Stations of the cross

Kneel

O Jesus Christ, my Lord, with what great love didst thou pass over the painful road which led Thee to death; and how often have I abandoned Thee! But now I love Thee with my whole soul, and because I love Thee, I am sincerely sorry for having offended Thee. My Jesus, pardon me, and permit me to accompany Thee in this journey. Thou art going to die for love of me, and it is my wish also, my dearest Redeemer, to die for love of Thee, my Jesus in Thy love I wish to live, In Thy love I wish to die.

JESUS IS CONDEMNED TO DEATH.

V. (Genuflecting) We adore Thee, O Christ, and praise thee

R. Because by Thy holy Cross Thou has redeemed the world. 

Consider how Jesus after having been scourged and crowned with thorns, was unjustly condemned by Pilate to die on the Cross.

Kneel

My loving Jesus, it was not Pilate, no, it was my sins that condemned Thee to die. I beseech Thee, by the merits of this sorrowful journey, to assist my soul in her journey towards eternity.

I love Thee, Jesus, my love, above all things; I repent with my whole heart of having offended Thee, never permit me to separate myself from Thee again. Grant that I may love Thee always; and then do with me what Thou wilt.

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be to the Father...

JESUS RECEIVES THE CROSS

V. (Genuflecting) We adore Thee, O Christ, and praise thee 

R. because by thy holy cross thou has redeemed the world.

Consider how Jesus, in making this journey with the Cross on His shoulders, thought of us, and offered for us to His Father the death He was about to undergo.

Kneel

My most beloved Jesus! I embrace all the tribulations Thou hast destined for me until death. I beseech Thee, by the merits of the pain Thou didst suffer in carrying Thy cross to give me the necessary help to carry mine with perfect patience and resignation.

I love Thee Jesus...

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be to the Father....

JESUS FALLS THE FIRST TIME

V. (Genuflecting) We adore Thee, O Christ, and praise Thee

R. Because by Thy holy Cross Thou has redeemed the world.

Consider this first fall of Jesus under His Cross. His flesh was torn by the scourges, His head was crowned with thorns, He had lost a great quantity of blood. So weakened he could scarcely walk, He yet had to carry this great load upon His shoulders. The soldiers struck Him rudely, and He fell several times.

Kneel

My Jesus, it is the weight, not of the cross, but of my sins, which has made Thee suffer so much pain, By the merits of this first fall, deliver me from the misfortune of falling into mortal sin.

I love Thee Jesus...

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be to the Father.

JESUS IS MET BY HIS BLESSED MOTHER

V. (Genuflecting) We adore Thee, O Christ, and praise Thee

R, Because by Thy holy Cross Thou has redeemed the world.

Consider the meeting of the son and the mother which took place on this journey. Their looks became like so many arrows to wound those hearts which loved each other so tenderly.

Kneel

My sweet Jesus, by the sorrow, Thou didst experience in this meeting. grant me the grace of a devoted love for Thy holy Mother and thou, my Queen who was overwhelmed with sorrow, obtain for me a continual and tender remembrance of the passion of thy Son

I love Thee Jesus..

Our father, Hail Mary, glory be to the Father...

THE CROSS IS LAID UPON SIMON OF CYRENE

V. (Genuflecting) We adore Thee, O Christ, and praise Thee

R. Because by Thy holy Cross Thou has redeemed the world.

Consider how His cruel tormentors, seeing Jesus was on the point of expiring, and fearing He would die on the way whereas they wished him to die the shameful death of the cross, constrained Simon of Cyrene to carry the cross behind Our Lord.

Kneel

My most beloved Jesus, by Thy grace I will not refuse to carry the cross. I accept it, I embrace it. I accept in particular the death Thou has destined for me with all the pains which may accompany it; I unite it to Thy death, I offer it to thee. Thou hast died for love of me, I will die for love of Thee, Help me by Thy grace.

I love Thee Jesus...

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be to the Father...

VERONICA WIPES THE FACE OF JESUS

V. (Genuflecting) We adore Thee, O Christ, and praise Thee 

R. Because by Thy holy Cross Thou has redeemed the world.

Consider how the holy woman named Veronica, seeing Jesus so ill-used and bathed in sweat and blood, wiped His face with a towel, on which was left the impression of His holy countenance.

Kneel

My most beloved Jesus! Thy face was beautiful before, but in this journey it has lost all its beauty, and wounds and blood have disfigured it. Alas! My soul also was once beautiful, when it received Thy grace in baptism, but I have disfigured it by my sins; Thou alone, my Redeemer, canst restore it to its former beauty. Do this by Thy Passion, O Jesus.

I love Thee Jesus...

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be to the Father...

JESUS FALLS THE SECOND TIME

V. (Genuflecting) We adore Thee, O Christ, and praise Thee

R. Because by Thy holy Cross Thou has redeemed the world. 

Consider the second fall of Jesus under the Cross; a fall which renewed the pain of all the wounds in His head and members.

Kneel

My Jesus, how many times hast Thou pardoned me, and how many times have I fallen again, and begun again, to offend Thee. By the merits of this second fall give me the help necessary to persevere in Thy grace until death. Grant that in all temptations which assail me I may always commend myself to Thee.

