THE WAY OF THE CROSS ➕

The Stations of the Cross or the Way of the Cross, also known as the Way of Sorrows or the Via Crucis, refers to a series of images depicting Jesus Christ on the day of his crucifixion and accompanying prayers. Source:Wikipedia

THE WAY OF THE CROSS

THE STATIONS OF THE CROSS are a fourteen-step Catholic

devotion that commemorates Jesus Christ's last day

on Earth as a man. The fourteen devotions, or stations,

focus on specific events of His last day, beginning with

His condemnation. The stations are commonly used as a

mini pilgrimage as the individual moves from station to

station. At each station, the individual recalls and

meditates on a specific event from Christ's last day.

Specific prayers are recited, then the individual moves to

the next station until all fourteen are complete.

The Stations of the Cross are commonly found in churches

as a series of fourteen small icons or images. They can also

appear in church yards arranged along paths. The stations

are most commonly prayed during Lent on Wednesdays

and Fridays, and especially on Good Friday, the day of the

year upon which the events actually occurred.

INDULGENCES

A Plenary indulgence is grated to the faithful who make the pious

exercise of the Way of the Cross. Those who are impeded can gain the

same indulgence if they spend at least one half an hour in pious

reading and meditation on the Passion and Death of our Lord Jesus

Christ.

Enchiridion Indulgentiarum, no. 63

THE WAY OF THE CROSS

BY ST. ALPHONSUS LIGUORI

PREPARATORY PRAYERS

Kneeling before the altar, make an Act of Contrition, and form the

intention of gaining the indulgences, whether for yourself or for the souls

in purgatory.

ACT OF CONTRITION

MY GOD, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, and I

detest all my sins because of Thy just punishments, but most

of all because they offend Thee, my God, Who art all-good and

deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy

grace, to sin no more and to avoid the near occasions of sin. Amen.

Following the act of contrition say:

MY LORD, JESUS CHRIST, You have made this journey to die

for me with unspeakable love; and I have so many times

ungratefully abandoned You. | But now I love You with all my

heart; and, because I love You, I am sincerely sorry for ever

having offended You. Pardon me, my God, and permit me to

accompany You on this journey. You go to die for love of me;

I want, my beloved Redeemer, to die for love of You. My Jesus,

I will live and die always united to You.

Stabat mater dolorósa

juxta Crucem lacrimósa,

dum pendébat Fílius.

At the cross her station keeping

Stood the mournful Mother weeping

Close to Jesus to the last.

THE FIRST STATION

PILATE CONDEMNS JESUS TO DIE

V. We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You. (Genuflect)

R. Because, by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.

Priest:

CONSIDER HOW JESUS CHRIST, after being scourged and

crowned with thorns, was unjustly condemned by Pilate to

die on the cross.

All say:

MY ADORABLE JESUS, it was not Pilate; no, it was my sins

that condemned You to die. I beseech You, by the merits

of this sorrowful journey, to assist my soul on its journey to

eternity. I love You, beloved Jesus; I love You more than I love

myself. With all my heart I repent of ever having offended You.

Grant that I may love You always; and then do with me as You will.

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be.

Cuius ánimam geméntem,

contristátam et doléntem

pertransívit gladius

Through her heart, His sorrow sharing

All His bitter anguish bearing

Now at length the sword has passed

THE SECOND STATION

JESUS ACCEPTS HIS CROSS

V. We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You. (Genuflect)

R. Because, by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.

Priest:

CONSIDER JESUS as He walked this road with the cross on His

shoulders, thinking of us, and offering to His Father in our

behalf, the death He was about to suffer.

All say:

MY MOST BELOVED JESUS, I embrace all the sufferings You

have destined for me until death. I beg You, by all You

suffered in carrying Your cross, to help me carry mine with

Your perfect peace and resignation. I love You, Jesus, my love; I

repent of ever having offended You. Never let me separate

myself from You again. Grant that I may love You always; and

then do with me as You will.

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be …

O quam tristis et afflícta

fuit illa benedícta,

mater Unigéniti!

