The Stations of the Cross
This Devotion arose first in Jerusalem among the Christians who dwelt there out of veneration for those sacred spots which were sanctified by the sufferings of our Divine Redeemer. From the Holy City, this devout exercise was introduced into Europe. When, in 1342, the Franciscan Fathers established their house in Jerusalem, and undertook the custody of the sacred places of the Holy Land, they began to spread throughout the Catholic world the devotion of the Way of the Cross.
This excellent devotion has been repeatedly approved by the Holy See, and is enriched with many Indulgences; to gain them, it is necessary to meditate, according to one's ability, on the Passion and Death of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to go from one Station to another, if the space and number of persons will admit.
This excellent devotion has been repeatedly approved by the Holy See, and is enriched with many Indulgences; to gain them, it is necessary to meditate, according to one's ability, on the Passion and Death of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to go from one Station to another, if the space and number of persons will admit.
Method of Practicing this Exercise
Composed by St Alphonsus Liguori
Composed by St Alphonsus Liguori
Let each one make an act of contrition, and form the intention of gaining the Indulgences, whether for himself or for the souls in Purgatory.
Act of Contrition: O my God, I am heartly sorry for having offended thee; and I detest all of my sins, because I dread the loss of heaven and the pains of hell, but most of all because they offend thee, my God, Who art all good and deseving of all my love. I firmly resolve with the help of Thy grace to confess my sins, to do penance, and to amend my life. Amen
Act of Contrition: O my God, I am heartly sorry for having offended thee; and I detest all of my sins, because I dread the loss of heaven and the pains of hell, but most of all because they offend thee, my God, Who art all good and deseving of all my love. I firmly resolve with the help of Thy grace to confess my sins, to do penance, and to amend my life. Amen
Preparatory Prayer
My Lord Jesus Christ, Thou hast made this journey to die for me with love unutterable, and I have so many times unworthily abandoned Thee; but now I love Thee with my whole heart, and because I love Thee, I repent sincerely for ever having offended Thee. Pardon me, my God, and permit me to accompany Thee on this journey. Thou goest to die for love of me; I wish also, my beloved Redeemer, to die for love of Thee. My Jesus, I will live and die always united to Thee.
At the Cross her station keeping,
Stood the mournful Mother weeping,
Close to Jesus to the last.
THE FIRST STATIONJESUS IS CONDEMNED TO DEATH
V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee.
R. 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.
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.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be to the Father, etc.
Through her heart, His sorrow sharing,
All His bitter anguish bearing,
Now at length the sword had passed!
THE SECOND STATIONJESUS CARRIES HIS CROSS
V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee.
R. Because by Thy holy Cross, Thou hast 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.
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 my love; 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.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be to the Father, etc.
Oh, how sad and sore distressed,
Was that Mother highly blessed,
Of the sole-begotten One,
THE THIRD STATION:JESUS FALLS THE FIRST TIME
V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee.
R. 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.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be to the Father, etc.
Christ above in torment hangs,
She beneath beholds the pangs
Of her dying, glorious Son.
THE FOURTH STATIONJESUS MEETS HIS SORROWFUL MOTHER
V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee.
R. 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 beloved 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 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, etc.
Is there one who would not weep,
Whelmed in miseries so deep,
Christ's dear Mother to behold?
THE FIFTH STATION: SIMON HELPS JESUS TO CARRY THE CROSS
V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee.
R. 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 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, etc.
Can the human heart refrain
From partaking in her pain
In that Mother's pain untold?
THE SIXTH STATION: VERONICA WIPES THE FACE OF JESUS
V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee.
R. Because by Thy holy Cross, Thou hast redeemed the world.
Consider how the holy woman named Veronica, seeing Jesus so afflicted, and His face bathed in sweat and blood, presented Him with a towel, with which He wiped His adorable face, leaving on it the impression of His holy countenance.
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 since by my sins; Thou alone, my Redeemer, canst restore it to its former beauty. Do this by Thy Passion, O Jesus. 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.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be to the Father, etc.
Bruised, derided, cursed, defiled,
She beheld her tender Child,
All with bloody scourges rent.
THE SEVENTH STATIONJESUS FALLS THE SECOND TIME
V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee.
R. Because by Thy holy Cross, Thou hast 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 Thou hast pardoned me, and how many times have I fallen again, and begun again to offend Thee! Oh, by the merits of this new fall, give me the necessary help 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 my love; 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.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be to the Father, etc.
