The Way of the Cross
Stations
The way of the cross
IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, AND OF THE SON,
AND OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. Amen.
P. Christ, for our sakes, became obedient unto death.
R. Even the death of the cross.
P. By His own blood He entered once into the Holy Place
R. Having obtained eternal redemption for us.
P. O Saviour of the world, who by Thy cross and Passion hast redeemed us,
R. Save and help us, we humbly beseech Thee, O Lord.
P. The Lord be with you.
R. And with thy spirit.
Let us pray.
O BLESSED LORD JESUS, who for the redemption of the world didst walk the way of the Cross and bore in Thy sinless self the sins of the many; Grant that we, following in Thy footsteps, may obtain increase of Thy love, and walk all the days of our life in Thy paths; who now livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Spirit, ever one God, world without end. Amen.
Enroute to each station there may be sung this hymn, or verses from the Stabat Mater or Pange Lingua
Now let hearts be filled with wonder
As the Holy Way we trace,
Which our Savior trod before us
Who is first of all our race
That in gaining our salvation
He might blot out our disgrace
I. JESUS is Condemned to Death
P. WE ADORE THEE, O CHRIST, AND WE BLESS THEE:
R. BECAUSE BY THY CROSS THOU HAST REDEEMED THE WORLD.
Behold the Lord of justice standing before the judgment seat. Pilate washes his hands; the rulers of Judea take His blood upon their heads and on their children.
P. HOLY GOD, HOLY MIGHTY, HOLY IMMORTAL,
R. HAVE MERCY UPON US.
P. HE SPARED NOT HIS OWN SON,
R. BUT DELIVERED HIM UP FOR ALL OF US.
Let us pray.
O BLESSED LORD JESUS, condemned to death for our sins: Grant us true repentance, that, being washed in that stream which flows from Calvary through the Sacraments of thy Holy Church to the end of time, we may evermore serve Thee with pure hearts and minds; who now livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.
See how Pilate makes ablution
As the crowd shouts “Crucify!”
Who in cowardly surrender
Owning Caesar, Christ deny
Thus condemning Him their Maker
On a shameful Cross to die.
II. JESUS Receives the Cross
P. WE ADORE THEE, O CHRIST, AND WE BLESS THEE:
R. BECAUSE BY THY CROSS THOU HAST REDEEMED THE WORLD.
Behold the Lord in whom all things subsist, who led His people out of Egypt and into the land of milk and honey, now led off to death, carrying the instrument of His condemnation.
P. HOLY GOD, HOLY MIGHTY, HOLY IMMORTAL,
R. HAVE MERCY UPON US.
P. THE LORD HATH LAID ON HIM THE INIQUITY OF US ALL.
R. FOR THE WICKEDNESS OF MY PEOPLE HE HATH STRICKEN HIM.
Let us pray.
O BLESSED LORD JESUS, who hast taught us to pray, Thy will be done, and who hast said, Except ye take your Cross and follow Me, ye have no part in Me: Grant us by Thy grace cheerfully so to bear the slights and discouragements, the frustrations and temptations of the daily round with patience and humility, that we may be made one with Thee who bore Thy Cross for us, and who now livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.
See Him shoulder now that burden
Bending ‘neath the accursed tree,
Awesome lesson now providing
How at one with Him to be.
We must take our cross and follow
In the selfsame path as He.
III. JESUS Falls the First Time
P. WE ADORE THEE, O CHRIST, AND WE BLESS THEE:
R. BECAUSE BY THY CROSS THOU HAST REDEEMED THE WORLD.
Behold the Lord by whom all things were made. He falls in the dust. His agony and bloody sweat, the rigors of His final trial, the mocking and the scourging now take their toll.
P. HOLY GOD, HOLY MIGHTY, HOLY IMMORTAL,
R. HAVE MERCY UPON US.
P. SURELY HE HATH BORNE OUR GRIEFS,
R. AND CARRIED OUR SORROWS.
Let us pray.
O BLESSED LORD JESUS, accept our humble thanks for that thou didst bear the full weight and pay the price of sin, that we might have its full weight lifted from our soul, who would be weighed down indeed and lost forever but for Thee and thine abiding grace; who now livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy
Spirit, ever one God, world without end. Amen.
He who lifts our fallen nature
Low now falls amidst the din;
Bearing more than cross His burden
Grievous load of all our sin,
Deeper far more sharply cutting
Is the weight He bears within.
IV. JESUS Meets His Holy Mother
P. WE ADORE THEE, O CHRIST, AND WE BLESS THEE:
R. BECAUSE BY THY CROSS THOU HAST REDEEMED THE WORLD.
Behold the handmaid of the Lord together with her Son. The ancient Simeon’s word to her is now fulfilled: A sword shall pierce thine own soul also.
