Stations of the Cross

Station 5: Jesus is Helped by Simon

We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee.
Because by Thy holy Cross, Thou hast redeemed the world.
 
Consider how the Jews, seeing that at each step Jesus from weakness was on the point of expiring, and fearing that He would die on the way, when they wished Him to die the ignominious death of the Cross, constrained Simon the Cyrenian to carry the Cross behind our Lord.
 
My most sweet Jesus, I will not refuse the Cross, as the Cyrenian did; I accept it; I embrace it. I accept in particular the death Thou hast destined for me; with all the pains that 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, and to please Thee. Help me by Thy grace. I love Thee, Jesus my love; I repent of having offended Thee. Never permit me to offend Thee again. Grant that I may love Thee always; and then do with me what Thou wilt.

Station 4: Jesus Meets His Mother

We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee.
Because by Thy holy Cross, Thou hast redeemed the world.
 
Consider the meeting of the Son and the Mother, which took place on this journey. Jesus and Mary looked at each other, and their looks became as so many arrows to wound those hearts which loved each other so tenderly.
 
My most loving Jesus, by the sorrow Thou didst experience in this meeting, grant me the grace of a truly devoted love for Thy most holy Mother. And thou, my Queen, who wast overwhelmed with sorrow, obtain for me by thy intercession a continual and tender remembrance of the Passion of thy Son. I love Thee, Jesus my love; I repent of ever having offended Thee. Never permit me to offend Thee again. Grant that I may love Thee always; and then do with me what Thou wilt.

Station 3: Jesus Falls the First Time

We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee.
Because by Thy holy Cross, Thou hast redeemed the world.
Consider this first fall of Jesus under His Cross. His flesh was torn by the scourges, His head crowned with thorns, and He had lost a great quantity of blood. He was so weakened that he could scarcely walk, and yet he had to carry this great load upon His shoulders. The soldiers struck Him rudely, and thus He fell several times in His journey.
 
My beloved Jesus, it is not the weight of the Cross, but my sins, which have made Thee suffer so much pain. Ah, by the merits of this first fall, deliver me from the misfortune of falling into mortal sin. I love Thee, O my Jesus, with my whole heart; I repent 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.

Station 2: Jesus Bears His Cross

We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You.
Because by Your holy Cross, You have redeemed the world.
Consider how Jesus, in making this journey with the Cross on His shoulders, thought of us, and for us offered to His Father the death He was about to undergo.
 
My most beloved Jesus, I embrace all the tribulations You have destined for me until death. I beseech You, by the merits of the pain You suffered in carrying Your Cross, to give me the necessary help to carry mine with perfect patience and resignation. I love You, Jesus my love; I repent of having offended You. Never permit me to separate myself from You again. Grant that I may love You always; and then do with me what You will.

Station 1: Jesus is Condemned to Death

We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee.
 
Because by Thy holy Cross, Thou hast redeemed the world.
 
Consider how Jesus, after having been scourged and crowned with thorns, was unjustly condemned by Pilate to die on the Cross.
 
(Moment of silence for reflection)
 
My adorable 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 its journey towards eternity. I love Thee, my beloved Jesus; I repent with my whole heart for 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.

Preporatory Prayers

n the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
My Lord Jesus Christ, You have made this journey to die for me with love unutterable, and I have so many times unworthily abandoned you; but now I love you with my whole heart, and because I love you, I repent sincerely 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 also wish, my beloved Redeemer, to die for love of You. My Jesus, I will live and die always united to You.

Accompany Christ on the Way to the Cross

Accompany Christ every step of the way on the road to Calvary. The timeless tradition in our Catholic faith helps us to keep all of our Lenten sacrifices rooted in the Cross. When we unite to Jesus in His Passion, we are guaranteed the prize of His resurrection. Join us every Friday in praying and meditating upon the Stations of the Cross.

13: Jesus is Taken Down from the Cross

We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You.
Because by Your holy Cross, You have redeemed the world.
 
Consider how, after the death of our Lord, 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.
 
O Mother of sorrow, for the love of this Son, accept me for your servant, and pray to Him for me. And You, my Redeemer, since You hast died for me, permit me to love You; for I wish but You, and nothing more. I love You, my Jesus, and I repent of ever having offended You. Never permit me to offend You again. Grant that I may love You always; and then do with me what You will.
 
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be
 
Dear Jesus, You go to die
For very love of me:
Ah! let me keep You company;
I wish to die with You.

14: 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.
 
Consider how the disciples carried the body of Jesus to bury it, accompanied by His holy Mother, who arranged it in the sepulcher with her own hands. They then closed the tomb, and all left.
 
Oh, my buried Jesus, I kiss the stone that encloses You. But You rose again on the third day. I beseech You, by Your resurrection, make me rise glorious with You at the last day, to be always united with You in heaven, to praise You and love You forever. I love You, and I repent of ever having offended You. Never permit me to offend You again. Grant that I may love You always; and then do with me what You will.
 
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be
 
Dear Jesus, You go to die
For very love of me:
Ah! let me keep You company;
I wish to die with You.

Ending Prayers

Now we will pray the Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be, five times, in honor of the Passion of Jesus Christ.
 
Our Father, Who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy Will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.
 
Hail Mary, Full of Grace, The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruitof thy womb, Jesus. 
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now, and at the hour of our death.
Amen.
 
Glory be to the Father,and to the Son,and to the Holy Spirit.As it was in the beginning,is now,and ever shall be,world without end.
Amen.
 
(Repeat five times)
 
Now, we will pray the Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be, for the intention of the Holy Father.
 
(Same as above)
 
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.