FIRST STATION

Jesus is Condemned to Death


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

Priest:  Consider that Jesus, after having been scourged and crowned with thorns, was unjustly condemned by Pilate to die on the cross.


People:  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 love Thee more than myself;  * I repent with my whole heart 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.

V.  Lord Jesus, crucified,
R.  Have mercy on us!*


Stabat Mater dolorosa,
Justa crucem lacrymosa,
Dum pendebat Filius.

At the cross her station keeping
Stood the mournful mother weeping,
Close to Jesus to the last.


* This versicle and response are not found in the Ligouri Way of the Cross but are borrowed from the Franciscan method for the purpose of increased devotion. -- Editor

SECOND STATION

Jesus is made to carry His Cross


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

Priest:  Consider that Jesus, in making this journey with the cross on His shoulders, thought of us and offered for us to His Father the death that He was about to undergo.


People:  My adorable Jesus. * I embrace all the tribulations that 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.

V.  Lord Jesus, crucified,
R.  Have mercy on us!*


Cujus animam gementem,
Contristatam et dolentem,
Pertransivit gladius.

Through her heart, His sorrow sharing
All His bitter anguish bearing,
Now at length the sword has passed.

THIRD STATION

Jesus falls the First Time


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

Priest:  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.


People:  My beloved Jesus,  * it is not the weight of the cross,  * but of 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 offend Thee again. * Grant that I may love Thee always,  * and then do with me what Thou wilt. *

Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory Be.

V.  Lord Jesus, crucified,
R.  Have mercy on us!


O quam tristis et afflicta,
Fuit illa benedicta,
Mater Unigeniti!

Oh, how sad and sore distressed
Was that Mother highly blessed
Of the sole-begotten One!

FOURTH STATION

Jesus meets His Sorrowful Mother


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

Priest:  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.


People:  My most loving 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 offend Thee again. * Grant that I may love Thee always,  * and then do with me what Thou wilt. *

Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory Be.

V.  Lord Jesus, crucified,
R.  Have mercy on us!


Quae moerebat, et dolebat,
Pia Mater dum videbat,
Nati poenas inclyti.

Christ alone in torment hangs,
She beneath behold the pangs
Of her dying, glorious Son.

FIFTH STATION

Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus
to carry His Cross


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

Priest:  Consider that 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.


People:  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 that Thou hast destined for me,  * with all the pains which 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 offend Thee again. * Grant that I may love Thee always,  * and then do with me what Thou wilt. *

Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory Be.

V.  Lord Jesus, crucified,
R.  Have mercy on us!


Quis est homo qui non fleret
Matrem Christi si videret
In tanto supplicio?

Is there one who would not weep
Whelmed in miseries so deep
Christ's dear Mother to behold?

SIXTH STATION

Veronica wipes the Face of Jesus


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

Priest:  Consider that 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.


People:  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 recived 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 offend Thee again. * Grant that I may love Thee always,  * and then do with me what Thou wilt. *

Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory Be.

V.  Lord Jesus, crucified,
R.  Have mercy on us!


Quis non posset contristari,
Christi Matrem contemplari
Dolentem cum Filio?

Can the human heart refrain
From partaking in her pain,
In that Mother's pain untold?

SEVENTH STATION

Jesus falls the Second Time


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

Priest:  Consider the second fall of Jesus under the cross--a fall which renews the pains of all the wounds of the head and members of our afflicted Lord.


People:  My most gentle Jesus,  * how many times has Thou 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 helps 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, with my whole heart. * I repent of having offended Thee. * Never permit me to offend Thee again. * Grant that I may love Thee always,  * and then do with me what Thou wilt. *

Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory Be.

V.  Lord Jesus, crucified,
R.  Have mercy on us!


Pro peccatis suae gentis,
Vidit Jesum in tormentis,
Et flagellis subditum,

Bruised derided, cursed defiled,
She beheld her tender child,
All with bloody scourges rent,

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