Saint Joan of Arc, the visionaries of Fatima, or Saint John Bosco live to please others. Saint Oscar Romero, Archbishop of San Salvador, never abandoned his poor, even though those in power were outraged by his ministry.

Brother Stephen Sándor also chose the narrow path. He could have fled to his fellow Salesians abroad, but stayed. He endured the coarse language of his interrogators, the unjust insults and accusations. He prayed even more in his prison cell.

Have mercy on us, O Lord – have mercy on us!

XI. Jesus is nailed to the Cross

We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You, because by Your Holy Cross You have redeemed the world!

Even in His final moments, Jesus is tortured. Not only is He nailed, but His exhausted limbs are stretched out. He accepts it, because He wants to suffer to the very end—for us. And I? How often do I look for excuses, clinging to comfort?

Stephen Sándor persevered to the end, though we can never fully know what he experienced in his soul. But we can be sure that, under the shadow of the gallows, he offered his spiritual sacrifices and final thoughts for us—for the young people and Salesians who would follow him.

Can I offer my exhausting work and hardships to God?

They say there is something in Heaven made by human hands: the sacred Wounds of our crucified Redeemer!

Have mercy on us, O Lord – have mercy on us!

XII. Jesus dies on the Cross

We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You, because by Your Holy Cross You have redeemed the world!

Stephen Sándor’s death was recorded at 9:10 p.m. on June 8, the memorial of Saint Medard. Strong winds blew, accompanied by showers and storms—the executions that day continued under the sixth year of the godless regime.

Lord Jesus! Your Kingdom is revealed on the throne of the Cross—this is the full outpouring of Your glorious mercy. As the darkness of sin swirled beneath the Cross, sweeping away even the bystanders, the tide of evil rose—affecting even the thief who cursed You in frustration. But another man, amidst the filth and hatred, recognized the purity and hidden power in Your Sacred Heart and Wounds—the Good Thief. From the depths of suffering, he looked up to You. How could such light rise from beneath so much darkness? How could one man defy the rising tide of slander and find hope at the edge of despair? He turned to You and said: “Jesus, remember me when You come into Your Kingdom.”

Lord, grant that we too may be like this thief on Your right, and remember us when You come into Your Kingdom! Good Friday also marked the martyrdom of Blessed Vilmos Apor in 1945, when he gave his life to protect the women and girls entrusted to his care.

Have mercy on us, O Lord – have mercy on us!

XIII. Jesus is taken down from the Cross and placed in the arms of His sorrowful Mother

We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You, because by Your Holy Cross You have redeemed the world!

This is a time of silent mourning—a silence so deep, words fail. But there were times when even mourning was forbidden. No one could speak of Stephen Sándor. Who was he? Why did he die? Why did the regime hate a religious brother who lived for young people?

Even the first Salesian novices after the regime change in Hungary did not know his story. But Our Lady held him in her arms. They tried to trample him, but the seed must be buried to grow. They extinguished a candle, yet dawn was near!

“Mother Mary, we beg You, imprint deeply in our hearts the Wounds of Your Holy Son!”

Heavenly Mother, may we too rest in Your arms at the foot of the Cross. You are the Mediatrix of All Graces; speak for us to Your Son, that faith, hope, and love may grow ever stronger in us!

Have mercy on us, O Lord – have mercy on us!

XIV. Jesus is laid in the tomb

We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You, because by Your Holy Cross You have redeemed the world!

It is not death itself that is most painful, but the attempt to bury and forget. Jesus foretold that death would not conquer Him. But now, all seems finished. Life returns to its routine. No one has ever survived such a horrific execution—or so they think.

Jesus longs to rest in the hearts of nameless people—those who are not bothered by being forgotten, who do not seek appearances, and who are always ready for sacrifice. Rest, Lord Jesus, in hearts that receive You worthily, stand up for truth, and reach out to the poor.

Lord, help us at this final station not to fear meeting You in silence or in the darkness of the soul. After this encounter, we too may receive the greatest gift, just as Your martyr Stephen Sándor did. You confirmed his sacrifice through the rediscovery and veneration of his relics.

We ask his intercession that we may live lives of true witness and prepare worthily for our holy encounter with You.

Have mercy on us, O Lord – have mercy on us!

Conclusion The greatness of our martyr Stephen Sándor lies in the humble acceptance of his appointed path. The reach of his sacrifice expands invisibly. His example makes the world a brighter, warmer place. His story is a lamp of faithfulness and trust for us all.

Asking for his intercession, let us now pray for the intentions of the Holy Father, for our loved ones, and for all who seek God. Let us ask our suffering Savior that the words and thoughts we have just heard may fall on good soil in our hearts and bear abundant fruit. Amen.

Apostles’ Creed, Our Father, Hail Mary