Stations of the Cross

COLLECT

Let us pray that the death of Christ on the cross will bring us to the glory of the resurrection.
O God, who willed that your Only Begotten Son should undergo the Cross to save the human race, grant, we pray, that we, who have known his mystery on earth may merit the grace of his redemption in heaven.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

Amen.

STATION I JESUS IS CONDEMNED TO DEATH

We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you.
Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

Meditation: My adorable Jesus, it was not Pilate no, it was my sins that condemned you to die. Because of this sad journey of yours, I beg you to help me on the journey that my soul is making toward eternity. I love you, Jesus, my love’ more than I love myself. With all my heart f am sorry that I have offended you. Never let me be separated from you again. Grant that I may always love you, and then do with me what you will.

Prayer: Let us pray. We beg you, Lord Jesus, to forgive the careless judgments we have made in the courtrooms of our minds. Help us understand that while we are entitled to our opinions, the world is not always anxious for us to express them. The words of Scripture, “But Jesus remained silent,” and “Judge not that you may not be judged,” ring now in our ears. Following your example, we resolve never to betray innocent blood by our judgment of others.

 

STATION II

JESUS IS MADE TO BEAR THE CROSS

We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you.
Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

Meditation: My most admirable Jesus, I embrace all the tribulations that you have destined for me until death. Because of the pain you did suffer in carrying your cross, I beg you to give me the strength to carry mine with perfect peace and resignation. I love you, Jesus, my love. I am sorry that I have offended you. Never let me be separated from you again. Grant that I may always love you, and then do with me what you will.

Prayer: Let us pray. We, too, have been mocked and spat upon, stripped and scourged, crowned and crucified in untold ways. We appreciate your anxiety because it is our anxiety. We feel your cries because they are our cries. We will take up our crosses and follow you. We ask only that you forgive us Lord for adding weight to the crosses of others by willful or thoughtless behavior in our homes, in our work and in our play.

 

STATION III

JESUS FALLS THE FIRST TIME

We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you.
Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

Meditation: My beloved Jesus, it is not the weight of the cross, but the weight of my sins that makes you suffer so much. Because of this first fall, save me from falling into mortal sin. I love you, my Jesus, with all my heart. I am sorry that f have offended you. Never let me offend you again. Grant that I may always love you, and then do with me what you will.

Prayer: Let us pray. Lord, we see you stand again and move forward to your Calvary. We sense the challenge of your example to help ourselves, to push beyond, to extend our endurance. Perhaps we run too quickly from our pain, call too desperately for help, depend too easily upon another before we have tried our best. Through your fall and rising you have told us that you are our source of help and strength. May you grant us this grace in our own times of trouble.

 

STATION IV

JESUS MEETS HIS AFFLICTED MOTHER

We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you.
Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

Meditation: My dearest Jesus, by the pain you did feel in this meeting, grant me the grace of being truly devoted to your holy Mother. My sorrowful Queen, obtain for me through your intercession an ever affectionate remembrance of the Passion of your Son. I love you, Jesus, my love. I am sorry that I have offended you. Never let me offend you again. Grant that I may always love you, and then do with me what you will.

Prayer: Let us pray. Jesus, Savior and brother; we are grateful for the caring look you give to each of us, no matter who we are or what we have done. But that reverent glance you gave your mother carried a special message for us. ln that moment, it became clear that your commandment to “Honor your father and mother!” is not for young children alone. lt is surely for adults as well, who see their parents growing old, deserving honor; and needing care. Even as we are busy carrying our own crosses in life, we, like You, will care for them and do them honor.

 

STATION V

SIMON HELPS JESUS TO CARRY HIS CROSS

We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you.
Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

Meditation: My sweetest Jesus, I do not wish, like the Cyrenean, to refuse the cross; I accept especially the death that is destined for me, with all the pains that may accompany it. I unite it to your death and offer it to you. You died for love of me; I wish to die for love of you and to please you. Help me by your grace. I love you, Jesus, my love. f am sorry that I have offended
you. Never let me offend you again. Grant that I may love you, and then do with me what you will.

Prayer: Let us pray. Lord Jesus, each of us is thrown into unexpected situations in life. Knowing what to do, how to react, and when to become involved is most difficult. We pray now for your guidance through the Holy Spirit and the courage to do your will. Then, Lord, when we do respond in actual life situations, let us never look back with doubt. Let us rest in the comfort that we have sought to do your holy will.

 

STATION VI

VERONICA WIPES THE FACE OF JESUS

We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you.
Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

Meditation: My beloved Jesus, your face was beautiful before; yet, on this journey it no longer appears beautiful but disfigured with wounds and blood. Alas! My soul also was once beautiful, when it received your grace in baptism, but I have since then disfigured it with my sins. You alone, my Redeemer, can restore it to its former beauty. Do this by your Passion!

