The Stations of the Cross
Act of Contrition
O my God, I am sorry and beg pardon for all my sins, and detest them above all things, because they have crucified my loving Savior Jesus Christ, and, most of all, because they offend your infinite goodness; and I firmly resolve, by the help of your grace, never to offend you again, and carefully to avoid the occasions of sin. 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 having ever offended You. Pardon me, my God, and permit me to accompany You on this journey. You go to die for love of me; I wish also, my beloved Redeemer, to die for love of You. My Jesus, I will live and die always united to You.
First Station
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.
PRAY
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 for 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.
Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on us. Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us now and at the hour of our death. Amen. Dear Jesus, by the merits of your passion and cross, we present to you all our petitions.
Leader - Jesus Christ Crucified.
All - Have mercy on Us.
Leader - May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, Rest in peace.
All - Amen.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be... Second Station
Jesus Carries His Heavy Cross.
We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee. 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 for us offered to His Father the death that He was about to undergo.
PRAY
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 did suffer 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 the I may love You always; and then do with me what You will.
Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on us. Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us now and at the hour of our death. Amen. Dear Jesus, by the merits of your passion and cross, we present to you all our petitions.
Leader - Jesus Christ Crucified.
All - Have mercy on Us.
Leader - May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, Rest in peace.
All - Amen.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be... Third Station
Jesus Falls the First Time.
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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.
PRAY
My beloved Jesus, it is not the weight of the Cross, but my sins, which have 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.
Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on us. Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us now and at the hour of our death. Amen. Dear Jesus, by the merits of your passion and cross, we present to you all our petitions.
Leader - Jesus Christ Crucified.
All - Have mercy on Us.
Leader - May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, Rest in peace.
All - Amen.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be... Fourth Station
Jesus Meets His Sorrowful Mother.
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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.
PRAY
My most loving Jesus, by the sorrow You did experience in this meeting, grant me the grace of a truly devoted love for Your most holy Mother. And you my Queen, who was overwhelmed with sorrow, obtain for me by your intercession a continual and tender remembrance of the Passion of your Son. I love You, Jesus my love; 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.
Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on us. Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us now and at the hour of our death. Amen. Dear Jesus, by the merits of your passion and cross, we present to you all our petitions.
Leader - Jesus Christ Crucified.
All - Have mercy on Us.
Leader - May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, Rest in peace.
All - Amen.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be Fifth Station
Simon Helps Jesus to Carry the Cross .
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We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee. Because by Thy Holy Cross, Thou hast redeemed the world.
Consider how the soldiers, 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 of Cyrene to carry the Cross behind our Lord.
PRAY
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 You have destined for me; with all the pains that 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.
Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on us. Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us now and at the hour of our death. Amen. Dear Jesus, by the merits of your passion and cross, we present to you all our petitions.
Leader - Jesus Christ Crucified.
All - Have mercy on Us.
Leader - May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, Rest in peace.
All - Amen.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be... Sixth Station
Veronica Wipes the Face of Jesus.
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We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee. 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.
PRAY
My most beloved Jesus, Your 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 Your grace in Baptism; but I have disfigured it since by my sins; You alone, my Redeemer, can restore it to its former beauty. Do this by Your Passion; O Jesus. 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.
Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on us. Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us now and at the hour of our death. Amen. Dear Jesus, by the merits of your passion and cross, we present to you all our petitions.
Leader - Jesus Christ Crucified.
All - Have mercy on Us.
Leader - May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, Rest in peace.
All - Amen.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be... Seventh Station
Jesus Falls the Second Time.
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We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee. 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.
PRAY
My most gentle Jesus, how many times You have pardoned me, and how many times I have fallen again, and begun again to offend You! Oh, by the merits of this new fall, give me the necessary help 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.
Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on us. Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us now and at the hour of our death. Amen. Dear Jesus, by the merits of your passion and cross, we present to you all our petitions.
Leader - Jesus Christ Crucified.
All - Have mercy on Us.
Leader - May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, Rest in peace.
All - Amen.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be... Eighth Station
The Women of Jerusalem Weep Over Jesus.
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We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee. Because by Thy Holy Cross, Thou hast redeemed the world.
Consider how these 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 yourselves and for your children."
PRAY
My Jesus, laden with sorrows, I weep for the offenses I have committed against You, because of the pains they have deserved, and still more because of the displeasure they have caused You, who has 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.
Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on us. Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us now and at the hour of our death. Amen. Dear Jesus, by the merits of your passion and cross, we present to you all our petitions.
