Short Stations of the Cross

Friday, March 15, 2019

Short Stations of the Cross

- Catholic Harbor of Faith and Morals

+ Imprimatur, Eduardus Card. MacCabe, 1883

STATION I.
JESUS IS CONDEMNED TO DEATH

V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and bless Thee.
R. Because by Thy holy cross Thou hast redeemed the world.

My Jesus, often have I signed thy death-warrant by my sins; save me by Thy death from that death eternal which I deserve.

V. Our Father, etc. Hail Mary, etc.
R. Have mercy on us, O Lord.
V. Have mercy on us.

STATION II.
JESUS CARRIES HIS CROSS

V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and bless Thee.
R. Because by Thy holy cross Thou hast redeemed the world.

My Jesus, who by Thy own will didst take on Thee the heavy cross which I made for Thee by my sins; O make me know the weight of them, and sorrow for them ever while I live.

V. Our Father, etc. Hail Mary, etc.
R. Have mercy on us, O Lord.
V. Have mercy on us.

STATION III.
JESUS FALLS THE FIRST TIME

V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and bless Thee.
R. Because by Thy holy cross Thou hast redeemed the world.

My Jesus, the heavy burden of my sins has made thee fall beneath the cross. My Jesus, I loathe them I detest them; I beseech Thee to pardon them; aided by Thy grace I will never commit them anymore.

V. Our Father, etc. Hail Mary, etc.
R. Have mercy on us, O Lord.
V. Have mercy on us.

STATION IV.
JESUS MEETS HIS SORROWFUL MOTHER

V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and bless Thee.
R. Because by Thy holy cross Thou hast redeemed the world.

Jesus, most suffering! Mary, Mother, most sorrowful! if for the past by sin I have caused you pain and sorrow, yet by divine grace it shall be so no more, but I will love you faithfully until death.

V. Our Father, etc. Hail Mary, etc.
R. Have mercy on us, O Lord.
V. Have mercy on us.

STATION V.
SIMON HELPS JESUS TO CARRY THE CROSS

V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and bless Thee.
R. Because by Thy holy cross Thou hast redeemed the world.

My Jesus, happy was that man of Cyrene, who aided Thee to bear the cross. Happy shall I be if I too aid Thee to bear the cross, by suffering with patience and good-will the crosses Thou shalt send me during life. My Jesus, give me grace to do so.

V. Our Father, etc. Hail Mary, etc.
R. Have mercy on us, O Lord.
V. Have mercy on us.

STATION VI.
VERONICA WIPES THE FACE OF JESUS

V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and bless Thee.
R. Because by Thy holy cross Thou hast redeemed the world.

Jesus, most compassionate, who didst deign to print thy sacred countenance upon the towel with which Veronica wiped the sweat from off Thy brows, print in my soul deep, I pray Thee, the lasting memory of Thy most bitter pains.

V. Our Father, etc. Hail Mary, etc.
R. Have mercy on us, O Lord.
V. Have mercy on us.

STATION VII.
JESUS FALLS THE SECOND TIME

V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and bless Thee.
R. Because by Thy holy cross Thou hast redeemed the world.

My Jesus, often have I sinned and by sin often made Thee fall beneath the cross. Help me to use such efficacious means of grace, that I may never fall again into sin.

V. Our Father, etc. Hail Mary, etc.
R. Have mercy on us, O Lord.
V. Have mercy on us.

STATION VIII.
THE WOMEN OF JERUSALEM WEEP OVER JESUS

V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and bless Thee.
R. Because by Thy holy cross Thou hast redeemed the world.

My Jesus, who didst comfort the pious women of Jerusalem, who wept to see Thee so tormented, comfort my soul with Thy mercy, for in Thy mercy alone is my sole trust. Oh, may I never frustrate it!

V. Our Father, etc. Hail Mary, etc.
R. Have mercy on us, O Lord.
V. Have mercy on us.

STATION IX.
JESUS FALLS THE THIRD TIME

V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and bless Thee.
R. Because by Thy holy cross Thou hast redeemed the world.

My Jesus, by all the bitter pains Thou didst endure, when a third time Thou didst fall beneath the heavy cross, oh! never, never let me fall away, but rather let me die than ever mortally sin again!

V. Our Father, etc. Hail Mary, etc.
R. Have mercy on us, O Lord.
V. Have mercy on us.

STATION X.
JESUS IS STRIPPED OF HIS GARMENTS

V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and bless Thee.
R. Because by Thy holy cross Thou hast redeemed the world.

My Jesus, who wast stripped of Thy clothes, and drenched with gall, strip me of love for things of earth, and make me loathe all that savours of the world and sin.