P. HOLY GOD, HOLY MIGHTY, HOLY IMMORTAL,
R. HAVE MERCY UPON US.
P. YEA, A SWORD SHALL PIERCE THINE OWN SOUL ALSO,
R. THAT THE THOUGHTS OF MANY HEARTS SHALL BE
REVEALED.
Let us pray.
O BLESSED LORD JESUS, at whose Presentation in the Temple the aged Simeon prophesied the piercing of the compassionate heart of the blessed Virgin Mary: Grant that we may be aided by her deep devotion and lifted by her prayers before Thee: who now livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Spirit, ever one God, world without end. Amen.
See we now His holy Mother
Gazing on her Son, once fair
Who, with sweat and blood now covered
Thorny crown doth patient wear,
See fulfilled the early warning –
As her soul is piercéd there.
V. The Cross Is Laid on Saint Simon of Cyrene
P. WE ADORE THEE, O CHRIST, AND WE BLESS THEE:
R. BECAUSE BY THY CROSS THOU HAST REDEEMED THE WORLD.
Behold the Lord who holds the whole world in the hollow of His hand, now upheld by Simon, who was standing in the crowd, and whom soldiers pressed into service; who from his sharing in the Passion of our Lord became a Saint of the Holy Church.
P. HOLY GOD, HOLY MIGHTY, HOLY IMMORTAL,
R. HAVE MERCY UPON US.
P. WHOSOEVER DOTH NOT BEAR HIS CROSS, AND COME AFTER ME,
R. CANNOT BE MY DISCIPLE.
Let us pray.
O BLESSED LORD JESUS, who hast taught us to take up our cross and follow Thee; Grant us to grow through every burden of the daily round, that we may share our cross with Thee, who shared Thy Cross with blessed Simon; and who now livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Spirit, ever one God, world without end. Amen.
See how Simon, pressed to service
By the Roman soldiery,
Bears His cross and finds his master.
So by grace of God, may we,
Bearing all our load with patience –
Find it even as did he.
VI. Saint Veronica Wipes the Face of Jesus
P. WE ADORE THEE, O CHRIST, AND WE BLESS THEE:
R. BECAUSE BY THY CROSS THOU HAST REDEEMED THE WORLD.
Behold the Lord of beauty. Saint Veronica, who loves Him much, runs to cleanse His face; to whom the Church has given as a name her deed itself: veron ika, very image of the Lord, which legend says He left upon her cleansing cloth.
P. HOLY GOD, HOLY MIGHTY, HOLY IMMORTAL,
R. HAVE MERCY UPON US.
P. HIDE NOT THY FACE FAR FROM ME,
R. PUT NOT THY SERVANT AWAY IN ANGER.
Let us pray.
O BLESSED LORD JESUS, who hast taught us that inasmuch as we have been merciful to one of the least of Thy brethren, we have been so unto Thee; Grant us grace to be sensitive to the need of friend and foe alike; that like as the blessed Veronica found Thine image on the cloth which mercy gave, so may we bear imprinted upon our hearts the image of Thy love, who now livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Spirit, ever one God, world without end. Amen.
See we how the thoughtful maiden
Who His holy face did lave,
Finds His image firm imprinted
On the cloth which mercy gave,
So do acts of kindness ever
Jesus’ likeness deep engrave.
VII. JESUS Falls the Second Time
P. WE ADORE THEE, O CHRIST, AND WE BLESS THEE:
R. BECAUSE BY THY CROSS THOU HAST REDEEMED THE WORLD.
Behold the Lord of heaven fallen to the earth again, its burdens on His shoulders. The Cross becomes the outward sign of all our sins, and sin’s intolerable weight.
P. HOLY GOD, HOLY MIGHTY, HOLY IMMORTAL,
R. HAVE MERCY UPON US.
P. BUT I AM A WORM AND NO MAN,
R. THE REPROACH OF MEN, AND DESPISED OF THE PEOPLE.
Let us pray.
O BLESSED LORD JESUS, who didst walk the lonely road of life to death itself that man might need never to be alone again; Help all who stumble in blindness of heart, searchings of mind, and loneliness of soul, that they may come to know Thee who art the light of the world, and who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Spirit, ever one God, world without end. Amen.
Now we to the Father offer
All who suffer grievous pain,
As we contemplate how Jesus
Sorely laden falls again,
While His bruised and bleeding body
Purples earth with sacred stain.
