The Way of the Cross

Preparatory Prayer

    O Lord at this time I want to think of your journey to Calvary.  You went along this way out of obedience to the Father and out of love for me.  You took upon yourself the heavy cross to atone for my sins and to redeem the world.  In these thoughts on your passion let me be grateful for so great a love.  Mary Mother of Sorrows, accompany me along this way. 

The Stations

The First Station:                         Jesus is condemned to death

Your will, O God is supreme. 
May my one great purpose be to seek it and to follow it.

Again the high priest began to ask him, and said to him, "Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?"  And Jesus said to him, "I am and you shall see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power and coming with the clouds of heaven."  But the high priest tore his garments and said, "What further need have we of witnesses? You have heard the blasphemy, What do you think?"  And they all condemned him as liable to death.
Mar 14:61-64

The Second Station:                       Jesus receives the Cross

Grant, O Devine Savior, that I may faithfully fulfill every duty for love of you.

And Pilate said to the Jews, "Behold, your King!"  But they cried out, "Away with him!  Away with him! Crucify him!"  Pilate said to them, "Shall I crucify your king?"  The chief priests answered, "We have no king except Caesar."  Then he handed him over to them to be crucified.  And so they took Jesus and led him away, bearing the cross for himself.
John 19:14-17

The Third Station:           Jesus Falls the First Time Under the Cross

How many times, O Lord, have I been faithless through sin to you?

If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before you.  If you were of the world, the world would love what is its own.  Because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.  Remember the word that I have spoken to you: No servant is greater than his master.  If they have persecuted me, they will persecute you also.
John 15:18-20

                       The Fourth Station:                       Jesus is Met by His Blessed Mother

Mary, My Mother, intercede for me with your Divine Son.

Now there were standing by the cross of Jesus his mother and his mother's sister, Mary of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene.  When Jesus, therefore, saw his mother and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he said to his mother, "Woman, behold, your son."  Then he said to the disciple, "Behold your mother."  And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.
John 19:25-27

 

The Fifth Station:                       The Cross Is Laid Upon Simon of Cyrene

Every time I put temptation aside and resist sin,
I help you Jesus to carry your cross.

And when they had mocked Jesus, they took the purple cloak off and put his own clothes on him. and they led him out to be crucified.  Then they forced a certain passer-by, Simon of Cyrene, coming from the country, to take up his cross.  They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha, a name meaning the place of the cross.
Mark 15: 20-22

The Sixth Station:                             Veronica Wipes the Face of Jesus

Your suffering was for me. 
I will not desert you, but always defend you.

"Lord, when did we see you hungry, and feed you; or thirsty, and give you to drink?  And when did we see you a stranger, and take you in, or naked, and clothe you?"  And answering the king will say to them, "Amen, I say to you, as long as you did it for one of these, the least of my brethren, you did it for me."
Matthew 25: 37-40

 

The Seventh Station:                              Jesus Falls the Second Time

Forgive me, O merciful Lord, my many, my repeated sins.

It was our weaknesses that he carried, our sufferings that he endured, while we thought of him as stricken, as one struck by God and afflicted.  But he was pierced for our offenses, crushed for out sins; upon him was the punishment that makes us whole, by his stripes we were healed.  We had all gone astray like sheep, each following his own way; but the Lord laid upon him the guilt of us all.
Isaiah 55:4-6

The Eighth Station:                      Jesus Speaks to the Women of Jerusalem

Your words of mercy and pardon
give me fresh hope and confidence.

There was following Jesus a great crowd of people, and among them were some women who were bewailing and lamenting him.  Jesus turning to them said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children."
Luke 25:27-28

The Ninth Station:                                   Jesus Falls the Third Time

May my sins never discourage me,
but lead me to seek more and more of your help

I lie prostrate in the dust; give me life according to your word.  I declared my ways, and you answered me; teach me your commands.  Make me understand the way of your precepts, and I will meditate on your wondrous deeds.  My soul weeps for sorrow; strengthen me with your words.
Psalms 118:25-28

 

The Tenth Station:                            Jesus is Stripped of His Garments

I will be your valiant follower. 
May my conduct never shame you before men.

They gave Jesus wine to drink mixed with gall; but when he had tasted it, he would not drink.  Then after they had crucified him, they divided his clothes, casting lots, to fulfill  what was spoken through the prophet, "They divided my clothes among them, and upon my garments they cast lots."
Matthew 27j: 34-35

The Eleventh Station:                             Jesus is Nailed to the Cross

Your commands mean that I should conquer every unholy desire. 
I will conquer in your name.

When they came to Golgotha, the place called the Skull, they crucified Jesus and the robbers, one on his right and the other on his left.  And Jesus said, "Father forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing."
Luke 23:33-34 ; John 19: 18

The Twelfth Station:                                  Jesus Dies on the Cross

When my hour comes, may I die bravely, dear Jesus for you.

It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.  And the sun was darkened, and the curtain of the temple was torn in the middle.  Jesus cried out with a loud voice and said, "It is finished.  Father into your hands I commend my spirit."  Then bowing his head, he died. 
Luke 25:44-46 and John 19:30

The Thirteenth Station:                Jesus is Taken Down From the Cross

Wherever I am, you, O Lord,
will be my true, though unseen companion.

When the soldiers came to Jesus, they saw that he was already dead so that they did not break his legs, but one of them opened his side with a lance, and immediately there came out blood and water.  Joseph of Arimathea, because he was a disciple of Jesus (although a secret one for fear of the Jews). besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus.  And Pilate gave permission.
John 19:33-34, 38

The Fourteenth Station,              Jesus is Laid in the Sepulcher

You, my eternal God, will I always serve. 
With you I lie and with you when I die.

Joseph of Arimathea took the body of Jesus, and wrapping it in a clean linen cloth he laid it in his new tomb, which he had hewn out of rock.  Then he rolled a large stone against the entrance of the tomb and departed.
Matthew 27:59-60

Taken from Favorite Novenas and Prayers
compiled and edited by Norma Cronin Cassidy
(c) Paulist Press 1972

 

Pictures are from the Grotto of Lourdes, Emittsburg, Md.
taken by Gordy and Joanne Fish on a recent visit.