O, how sad and sore depressed

Was that Mother highly blessed

Of the sole Begotten One

THE THIRD STATION

JESUS FALLS THE FIRST TIME

V. We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You. (Genuflect)

R. Because, by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.

Priest:

CONSIDER THE FIRST FALL OF JESUS. Loss of blood from the

scourging and crowing with thorns had so weakened Him

that He could hardly walk; and yet He had to carry that great

load upon His shoulders. As the soldiers struck Him cruelly,

He fell several times under the heavy cross.

All Say:

MY BELOVED JESUS, it was not the weight of the cross but the

weight of my sins which made You suffer so much. By

the merits of this first fall, save me from falling into mortal sin. I

love You, O my Jesus, with all my heart; I am sorry that I have

offended You. May I never offend You again. Grant that I may

love You always; and then do with me as You will.

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be …

Quae mœrébat et dolébat,

pia Mater, dum vidébat

nati pœnas ínclyti.

Christ above in torment hangs

She beneath beholds the pangs

THE FOURTH STATION

JESUS MEETS HIS AFFLICTED MOTHER

V. We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You. (Genuflect)

R. Because, by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.

Priest:

CONSIDER HOW THE SON met his Mother on His way to

Calvary. Jesus and Mary gazed at each other and their

looks became as so many arrows to wound those hearts which

loved each other so tenderly

All Say:

MY MOST LOVING JESUS, by the pain You suffered in this

meeting grant me the grace of being truly devoted to

Your most holy Mother. And You, my Queen, who was

overwhelmed with sorrow, obtain for me by Your prayers a tender

and a lasting remembrance of the passion of Your divine Son. I love

You, Jesus, my Love, above all things. I repent of ever having

offended You. Never allow me to offend You again. Grant that I may

love You always; and then do with me as You will.

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be...

Quis est homo qui non fleret,

matrem Christi si vidéret

in tanto supplício?

Is there one who would not weep,

'whelmed in miseries so deep

Christ's dear Mother to behold.

THE FIFTH STATION

SIMON HELPS JESUS CARRY THE CROSS

V. We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You. (Genuflect)

R. Because, by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.

Priest:

CONSIDER HOW WEAK and weary Jesus was. At each step He was

at the point of expiring. Fearing that He would die on the way

when they wished Him to die the infamous death of the cross, they

forced Simon of Cyrene to help carry the cross after Our Lord.

All Say:

MY BELOVED JESUS I will not refuse the cross as Simon did: I

accept it and embrace it. I accept in particular the death that is

destined for me with all the pains that may accompany it. I unite it

to Your death and I offer it to You. You have died for love of me; I

will die for love of You and to please You. Help me by Your grace. I

love You, Jesus, my Love; I repent of ever having offended You.

Never let me offend You again. Grant that I may love You always;

and then do with me as You will.

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be …

Quis non posset contristári

Christi Matrem contemplári

doléntem cum Fílio?

Can the human heart refrain

From partaking in her pain

In that Mother's pain untold?

THE SIXTH STATION

VERONICA OFFERS HER VEIL TO JESUS

V. We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You. (Genuflect)

R. Because, by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.

Priest:

CONSIDER THE COMPASSION of the holy woman, Veronica.

Seeing Jesus in such distress, His face bathed in sweat and

blood, she presented Him with her veil. Jesus wiped His face,

and left upon the cloth the image of his sacred countenance.

All Say:

MY BELOVED JESUS, Your face was beautiful before You

began this journey; but, now, it no longer appears

beautiful and is disfigured with wounds and blood. Alas, my

soul also was once beautiful when it received Your grace in

Baptism; but I have since disfigured it with my sins. You alone,

my Redeemer, can restore it to its former beauty. Do this by the

merits of Your passion; and then do with me as You will.

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be…

Pro peccátis suæ gentis

vidit Iésum in torméntis,

et flagéllis súbditum.

For the sins of His own nation,

She saw Jesus wracked with torment,

All with scourges rent.