Leader - Jesus Christ Crucified.
All - Have mercy on Us.
Leader - May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, Rest in peace.
All - Amen.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be... Ninth Station
Jesus Falls the Third Time.
We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee. 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 excessive, who tried to hasten His steps when He
had scarcely the strength to move.
PRAY
Ah, my outraged Jesus, by the merits of the weakness You did 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 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.
Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on us. Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us now and at the hour of our death. Amen. Dear Jesus, by the merits of your passion and cross, we present to you all our petitions.
Leader - Jesus Christ Crucified.
All - Have mercy on Us.
Leader - May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, Rest in peace.
All - Amen.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be... Tenth Station
Jesus is Stripped of His Garments
We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee. 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. Have compassion on your Saviour thus cruelly treated.
PRAY
My innocent Jesus, by the merits of the torment 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.
Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on us. Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us now and at the hour of our death. Amen. Dear Jesus, by the merits of your passion and cross, we present to you all our petitions.
Leader - Jesus Christ Crucified.
All - Have mercy on Us.
Leader - May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, Rest in peace.
All - Amen.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be... Eleventh Station
Jesus is Nailed to the Cross
We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee. 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 death for our salvation. These barbarians fastened Him with nails, and then, raising the Cross, allowed Him to die with anguish on this infamous gibbet.
PRAY
My Jesus! loaded down by our 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.
Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on us. Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us now and at the hour of our death. Amen. Dear Jesus, by the merits of your passion and cross, we present to you all our petitions.
Leader - Jesus Christ Crucified.
All - Have mercy on Us.
Leader - May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, Rest in peace.
All - Amen.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be... Twelfth Station
Jesus is Raised Up On the Cross and Dies
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We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee. Because by Thy Holy Cross, Thou hast redeemed the world.
Consider how your Jesus, after three hours' Agony on the Cross, consumed at length with anguish, abandoned Himself to the weight of His body, bowed His head, and died.
PRAY
O My Jesus, I kiss devoutly the Cross on which You did die 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 for You. I yield 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.
Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on us. Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us now and at the hour of our death. Amen. Dear Jesus, by the merits of your passion and cross, we present to you all our petitions.
Leader - Jesus Christ Crucified.
All - Have mercy on Us.
Leader - May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, Rest in peace.
All - Amen.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be... Thirteenth Station
Jesus is Taken Down From the Cross
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We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee. 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 heart.
PRAY
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, 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.
Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on us. Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us now and at the hour of our death. Amen. Dear Jesus, by the merits of your passion and cross, we present to you all our petitions.
Leader - Jesus Christ Crucified.
All - Have mercy on Us.
Leader - May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, Rest in peace.
All - Amen.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be... Fourteenth Station
Jesus is Laid in the Tomb
We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee. 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 tomb with her own hands. They then closed the tomb, and all drew sorrowfully away.
PRAY
Oh, my buried Jesus, I kiss the stone that encloses You. But You did rise 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 always; and then do with me what You will.
Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on us. Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us now and at the hour of our death. Amen. Dear Jesus, by the merits of your passion and cross, we present to you all our petitions.
Leader - Jesus Christ Crucified.
All - Have mercy on Us.
Leader - May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, Rest in peace.
All - Amen.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be... Closing Prayer
My Jesus, I have traveled Your Way of the cross. It seems so real and I feel so ashamed. I complain of my sufferings and find obedience to the Father's Will difficult. My Mind bogged down by the poverty, sickness, starvation, greed and hatred in the world. There are many innocent people who suffer so unjustly. There are those born with physical and mental defects. Do we understand that You continue to carry Your cross in the minds and bodies of each human being?
Help me to see the Father's Will in every incident of my daily life. This is what You did, you saw the Father's Will in Your persecutors, Your enemies and your pain.
You saw a beauty in the Cross and embraced it as a desired treasure. My worldly mind is dulled by injustice and suffering and I lose sight of the glory that is to come. Help me to trust the Father and to realize that there is something great behind the most insignificant suffering. There is Someone lifting my cross to fit my shoulders - there is Divine Wisdom in all the petty annoyances that irk my soul every day.
Teach me the lessons contained in my Cross, the wisdom of its necessity, the beauty of its variety and the fortitude that accompanies even the smallest cross.
Mary, My Mother, obtain for me the grace to be Jesus to my neighbor and to see my neighbor in Jesus.
Amen.
( Images © Copyright 2005 - Libreria Editrice Vaticana ) 
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