Fourth Station - Jesus meets his mother

Like any mother, Mary would have preferred to carry the weight of this enormous cross herself. The same applies to the mother of Akash Bashir. She would have preferred to give her life in the terrorist blast, instead of her son.

Akash Bashir was a young Pakistani, only 20, who was on duty at the entrance to his parish church, to protect the Christian community from possible extremist attacks. On that fateful day, 15 March 2025, he saw a man with an explosives belt walk up to the Church, to massacre the Christian community.

Bravely and decisively, Akash blocked the terrorist’s path, saying: “I’d rather die than let you in!” As a result, he was blown up along with the aggressor. His mother did not even have a complete body to mourn over.

You could have fled, or tried to save yourself, young martyr, but like Christ you preferred to give your life to save the over one thousand people who were in the church that day for Sunday mass.

Prayer:

Thank you, Lord Jesus, who, in your infinite love, chose to die for us all! We give you thanks, also, for the countless martyrs who sacrificed themselves to save others.

Mary, Mother of Jesus, accompany your persecuted and suffering children, as you accompanied Jesus at the foot of the cross. We entrust unto you also all the suffering and the tears of all the mothers on the earth. Amen.