Prayer: Let us pray. Your invitation, Lord Jesus, includes each of us. As we struggle with the crosses of life, our worries and cares, our doubts and fears, our uncertainties and limitations hide within our souls. You invite us to come to you and you heal us, comfort us, and refresh us without exposing our inner struggles. You also invite us to join you in your comforting mission. “Do unto others as you would have them do for you !” We, like Veronica, accept your invitation, aware that we do not have to look far to find the weary, the burdened, the poor and the lonely. They are everywhere. They are always with us.

 

STATION VII

JESUS FALLS THE SECOND TIME

We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you.
Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

Meditation tPl My most gentle Jesus, how often have you forgiven me, and how often have I again fallen and offended you! Because of this new fall, give me the strength to persevere in your grace until death. Grant that in all
the temptations that will assail me, I may always have recourse to you. I love You, Jesus, my love, with all my heart. f am sorry that f have offended you. Never let me offend you again. Grant that I may always love you, and then do with me what you will.

Prayer: Let us pray. Jesus, reconciling Lord, Your endurance along the way of the cross demonstrates your tireless love for both saints and sinners. You invite us to share in your healing and forgiving grace. You make it possible for us to stand up and approach you with dignity and say, “Lord, we’re sorry!” Knowing this, we ask your forgiveness for our sins of commission and omission. With new understanding we dare to pray, “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive
those who trespass against us!”

 

STATION VIII

JESUS SPEAKS TO THE WOMEN OF JERUSALEM

We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you.
Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

Meditation: My sorrowful Jesus, I weep for the offenses I have committed because of the punishment f deserve for them, but stilt more because of the displeasure they have given your who has loved me so much. It is your love more than the fear of hell that makes me weep for my sins. My Jesus, I love you more than myself. I am sorry that I have offended you. Never let me offend you again. Grant that I may always love you, and then do with me what you will.

Prayer: Let us pray. How kind of you, Lord Jesus, to pause to talk to us. How often we say to one another, “l don’t have the time!” We say to our children when they ask, to the needy when they beg, to neighbors when they need our help, “l don’t have time!” Yet, time is really all we have. We cannot make it or demand it. Time is your gift, Lord, but we can waste it. When it is past, we cannot replace it. So, before we move on, Christ Jesus, help us embrace time and share it with others in your love.

 

STATION IX

JESUS FALLS THE THIRD TIME

We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you.
Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

Meditation: Jesus, give me enough strength to overcome all human respect and all my vicious inclinations, which have led me in the past to despise your friendship. 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 always love you, and then do with me what you will.

Prayer: Let us pray. It is time, Suffering Servant of God, for us to refresh our memories. In the garden you urged us not to make hasty promises. However, now that we have walked prayerfully with you along the way, we sense that the moment of decision is near. We, like you, are faced with the choice of giving up or going on. “Come follow me” you faintly call. There is no longer an option to be lukewarm. Hot or cold, for you or against you-we must choose now.
Relying on your grace, we accept your call for help and choose to follow wherever you may lead.

 

STATION X

JESUS IS STRIPPED OF HIS GARMENTS

We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you.
Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

Meditation: My innocent Jesus, because of the pain you suffered then, help me to strip myself of all affection for the things of earth that I may place all my love in you, who are more than worthy of all my love. 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 always love your and then do with me what you will.

Prayer: Let us pray Gentle Jesus, you have brought us face to face with the mystery of life’s suffering. With sensitivity, you show your love for all who suffer. Humbly, you ask us not to question, “Why?” It is not for us to rob this mystery of its secret. Just forgive our lack of understanding.

 

STATION XI

JESUS IS NAILED TO THE CROSS

We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you.
Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

Meditation: My despised Jesus, nail this heart of mine to your feet, so that I may always remain there to love you and never leave you again. I love you more than myself. I am sorry that I have offended you. Never let me offend you again. Grant that I may always love you, and then do with me what you will.

Prayer: Let us pray. In this final moment we pledge our fidelity to you, Son of God made man. To tell you that we believe is easy. To prove our belief is hard. As you leave us, we thank you for commending us to the care of each other. Our mutual love will prove our love for you.

 

STATION XII

JESUS DIES ON THE CROSS

We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you.
Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

Meditation: O my loving Jesus, I tenderly kiss this cross on which you died for me. I deserve, because of my sins, to die a miserable 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. Into your hands I commend my soul. I love you with all my heart. I am sorry that I have offended you. Never let me offend you again. Grant that I may always love you, and then do with me what you will.

Prayer: Let us pray. Forgive us our trespasses, Jesus of Nazareth. You are King of all creation and truly Son of God. As you hang before us in the silence of death, our minds also clear. We see a sudden light upon the cross and sense its deepest meaning. It is not a silent symbol hung for centuries in loving memory. lt is life-giving to us who have walked the way of the cross. It is a throne of strength, not a glorification of weakness. lt is a sign of love and a font of grace. It is a redeeming sacrament.

 

STATION XIII

JESUS IS TAKEN DOWN F’ROM THE CROSS

We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you.
Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

Meditation: O Mother of sorrow for the love of this Son, accept me as your servant and pray to Him for me. And you, my Redeemer, since for me you died, allow me to love you, for I want you alone and nothing more. I love You, my Jesus and I am sorry that I have offended you. Never let me offend you again. Grant that I may always love you, and then do with me what you will.

