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