THE SEVENTH STATION

JESUS FALLS THE SECOND TIME

V. We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You. (Genuflect)

R. Because, by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.

Priest:

CONSIDER HOW the second fall of Jesus under His cross

renews the pain in all the wounds of the head and

members of our afflicted Lord.

All Say:

MY MOST GENTLE JESUS, how many times You have forgiven

me; and how many times I have fallen again and begun

again to offend You! By the merits of this second fall, give me

the grace to persevere in Your love until death. Grant, that in all

my temptations, I may always have recourse to You. I love You,

Jesus, my Love with all my heart; I am sorry that I have

offended You. Never let me offend You again. Grant that I may

love You always; and then do with me as You will.

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be …

Vidit suum dulcem Natum

moriéndo desolátum,

dum emísit spíritum.

She beheld her tender Child,

Saw Him hang in desolation,

Till His spirit forth He sent.

THE EIGHTH STATION

JESUS SPEAKS TO THE WOMEN

V. We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You. (Genuflect)

R. Because, by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.

Priest:

CONSIDER HOW the women wept with compassion seeing

Jesus so distressed and dripping with blood as he walked

along. Jesus said to them, “Weep not so much for me, but rather

for Your children.”

All Say:

MY JESUS, laden with sorrows, I weep for the sins which I have

committed against You because of the punishment I deserve

for them; and, still more, because of the displeasure they have caused

You who have loved me with an infinite love. It is Your love, more

than the fear of hell, which makes me weep for my sins. My Jesus, I

love You more than myself; I am sorry that I have offended You.

Never allow me to offend You again. Grant that I may love You

always; and then do with me as You will. Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be …

Eia, Mater, fons amóris

me sentíre vim dolóris

fac, ut tecum lúgeam.

O thou Mother! fount of love!

Touch my spirit from above,

make my heart with thine accord.

THE NINTH STATION

JESUS FALLS THE THIRD TIME

V. We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You. (Genuflect)

R. Because, by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.

Priest:

CONSIDER HOW JESUS CHRIST fell for the third time. He was

extremely weak and the cruelty of His executioners was

excessive; they tried to hasten His steps though He hardly had

strength to move.

All Say:

MY OUTRAGED JESUS, by the weakness You suffered in

going to Calvary, give me enough strength to overcome

all human respect and all my evil passions which have led me

to despise Your friendship. I love You, Jesus my Love, with all

my heart; I am sorry for ever having offended You. Never

permit me to offend You again. Grant that I may love You

always; and then do with me as You will. Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be…

Fac, ut árdeat cor meum

in amándo Christum Deum

ut sibi compláceam.

Make me feel as thou hast felt;

make my soul to glow and melt

with the love of Christ my Lord.

THE TENTH STATION:

JESUS IS STRIPPED OF HIS GARMENTS

V. We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You. (Genuflect)

R. Because, by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.

Priest:

CONSIDER HOW JESUS was violently stripped of His clothes

by His executioners. The inner garments adhered to his

lacerated flesh and the soldiers tore them off so roughly that the

skin came with them. Have pity for your Savior so cruelly

treated and tell Him:

All Say:

MY INNOCENT JESUS, by the torment You suffered in being

stripped of Your garments, help me to strip myself of all

attachment for the things of earth that I may place all my love

in You who are so worthy of my love. I love You, O Jesus, with

all my heart; I am sorry for ever having offended You. Never let

me offend You again. Grant that I may love You always; and

then do with me as You will. Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be …

Sancta Mater, istud agas,

crucifíxi fige plagas

cordi meo válide.

Holy Mother! pierce me through,

in my heart each wound renew

of my Savior crucified.

THE ELEVENTH STATION

JESUS IS NAILED TO THE CROSS

V. We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You. (Genuflect)

R. Because, by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.

Priest:

CONSIDER JESUS, thrown down upon the cross, He stretched

out His arms and offered to His eternal Father the sacrifice

of His life for our salvation. They nailed His hands and feet,

and then, raising the cross, left Him to die in anguish.

All Say:

MY DESPISED JESUS, nail my heart to the cross that it may

always remain there to love You and never leave You

again. I love You more than myself; I am sorry for ever having

offended You. Never permit me to offend You again. Grant that

I may love You always; and then do with me as You will.