Prayer: Let us pray. Mary, allow us to lift Jesus from your aching arms and bear him to a resting place. We are unsure of what the death of your son means. We see its meaning vaguely. Faith still wrestles with doubt. Hope still challenges despair. Love still suffers from sin. Mary, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.

 

STATION XIV

THE BODY OF’JESUS IS PLACED IN THE TOMB

We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you.
Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

Meditation: O my buried Jesus, I kiss this stone that encloses you. But you rose from there on the third day. I beg you, by your resurrection, to make me rise with you in glory on the last day, so that I may always be united with you in heaven, to praise you and love you forever. I love you and I am sorry that I have offended you again. Grant that I may always love you, and then do with me what you will.

Prayer: Let us pray. We have come to a moment when time meets eternity. Past, present and future blend together. The past records memories of your passion and death. The present gives us opportunities for loving and serving in your Church. The future promises a fuller life for having walked with you along the way of the cross. Now Lord, we actively await the fulfillment of your promise with undying hope.

 

STATION XV

THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS

We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you.
Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

Meditation: When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary, the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go and anoint him. Very early when the sun had risen, on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb. They were saying to one another, *Who will roll back the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?” When they looked up,
they saw that the very large stone had been rolled back. On entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a white robe, and they were utterly amazed. He said to them, ‘Do not be amazed! You seek Jesus of Nazareth, the crucified. He has been raised;; he is not here. Behold the place where they laid him.”

Prayer: Let us pray. Angels guarded the manger and proclaimed the birth of Christ. Now angels guard his tomb and proclaim his rebirth-the Resurrection! Jesus is the firstborn of the dead. If we live in him and he lives in us, then he will raise us up from death at the end of history. Death is no longer frightening if we trust and obey the one who destroyed it.

LITANY OF THE HOLY CROSS
(kneel)
Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
God, the Father of heaven
God the Son, Redeemer of the world God the Holy Spirit, our Advocate Holy Trinity, one God.
Holy Cross, on which the Lamb of God was offered,
Hope of Christians,
Pledge of the resurrection of the dead,
Shelter of persecuted innocence,
Guide of the blind,
Way of those who have gone astray,
Staff of the lame,
Consolation of the poor,
Restraint of the powerful,
Destruction of the proud,
Refuge of sinners,
Trophy of victory over Hell,
Terror of demons,
Relief of the distressed,
Hope of the hopeless,
Counsel of the just,
Judge of the wicked,
Light of those who sit in darkness,
Splendor of kings,
Civilizer of the world,
Shield impenetrable,
Wisdom of the foolish,
Liberty of slaves,
Knowledge of the ignorant,
Sure rule of life,
Heralded by prophets,
Preached by apostles,
Glory of martyrs,
Contemplation of mystics,
Foundation of the Church,
Salvation of the world,
Support of the weak,
Medicine of the sick,
Daily companion,

Lamb of God, you take away
the sins of the world,

  Spare us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, you take away
the sins of the world,

  Graciously hear us, O Lord

Lamb of God, you take away
the sins of the world,

  Have mercy on us.

Christ, hear us.

  Christ, graciously hear us.

We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you,

  Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

 

CLOSING PRAYER

Let us pray:
God our Savior at birth your Son Jesus was placed in the wood of the manger and was placed on the wood again when crucified on the cross.
By his sufferings and death he redeemed the world and delivered us from the power of evil. On the cross he forgave the thief, he forgives us who repent, and he calls us to forgive others.
Holy the nails, holy the wood, holy the burden he bore for us. May we follow in his footsteps daily, as he asked us, and so come to our redemption.
We ask this through Christ, our Lord. Amen.

The Lord be with you….. Bow down for the blessing.

May God, the Father of mercies who has given you an example of love in the Passion of his Only Begotten Son, grant that, by serving God and your neighbor, you may lay hold of the
wondrous gift of his blessing.
R Amen.

So that you may receive the reward of everlasting life from him, through whose earthly Death you believe that you escape eternal death
R Amen.

And by following the example of his self-abasement, may you possess a share in his Resurrection.
R Amen.

And may almighty God bless you,
the Father and the Son, + and the Holy Spirit.
R Amen.

Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life.
R Thanks be to God.

RECESSIONAL HYMN

  1. When I survey the wondrous cross
    On which the Prince of glory died,
    My richest gain I count but loss,
    And pour contempt on all my pride.
  2. Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
    Save in the death of Christ my God!
    All the vain things that charm me most,
    I sacrifice them to His blood.
  3. See from His head, His hands, His feet,
    Sorrow and love flow mingled down!
    Did e’er such love and sorrow meet,
    Or thorns compose so rich a crown?
  4. Were the whole realm of nature mine,
    That were a present far too small;
    Love so amazing, so divine,
    Demands my soul, my life, my all.