For the sins of His own nation
Saw Him hang in desolation
Till His spirit forth He sent.
THE EIGHTH STATIONTHE WOMEN OF JERUSALEM WEEP OVER JESUS
V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee.
R. Because by Thy holy Cross, Thou hast redeemed the world.
Consider how those women wept with compassion at seeing Jesus in such a pitiable 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 offences I have committed against Thee, because of the pains they have deserved, and still more because of the displeasure they have caused Thee, who hast loved me so much. It is Thy love, more than the fear of hell, which causes me to weep for my sins. My Jesus, I love Thee more than myself; 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.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be to the Father, etc.
Oh thou Mother! Font of love,
Touch my spirit from above,
Make my heart with thine accord.
THE NINTH STATIONJESUS FALLS THE THIRD TIME
V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee.
R. Because by Thy holy Cross, Thou hast redeemed the world.
Consider the third fall of Jesus Christ. His weakness was extreme, and the cruelty of His executioners was excessive, who tried to hasten His steps when He had scarcely strength to move.
Ah, my outraged Jesus, by the merits of the weakness Thou didst suffer in going to Calvary, give me strength sufficient to conquer all human respect, and all my wicked passions, which have led me to despise Thy friendship. I love Thee, Jesus my love, 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.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be to the Father, etc.
Make me feel as Thou hast felt;
Make my soul to glow and melt
With the love of Christ, my Lord.
THE TENTH STATIONJESUS IS STRIPPED OF HIS GARMENTS
V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee.
R. Because by Thy holy Cross, Thou hast 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 Savior thus cruelly treated, and say to Him:
My innocent Jesus, by the merits of the torment Thou hast felt, help me to strip myself of all affection to things of earth, in order that I may place all my love in Thee, who art so worthy of my love. I love Thee, O 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.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be to the Father, etc.
Holy Mother! pierce me through,
In my heart each wound renew
Of my Saviour crucified.
THE ELEVENTH STATIONJESUS IS NAILED TO THE CROSS
V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee.
R. Because by Thy holy Cross, Thou hast redeemed the world.
Consider how 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, allowed Him to die with anguish on this infamous gibbet.
My Jesus! loaded with contempt, nail my heart to Thy feet, that it may ever remain there, to love Thee, and never quit Thee again. I love Thee more than myself; 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.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be to the Father, etc.
Let me share with thee His pain,
Who for all my sins was slain,
Who for me in torments died.
THE TWELFTH STATIONJESUS DIES ON THE CROSS
V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee.
R. Because by Thy holy Cross, Thou hast redeemed the world.
Consider how thy Jesus, after three hours' agony on the Cross, consumed at length with anguish, abandoned Himself to the weight of His body, bows His head, and dies.
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. Ah, by the merits of Thy death, give me grace to die, embracing Thy feet, and burning with love for Thee. I commit my soul into Thy hands. I love Thee with my whole heart; I repent of ever 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, etc.
Let me mingle tears with thee,
Mourning Him Who mourned for me,
All the days that I may live.
THE THIRTEENTH STATIONJESUS IS TAKEN DOWN FROM THE CROSS
V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee.
R. Because by Thy holy Cross, Thou hast 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 thy servant, and pray to Him for me. And Thou, my Redeemer, since Thou hast died for me, permit me to love Thee; for I wish but Thee, and nothing more. I love Thee, my Jesus, and I repent of ever 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, etc.
By the cross with thee to stay;
There with thee to weep and pray,
Is all I ask of thee to give.
THE FOURTEENTH STATIONJESUS IS LAID IN THE SEPULCHRE
V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee.
R. Because by Thy holy Cross, Thou hast 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 sepulchre with her own hands. They then closed the tomb, and all withdrew.
Ah, my buried Jesus, I kiss the stone that encloses Thee. But Thou didst rise again the third day. I beseech Thee, by Thy Resurrection, make me rise glorious with Thee at the last day, to be always united with Thee in heaven, to praise Thee and love Thee forever. I love Thee, and I repent of ever 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, etc.
Virgin of all virgins blest!
Listen to my fond request;
Let me share thy grief divine.
After this, say the Our Father, the Hail Mary and the Glory be to the Father five times, in honor of the Passion of Jesus Christ, to gain the other Indulgences granted to those who recite them.
The intentions of the Pope are:
1. The exaltation of the Church
2. The propagation of the faith.
3. The extirpation of heresy
4. The conversion of sinners
5. Concord between Christian princes
6. All other goods of the Christian people.
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