VIII. JESUS Meets the Women of Jerusalem
P. WE ADORE THEE, O CHRIST, AND WE BLESS THEE:
R. BECAUSE BY THY CROSS THOU HAST REDEEMED THE WORLD.
Behold the Lord whom prophets long foretold; There follows Him a great company of disciples, of women which also bewail and lament Him to whom He prophesies: Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children: If they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?
P. HOLY GOD, HOLY MIGHTY, HOLY IMMORTAL,
R. HAVE MERCY UPON US.
P. THEY THAT SOW IN TEARS,
R. SHALL REAP IN JOY.
Let us pray.
O BLESSED LORD JESUS, who hast taught us to lay up for ourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break not through nor steal: Grant, that as we walk through the midst of this crumbling world, our hearts may be stayed on Thee who art the goal of all our striving and the answer to our restlessness; who now livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Spirit, ever one God, world without end. Amen.
Lo, the women loudly wailing,
Hear Messiah prophesy,
Woeful tidings unto Salem,
Who sent forth her King to die.
King eternal, may He show us,
Where our joy and true peace lie.
IX. JESUS Falls a Third Time
P. WE ADORE THEE, O CHRIST, AND WE BLESS THEE:
R. BECAUSE BY THY CROSS THOU HAST REDEEMED THE WORLD.
Behold the Lord, who, when He has been lifted up, will draw all men unto Him, now falls a third and painful time.
P. HOLY GOD, HOLY MIGHTY, HOLY IMMORTAL,
R. HAVE MERCY UPON US.
P. HE IS BROUGHT AS A SHEEP TO THE SLAUGHTER, R. AND WAS MUTE AS A LAMB BEFORE THE SHEARER.
Let us pray.
O BLESSED LORD JESUS, by the merits of this Thy holy Cross strengthen me, that I may never fall into grievous, willful sin; and should I, through carelessness or ignorance offend Thee, grant that I may quickly turn to Thee with contrite heart, honest confession, and full purpose of amendment, to conquer all that ought not be in me; through Thy grace, who now livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Spirit, ever one God, world without end. Amen.
May the third, the fall most painful
On the stony path and steep,
That our sins may be remitted,
Stir in us contrition deep:
Fill us with a firm desire,
His most holy will to keep.
X. JESUS Is Stripped of His Garments
P. WE ADORE THEE, O CHRIST, AND WE BLESS THEE:
R. BECAUSE BY THY CROSS THOU HAST REDEEMED THE WORLD.
Behold the Lord who clothed the world in beauty, who now submits, for love of man, to all man’s hatred. He is stripped of His clothing and prepared for the Cross.
P. HOLY GOD, HOLY MIGHTY, HOLY IMMORTAL,
R. HAVE MERCY UPON US.
P. THEY GAVE ME ALSO GALL FOR MY MEAT:
R. AND IN MY THIRST THEY GAVE ME VINEGAR TO DRINK.
Let us pray.
O BLESSED LORD JESUS, now prepared for the gallows tree; Help us to strip off all false pride and to be clothed with sincerity of heart: Let love rule in our hearts and fill them so that no room remains for anger; let us rejoice in the success of others, and pray for them in their shortcomings, that we have no room for the cloak of envy; for lust, give us singleness of purpose; that all our desires may be lived in the pure crucible of this Thy holy sacrifice; Grant us for greed a love of holy poverty; for sloth a holy industry; for gluttony a wholesome discipline; that resisting all temptations of the world, the flesh, and the devil, we may live in faith, through hope, with love by Thee, who now livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.
See how Christ our Lord most holy,
In his great humility,
Jeers and mockery enduring,
Hath the greater dignity;
May he strip off our pretensions
That ennobled we may be.
XI. JESUS Is Nailed to the Cross
P. WE ADORE THEE, O CHRIST, AND WE BLESS THEE:
R. BECAUSE BY THY CROSS THOU HAST REDEEMED THE WORLD.
Behold the Lord of love! The soldiers nail Him to the Cross; He praying to the Father for them, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
P. HOLY GOD, HOLY MIGHTY, HOLY IMMORTAL,
R. HAVE MERCY UPON US.
P. THEY PIERCED MY HANDS AND MY FEET,
R. I MAY TELL ALL MY BONES: THEY STAND AND STARE UPON ME.
Let us pray.
O BLESSED LORD JESUS, stretching out Thine arms to the nails and praying for the nailers: May the light of Thy holy Gospel and the hearing of Thy sacramental grace reach out yet more and more ‘til all mankind shall nail its sins to the Cross for love of Thee; who now livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Spirit, ever one God, world without end. Amen.