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be …

Tui Nati vulneráti,

tam dignáti pro me pati,

pœnas mecum dívide.

Let me share with you His pain,

Who for all our sins was slain,

Who for me in torments died.

THE TWELFTH STATION

JESUS DIES UPON THE CROSS

V. We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You. (Genuflect)

R. Because, by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.

Priest:

CONSIDER HOW YOUR JESUS, after three hours of agony on the

cross, is finally overwhelmed with suffering and, abandoning

Himself to the weight of His body, bows His head and dies.

All Say:

MY DYING JESUS, I devoutly kiss the cross on which You

would die for love of me. I deserve, because of my sins, to

die a terrible death; but Your death is my hope. By the merits of

Your death, give me the grace to die embracing Your feet and

burning with love of You. I yield my soul into Your hands. I

love You with my whole heart. I am sorry that I have offended

You. Never let me offend You again. Grant that I may love You

always; and then do with me as You will.

All kneel for a moment and pray three times the Our Father.

Fac me tecum pie flere,

crucifíxo condolére,

donec ego víxero.

Let me mingle tears with thee

Mourning Him who mourned for me,

All the days that I may live.

THE THIRTEENTH STATION

JESUS IS TAKEN DOWN FROM THE CROSS

V. We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You. (Genuflect)

R. Because, by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.

Priest:

CONSIDER HOW, after Our Lord had died, He was taken

down from the cross by two of His disciples, Joseph and

Nicodemus, and placed in the arms of His afflicted Mother. She

received Him with unutterable tenderness and pressed Him

close to her bosom.

All Say:

MOTHER OF SORROWS, for the love of Your Son, accept me

as Your servant and pray to Him for me, And You, my

Redeemer, since you have died for me, allow me to love You,

for I desire only You and nothing more. I love You, Jesus my

Love, and I am sorry that I have offended You. Never let me

offend You again. Grant that I may love You always; and then

do with me as You will. Glory be…

Juxta Crucem tecum stare,

et me tibi sociáre

in planctu desídero.

By the cross with you to stay

There with you to weep and pray

Is all I ask of you to give.

THE FOURTEENTH STATION

JESUS IS PLACED IN THE SEPULCHER

V. We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You. (Genuflect)

R. Because, by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.

Priest:

CONSIDER HOW the disciples carried the body of Jesus to its

burial, while His holy Mother went with them and

arranged it in the sepulcher with her own hands. They then

closed the tomb and all departed.

All Say:

OH, MY BURIED JESUS, I kiss the stone that closes You in. But

You gloriously did rise again on the third day. I beg You

by Your resurrection that I may be raised gloriously on the last

day, to be united with You in heaven, to praise You and love

You forever. I love You, Jesus, and I repent of ever having

offended You. Grant that I may love You always; and then do

with me as You will.

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be …

Virgo vírginum præclára,

mihi iam non sis amára,

fac me tecum plángere.

Virgin of all virgins blest!

Listen to my fond request:

Let me share your grief divine.

After the stations say the “Our Father”, the “Hail Mary,” and the

“Glory be to the Father,” five times, in honour of the Passion of Jesus

Christ, and once for the intention of the Holy Father.

PRAYER TO JESUS CHRIST CRUCIFIED

MY GOOD AND DEAR JESUS, I kneel before You, asking You

most earnestly to engrave upon my heart a deep and

lively faith, hope, and charity, with true repentance for my

sins, and a firm resolve to make amends. As I reflect upon Your

five wounds, and dwell upon them with deep compassion and

grief, I recall, good Jesus, the words the Prophet David

spoke long ago concerning Yourself: “They pierced My hands

and My feet; they have numbered all My bones.''

The faithful who, after receiving Communion, recite this prayer before

a picture of Christ Crucified may gain a plenary indulgence on any

Friday in Lent and a partial indulgence on other days of the year, with

the addition of prayers for the Holy Father's intention.

Enchiridion Indulgentiarum, no. 22