V. Our Father, etc. Hail Mary, etc.
R. Have mercy on us, O Lord.
V. Have mercy on us.

STATION XI.
JESUS IS NAILED TO THE CROSS

V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and bless Thee.
R. Because by Thy holy cross Thou hast redeemed the world.

My Jesus, by those agonizing pains thou didst endure when the cruel nails pierced Thy tender hands and feet, and fixed them to the cross, O make me ever crucify my flesh with the spirit of true Christian penance.

V. Our Father, etc. Hail Mary, etc.
R. Have mercy on us, O Lord.
V. Have mercy on us.

STATION XII.
JESUS DIES ON THE CROSS

V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and bless Thee.
R. Because by Thy holy cross Thou hast redeemed the world.

My Jesus, three hours didst Thou hang in agony upon the cross, and then didst die for me; let me die before I sin again, and if I live, may I live to love Thee and serve Thee faithfully.

V. Our Father, etc. Hail Mary, etc.
R. Have mercy on us, O Lord.
V. Have mercy on us.

STATION XIII.
JESUS IS TAKEN DOWN FROM THE CROSS

V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and bless Thee.
R. Because by Thy holy cross Thou hast redeemed the world.

Mary, Mother most sorrowful, the sword of grief pierced thy soul when thou didst see thy dear Son Jesus lying lifeless in thy bosom; ask for me hatred of sin, which was the cause of his death, and made thee suffer so much; and then obtain for me grace to live a true Christian life, and save my soul.

V. Our Father, etc. Hail Mary, etc.
R. Have mercy on us, O Lord.
V. Have mercy on us.

STATION XIV.
JESUS IS LAID IN THE SEPULCHRE

V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and bless Thee.
R. Because by Thy holy cross Thou hast redeemed the world.

My Jesus, with Thee in the tomb I desire that I may ever remain as one dead; and if I live, I wish to live only to Thee, that so one day I may come with Thee to taste the bliss of heaven, the fruit of Thy passion and most painful death. Amen.

V. Our Father, etc. Hail Mary, etc.
R. Have mercy on us, O Lord.
V. Have mercy on us.

LET US PRAY.

O GOD, who by the precious blood of Thy only begotten Son didst sanctify the standard of the cross, grant, we beseech Thee, that those whose joy is in the same holy cross, may rejoice also everywhere in Thy protection: through the same Christ our Lord.

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We will recognize them by their fruits.

Prayer to St. Michael

Please protect us, St. Michael the Archangel, against violence, murder, and robbery. In your goodness preserve us today from all the malice of sinful and wicked persons. In your sleepless vigilance watch over the safety and welfare of our homes, and keep guard over our possessions. Ever hold in your special care, most triumphant St. Michael, the forces of public order against the crimes of evil people, and defend all honest citizens in time of peril. We ask this through Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Novena Prayer to St. Michael

(Pray for nine consecutive days)
Saint Michael the Archangel, loyal champion of God and His Catholic people, I turn to thee with confidence and seek thy powerful intercession. For the love of God, Who hast made thee so glorious in grace and power, and for the love of the Mother of Jesus, the Queen of the Angels, be pleased to hear my prayer.
Thou knowest the value of my soul in the eyes of God. May no stain of evil ever disfigure its beauty. Help me to conquer the evil spirit who tempts me. I desire to imitate thy loyalty to God and Holy Mother Church and thy great love for God and men. And since thou art God’s messenger for the care of His people, I entrust to thee this special request: (here mention your request).
Saint Michael, since thou art, by the will of the Creator, the powerful intercessor of Christians, I have great confidence in thy prayers. I earnestly trust that if it is God’s holy will, my petition will be granted.
Pray for me, Saint Michael, and also for those I love. Protect us in all dangers of body and soul. Help us in our daily needs. Through thy powerful intercession, may we live a holy life, die a happy death and reach Heaven where we may praise and love God with thee forever. Amen.
Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory Be.
St. Michael, Guardian of souls, Vanquisher of rebel spirits, Pray for us.