I love Thee Jesus...

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be to the Father...

THE WOMEN OF JEUSALEM MOURN FOR OUR LORD

V. (Genuflecting) We adore Thee, O Christ, and praise Thee 

R. Because by Thy holy Cross Thou has redeemed the world. 

Consider how these women wept with compassion at seeing Jesus in such a pitiable state, streaming with blood as he walked along. "Daughters of Jerusalem" said He, "weep not for me, but for yourselves and for your children."

Kneel

My Jesus, laden with sorrow! I weep for the offences I have committed against Thee because of the pains they have caused Thee who has loved me so much. It is Thy love more than the fear of hell which causes me to weep for my sins.

I love Thee Jesus...

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be to the Father...

JESUS FALLS THE THIRD TIME

V. (Genuflecting) We adore Thee, O Christ, and praise Thee

R. Because by Thy holy Cross Thou has redeemed the world.

Consider the third fall of Jesus Christ. His Weakness was extreme and the cruelty of His executioners excessive, who tried to hasten His steps when He could scarcely move.

Kneel

My outraged Jesus, by the merits of the weakness Thou didst suffer in going to Calvary, give me strength to conquer all human respect, and my wicked passions which have led me to despise Thy friendship.

I love Thee Jesus...

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be to the Father...

JESUS IS STRIPPED OFHIS GARMENTS

V. (Genuflecting) We adore Thee, O Christ, and praise Thee 

R. Because by Thy holy Cross Thou has redeemed the world.

Consider the violence with which Jesus was stripped by the executioners. His inner garment adhered to His torn flesh, and they dragged them off so roughly that the skin came with them. Compassionate your Saviour thus cruelly treated!

Kneel

My most innocent Jesus! by the merits of the torment Thou hast felt, help me to strip myself of all affection to things of earth, that I may place all my love in Thee, who are so worthy of my love.

I love Thee Jesus...

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be to the Father...

JESUS IS NAILED TO THE CROSS

V. (Genuflecting) We adore Thee, O Christ, and praise Thee

R. Because by Thy holy Cross Thou has redeemed the world.

Consider how Jesus, having been placed upon the Cross, extended His hands, and offered to His Eternal Father the sacrifice of His life for our salvation. Those barbarians fastened Him with nails, and then, securing the Cross, allowed Him to die with anguish on this 'infamous gibbet.

Kneel

My Jesus loaded with contempt; nail my heart to thy feet hat it may ever remain there to love Thee, and nevermore to leave Thee.

I love The Jesus...

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be to the Father...

JESUS DIES ON THE CROSS

V. (Genuflecting) We adore Thee, O Christ, and praise Thee

R. Because by Thy holy Cross Thou has redeemed the world.

consider how Jesus, being consumed with anguish after three hours' agony on the Cross, abandoned Himself to the weight of His body, bowed His head and died.

Kneel

O my dying Jesus! I kiss devoutly the Cross on which Thou didst die for love of me. I have merited by my sins to die a miserable death, but Thy death is my hope, by the merits of Thy death, give me the grace to die embracing Thy feet, and burning with love for Thee. I commit my soul into Thy hands.

I love Thee Jesus...

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be to the Father...

JESUS IS TAKEN DOWN FROM THE CROSS

V. (Genuflecting) We adore Thee, O Christ, and praise Thee

R. Because by Thy holy cross Thou has redeemed the world.

Consider how, after Our Lord has expired, two of His disciples, Joseph and Nicodemus, took Him down from the Cross, and placed Him in the arms of His afflicted Mother who received Him with unutterable tenderness, and pressed Him to her bosom.

Kneel

O MOTHER of Sorrow, for the love of thy Son, accept me for thy servant, and pray for me. And Thou, my redeemer, since Thou has died for me, permit me to love Thee; for I wish but Thee, and nothing more.

I love Thee Jesus...

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be to the Father...

JESUS IS LAID IN THE SEPULCHRE

V. (Genuflecting) We adore Thee, O Christ, and Praise Thee

R. Because by Thy holy Cross Thou has redeemed the world.

Consider how the disciples accompanied by His holy Mother, carried the Body of Jesus to bury it. They closed the tomb, and all came sorrowfully away.

Kneel

My buried Jesus! I kiss the stone that encloses Thee. But Thou didst rise again on the third day. I beseech Thee, by thy resurrection, to make me rise in glory with Thee on the last day, to be always united with Thee in heaven, to praise Thee and love Thee forever.

I love Thee Jesus...

Our Father, Flail Mary, Glory be to the Father...

V. Our Lord was obedient unto death 

Kneel

R. Even death on the cross

LET US PRAY

O God we beseech You, look mercifully on us Your children whom Your Beloved Son Jesus Christ had purchased for You by His Precious Blood on the cross of Calvary. O God give us grace to love Jesus crucified, to crucify ourselves of our unworthiness in this life which will gain us everlasting glory in heaven. To remember always with respect and honour the roles of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the salvation of mankind and to have Her as our dear Mother O God, our petitions are before You. We beseech You through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the saints and the merits of the sufferings and death of Your dearly beloved Son Jesus Christ our Saviour may it please You to grant our petitions according to Your will. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

For the Pope's intentions.

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be to the Father.