Begin the Way of the Cross
Make the Sign of the Cross
and the Act of Contrition.
The First StationGo to the First Station
First Station: Jesus is Condemned to Death
V: We adore You, oh Christ, and we bless You.
R: Because by Your holy Cross You have redeemed the world.
Consider, that Jesus, after having been scourged and crowned with thorns, was unjustly condemned by Pilate to die on the cross. 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 in its journey toward eternity.
I love You, my beloved Jesus; I love You more than myself; I repent with my whole heart 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.
All say: Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be.
Stabat Mater Stanza:
At the cross her station keeping
Stood the mournful Mother weeping
Close to Jesus to the last
Holy Mother! pierce me through
In my heart each wound renew
Of my Saviour crucified
The Second StationGo to the next Station Jesus is Returned to PilateRead more ... From Gethsemani through Ecce HomoRead more ...
Second Station: Jesus Carries His Cross
V: We adore You, oh Christ, and we bless You.
R: Because by Your holy Cross You have redeemed the world.
Consider, that Jesus, in making this journey with the cross on His shoulders, thought of us, and offered for us, to His Father, the death that He was about to undergo. My most beloved Jesus, I embrace all the tribulations that 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.
All say: Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be.
Stabat Mater Stanza:
Through her heart, His sorrow sharing
All His bitter anguish bearing
Now at length the sword had passed
Holy Mother! pierce me through
In my heart each wound renew
Of my Saviour crucified
The Third StationGo to the next Station Jesus Carries His CrossRead more ... From the Praetorium to GolgothaRead more ...
Third Station: Jesus Falls for the First Time
V: We adore You, oh Christ, and we bless You.
R: Because by Your holy Cross You have 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 of my sins, which has made You suffer so much pain. Ah, by the merits of this first fall, deliver me from the misfortune of falling into mortal sin. I love You, O my Jesus, with my whole heart; I repent of 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.
All say: Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be.
Stabat Mater Stanza:
Oh, how sad and sore distressed
Was that Mother highly blessed
Of the sole-begotten One!
Holy Mother! pierce me through
In my heart each wound renew
Of my Saviour crucified
The Fourth StationGo to the next Station Jesus Falls for the First TimeRead more ... From the Praetorium to GolgothaRead more ...
Fourth Station: Jesus Meets His Mother
V: We adore You, oh Christ, and we bless You.
R: Because by Your holy Cross You have redeemed the world.
Consider, that Jesus, in making this journey with the cross on His shoulders, thought of us, and offered for us, to His Father, the death that He was about to undergo. My most beloved Jesus, I embrace all the tribulations that 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.
All say: Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be.
Stabat Mater Stanza:
Christ above in torment hangs
She beneath beholds the pangs
Of her dying, glorious Son
Holy Mother! pierce me through
In my heart each wound renew
Of my Saviour crucified
The Fifth StationGo to the next Station Jesus Meets His MotherRead more ... From the Praetorium to GolgothaRead more ...
Fifth Station: Simon Helps Jesus Carry His Cross
V: We adore You, oh Christ, and we bless You.
R: Because by Your holy Cross You have redeemed the world.
Consider that 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 that You have destined for me with all the pains which may accompany it; I unite it to Your death, 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 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.
All say: Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be.
Stabat Mater Stanza:
Is there one who would not weep
Whelmed in miseries so deep
Christ's dear Mother to behold?
Holy Mother! pierce me through
In my heart each wound renew
Of my Saviour crucified
The Sixth StationGo to the next Station Simon Helps Jesus Carry His CrossRead more ... From the Praetorium to GolgothaRead more ...
Sixth Station: Veronica Wipes the Face of Jesus
V: We adore You, oh Christ, and we bless You.
R: Because by Your holy Cross You have redeemed the world.
Consider, that Jesus, in making this journey with the cross on His shoulders, thought of us, and offered for us, to His Father, the death that He was about to undergo. My most beloved Jesus, I embrace all the tribulations that 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.
All say: Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be.
Stabat Mater Stanza:
Can the human heart refrain
From partaking in her pain
In that Mother's pain untold?
Holy Mother! pierce me through
In my heart each wound renew
Of my Saviour crucified
The Seventh StationGo to the next Station Veronica Wipes the Face of JesusRead more ... From the Praetorium to GolgothaRead more ...
Seventh Station: Jesus Falls a Second Time
V: We adore You, oh Christ, and we bless You.
R: Because by Your holy Cross You have redeemed the world.
Consider the second fall of Jesus under the cross—a fall which renews the pain of all the wounds of the head and members of our afflicted Lord.
My most gentle Jesus, how many times You have pardoned me, and how many times have I fallen again, and begun again to offend You! Oh, by the merits of this new fall, give me the necessary helps to persevere in Your grace until death. Grant that in all temptations which assail me I may always commend myself to You. I love You, Jesus, my love, with my whole heart; I repent of 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.
All say: Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be.
Stabat Mater Stanza:
Bruised, derided, cursed, defiled
She beheld her tender Child
All with bloody scourges rent
Holy Mother! pierce me through
In my heart each wound renew
Of my Saviour crucified
The Eighth StationGo to the next Station Jesus Falls a Second TimeRead more ... From the Praetorium to GolgothaRead more ...
Eighth Station: Jesus Meets the Women of Jerusalem
V: We adore You, oh Christ, and we bless You.
R: Because by Your holy Cross You have redeemed the world.
Consider that those women wept with compassion at seeing Jesus in so pitiable a state, streaming with blood, as He walked along. But Jesus said to them, "Weep not for Me but for your children."
My Jesus, laden with sorrows, I weep for the offenses that I have committed against You, because of the pains which they have deserved, and still more because of the displeasure which they have caused You, Who have loved me so much. It is Your love, more than the fear of hell, which causes me to weep for my sins. My Jesus, I love You more than myself; I repent of 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.