St John Chrysostom

Our Lord having reproached the Jews with blindness, they might have said, We are not blind, but we avoid you as a deceiver. Our Lord therefore gives the marks which distinguish a robber and deceiver from a true shepherd. First come those of the deceiver and robber: Verily, verily, I say to you, He that enters not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. There is an allusion here to Antichrist, and to certain false Christs who had been, and were to be. The Scriptures He calls the door. They admit us to the knowledge of God, they protect the sheep, they shut out the wolves, they bar the entrance to heretics. He that uses not the Scriptures, but climbs up some other way, i.e. some self-chosen, some unlawful way, is a thief. Climbs up, He says, not, enters, as if it were a thief getting over a wall, and running all risks. Some other way, may refer too to the commandments and traditions of men which the Scribes taught, to the neglect of the Law. When our Lord further on calls Himself the Door, we need not be surprised. According to the office which He bears, He is in one place the Shepherd, in another the Sheep. In that He introduces us to the Father, He is the Door, in that He takes care of us, He is the Shepherd. (Catena Aurea)

LIBERTAS ENCYCLICAL OF POPE LEO XIII ON THE NATURE OF HUMAN LIBERTY
35. And as to tolerance, it is surprising how far removed from the equity and prudence of the Church are those who profess what is called liberalism. For, in allowing that boundless license of which We have spoken, they exceed all limits, and end at last by making no apparent distinction between truth and error, honesty and dishonesty. And because the Church, the pillar and ground of truth, and the unerring teacher of morals, is forced utterly to reprobate and condemn tolerance of such an abandoned and criminal character, they calumniate her as being wanting in patience and gentleness, and thus fail to see that, in so doing, they impute to her as a fault what is in reality a matter for commendation. But, in spite of all this show of tolerance, it very often happens that, while they profess themselves ready to lavish liberty on all in the greatest profusion, they are utterly intolerant toward the Catholic Church, by refusing to allow her the liberty of being herself free.

“If you want to be certain of being in the number of the Elect, strive to be one of the few, not one of the many. And if you would be quite sure of your salvation, strive to be among the fewest of the few; that is to say, do not follow the great majority of mankind, but follow those who enter upon the narrow way, who renounce the world, who give themselves to prayer, and who never relax their efforts by day or night, so that they may attain everlasting blessedness.” -Saint Anselm, Father and Doctor of the Church

PRAYER TO SAINT JOSEPH, THE PROTECTOR OF CHRISTIAN FAMILIES Great Saint Joseph, who wast chosen of God to be the head of the holiest and most august of families, deign to cast thy eyes upon us, and take us this day under thy special protection. Holy Patriarch, model of the holiest faith, and of the most perfect virtues, obtain for all the members of this family grace to withstand the dangers and seductions of the world, and to remain stedfastly attached to the LORD. Obtain for us that, always united by the bonds of the most tender charity, and encouraging one another mutually in good works, we may taste under thy auspices the sweetness of that peace which JESUS has promised to His true disciples. But above all, when our last hour shall come, obtain for us that we may find grace before the Sovereign Judge, so that, reunited in heaven at the foot of Thy Throne, we may celebrate everlastingly the glory of GOD and thy praise. Amen.

St. Vincent Ferrer -- Sermon on the Last Judgment: In the same way, in the time of Antichrist, the Sun of justice will be obscured by the interposition of temporal goods and the wealth which Antichrist will bestow on the world, inasmuch as the brightness of faith in Jesus Christ and the glow of good lives will no longer shine among Christians. For, lest they should lose their dominion, temporal rulers, kings and princes will range themselves on the side of Antichrist. In like manner, prelates for fear of losing their dignities, and religious and priests to gain honors and riches, will forsake the Faith of Christ and adhere to Antichrist.

Neither living nor lifeless faith remains in a heretic who disbelieves one article of faith. The reason of this is that the species of every habit depends on the formal aspect of the object, without which the species of the habit cannot remain. Now the formal object of faith is the First Truth, as manifested in Holy Writ and the teaching of the Church, which proceeds from the First Truth. Consequently whoever does not adhere, as to an infallible and Divine rule, to the teaching of the Church, which proceeds from the First Truth manifested in Holy Writ, has not the habit of faith, but holds that which is of faith otherwise than by faith. Even so, it is evident that a man whose mind holds a conclusion without knowing how it is proved, has not scientific knowledge, but merely an opinion about it. Now it is manifest that he who adheres to the teaching of the Church, as to an infallible rule, assents to whatever the Church teaches; otherwise, if, of the things taught by the Church, he holds what he chooses to hold, and rejects what he chooses to reject, he no longer adheres to the teaching of the Church as to an infallible rule, but to his own will. Hence it is evident that a heretic who obstinately disbelieves one article of faith, is not prepared to follow the teaching of the Church in all things; but if he is not obstinate, he is no longer in heresy but only in error. Therefore it is clear that such a heretic with regard to one article has no faith in the other articles, but only a kind of opinion in accordance with his own will. (Saint Thomas Aquinas. Summa Theologica, II-II, q. 5, a. 3)

Friday, March 15, 2019