See we how He prays forgiveness
While the multitude doth rail,
As with brutal blows and heavy
Hammer strokes are plied on nail,
May we all our sin and rancor
On that standard now impale.
XII. JESUS Dies on the Cross
P. WE ADORE THEE, O CHRIST, AND WE BLESS THEE:
R. BECAUSE BY THY CROSS THOU HAST REDEEMED THE WORLD.
Behold the Lord of life and glory saying, “It is finished – Father, into Thy hands I commend My spirit.” The saving Victim is become the mighty Victor. Sin, Satan, and death are defeated. There is darkness over all the earth; the rocks are rent; the graves are open; the Veil of the Temple is torn in twain.
P. HOLY GOD, HOLY MIGHTY, HOLY IMMORTAL,
R. HAVE MERCY UPON US.
P. CHRIST BECAME OBEDIENT UNTO DEATH.
R. EVEN THE DEA TH OF THE CROSS.
Let us pray.
O BLESSED LORD JESUS, whose sacred side was pierced that blood and water flowing out therefrom might reveal Thy death was by a broken heart: Accept the lowly offering of my heart’s love; and grant that dying unto self I may live only unto Thee, who died for me and now livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.
Love and thanks and praise address we
As with gaze contemplative,
See we now where Christ our Saviour
Hung and died that we might live,
And with lowly adoration
All our hearts’ best off’ring give.
XIII. The Body of JESUS Is Taken Down From the Cross
P. WE ADORE THEE, O CHRIST, AND WE BLESS THEE:
R. BECAUSE BY THY CROSS THOU HAST REDEEMED THE WORLD.
Behold the handmaid of the Lord, receiving into her hands the body of her Son, our Lord, His life work finished, His soul released, His victory won amidst defeat.
P. HOLY GOD, HOLY MIGHTY, HOLY IMMORTAL,
R. HAVE MERCY UPON US.
P. HER TEARS ARE ON HER CHEEKS.
R. SHE HA TH NONE TO COMFORT HER.
Let us pray.
O BLESSED LORD JESUS, by the merits of Thy precious death and burial; Grant that all who mourn for the loss of loved ones may know the help of her prayers whose arms received Thy sacred Body; May the sure and certain hope of the Resurrection be unto them a strong staff with which to walk the paths ahead, guided by Thy light, who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.
Lo, her own soul sorely riven
With compassion’s piercing sword,
Mary now receives the body
Of God’s only Son, our Lord,
Jesus, whom the world rejected,
Evermore by hosts adored.
XIV. The Body of JESUS Is Laid in the Tomb
P. WE ADORE THEE, O CHRIST, AND WE BLESS THEE:
R. BECAUSE BY THY CROSS THOU HAST REDEEMED THE WORLD.
Behold the Body of our Lord laid in Joseph's tomb: the penalty of Adam paid; the seed which, except it be sown, abides alone; now awaiting Resurrection and a harvest of the souls of men for ages yet untold.
P. HOLY GOD, HOLY MIGHTY, HOLY IMMORTAL,
R. HAVE MERCY UPON US.
P. THOU WILT NOT LEAVE MY SOUL IN HELL,
R. NOR WILT THOU SUFFER THY HOLY ONE TO SEE CORRUPTION.
Let us pray.
O BLESSED LORD JESUS, who, whilst Thy sacred Body was at rest on the Sabbath didst in nether realms establish Thy reign and preach to the souls departed: Grant that naught on either side of the grave may ever separate us from Thy love, who, having harrowed hell and brought captivity captive, now livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Spirit, ever one God, world without end. Amen.
See we now our Savior’s body
Borne in sadness through the gloom,
Blessed body sprung from Mary
Hallows now the rock-hewn tomb,
Through the sabbath, ‘til arising
He His glory shall assume.
Before the Altar step, this DOXOLOGY May be sung:
Glory be to God the Father
Glory to his only Son,
Lowly victim, mighty Victor
Reigning now his course is run,
Glory to the Holy Spirit,
Who with both is ever one. Amen.
P. The Lord be with you.
R. And with thy spirit.
P. Let us pray.
OUR FATHER, who art in heaven,
hallowed be Thy Name.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done
on earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For Thine is the kingdom, and the power,
and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
P. HAIL, MARY, full of grace,
the Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women,
and blessed is the Fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
R. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now,
and at the hour of our death. Amen.
O BLESSED LORD JESUS, Thou living Stone, rejected of the builders and become the Chief Stone of the corner; Grant that building upon Thy sure foundations, we may share in Thy everlasting habitations; who now livest and reignest with the Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, ever one God, world without end. Amen.