All say: Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be.
Stabat Mater Stanza:
For the sins of His own nation
Saw Him hang in desolation
Till His spirit forth He sent
Holy Mother! pierce me through
In my heart each wound renew
Of my Saviour crucified
The Ninth StationGo to the next Station Jesus Meets the Women of JerusalemRead more ... From the Praetorium to GolgothaRead more ...
Ninth Station: Jesus Falls for the Third Time
V: We adore You, oh Christ, and we bless You.
R: Because by Your holy Cross You have 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 had scarcely strength to move. Ah, my outraged Jesus, by the merits of the weakness You suffered in going to Calvary, give me strength sufficient to conquer all human respect and all my wicked passions, which have led me to despise Your friendship.
I love You, Jesus, my love, with my whole heart; I repent of 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.
All say: Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be.
Stabat Mater Stanza:
Ah Mother, fountain of love
Make me feel the force of the sorrow
So that I may mourn with you
Holy Mother! pierce me through
In my heart each wound renew
Of my Saviour crucified
The Tenth StationGo to the next Station Jesus Falls for the Third TimeRead more ... From the Praetorium to GolgothaRead more ...
Tenth Station: Jesus is Stripped of His Garments
V: We adore You, oh Christ, and we bless You.
R: Because by Your holy Cross You have redeemed the world.
Consider the violence with which the executioners stripped Jesus. His inner garments adhered to His torn flesh and they dragged them off so roughly that the skin came with them. Compassionate your Saviour thus cruelly treated, and say to Him:
My innocent Jesus, by the merits of the torment which You have felt, help me to strip myself of all affection to things of earth, in order that I may place all my love in You, Who are so worthy of my love. I love You, O Jesus, with my whole heart: I repent of 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.
All say: Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be.
Stabat Mater Stanza:
Make me feel as You have felt
Make my soul to glow and melt
With the love of Christ, my Lord
Holy Mother! pierce me through
In my heart each wound renew
Of my Saviour crucified
The Eleventh StationGo to the next Station Jesus is Stripped of His GarmentsRead more ... The CrucifixionRead more ...
Eleventh Station: Jesus is Nailed to the Cross
V: We adore You, oh Christ, and we bless You.
R: Because by Your holy Cross You have redeemed the world.
Consider that Jesus, after being thrown on the cross, extended His hands, and offered to His eternal Father the sacrifice of His life for our salvation. These barbarians fastened Him with nails; and then, raising the cross, left Him to die with anguish on this infamous gibbet.
My Jesus, loaded with contempt, nail my heart to Your feet, that it may ever remain there to love You, and never quit You again. I love You more than myself; I repent of 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.
All say: Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be.
Stabat Mater Stanza:
Holy Mother! pierce me through
In my heart each wound renew
Of my Saviour crucified
Holy Mother! pierce me through
In my heart each wound renew
Of my Saviour crucified
The Twelfth StationGo to the next Station Jesus is Nailed to the CrossRead more ... The CrucifixionRead more ...
Twelfth Station: Jesus Dies on the Cross
V: We adore You, oh Christ, and we bless You.
R: Because by Your holy Cross You have redeemed the world.
Consider how Your Jesus, after three hours of agony on the cross, consumed at length with anguish, abandons Himself to the weight of His body, bows His head, and dies.
O my dying Jesus, I kiss devoutly the cross on which You died for love of me. I have merited by my sins to die a miserable death, but Your death is my hope. Ah, by the merits of Your death, give me grace to die, embracing Your feet and burning with love of You. I commit my soul into Your hands. I love You with my whole heart; 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.
All say: Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be.
Stabat Mater Stanza:
Let me share with You His pain
Who for all our sins was slain
Who for me in torments die
Holy Mother! pierce me through
In my heart each wound renew
Of my Saviour crucified
The Thirteenth StationGo to the next Station Jesus Dies on the CrossRead more ... The CrucifixionRead more ...
Thirteenth Station: Jesus is Taken Down from the Cross
V: We adore You, oh Christ, and we bless You.
R: Because by Your holy Cross You have redeemed the world.
Consider that, our Lord having 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.
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 have died for me, permit me to love You; for I wish but 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
All say: Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be.
Stabat Mater Stanza:
Let me mingle tears with You
Mourning Him Who mourned for me
All the days that I may live
Holy Mother! pierce me through
In my heart each wound renew
Of my Saviour crucified
The Fourteenth StationGo to the next Station Jesus is Taken Down from the CrossRead more ... The CrucifixionRead more ...
Fourteenth Station: Jesus is Laid in the Tomb
V: We adore You, oh Christ, and we bless You.
R: Because by Your holy Cross You have redeemed the world.
Consider that 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 withdrew.
Oh, my buried Jesus, I kiss the stone that encloses You. But You rose again 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; and then do with me what You will.
All say: Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be.
Stabat Mater Stanza:
By the cross with You to stay
There with You to weep and pray
Is all I ask of You to give
Holy Mother! pierce me through
In my heart each wound renew
Of my Saviour crucified
Closing PrayerSay the Closing Prayer The Burial of JesusRead more ...
Closing Prayer
Behold, O kind and most sweet Jesus, I cast myself on my knees in Your sight, and with the most fervent desire of my soul, I pray and beg You to impress upon my heart lively sentiments of faith, hope, and charity, with true repentance for my sins, and a firm desire of amendment, while with deep affection and grief of soul I contemplate Your five most precious Wounds, having before my eyes that which David spoke in prophecy: "They pierced My hands and My feet; they have numbered all My bones." God has loved us from all eternity. So He says: "Remember I first loved you. You had not come to be, nor did the world yet exist, but I loved you already. From all eternity I have loved you."
Amen.
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