STATIONS OF THE CROSS
We adore you O Christ and we bless You, because by Your Holy Cross You have redeemed the world
1st Station: Jesus is condemned to death
Jesus, you stand all alone before Pilate. Nobody speaks up for you. Nobody helps defend you. You devoted your entire life to helping others, listening to the smallest ones, caring for those who were ignored by others. They don't seem to remember that as they prepare to put you to death.

Help me be grateful for what you did for me. Help me to accept criticism and unfairness as you did, and not complain. Help me pray for those who have hurt me.
2nd Station: Jesus carries his cross

Jesus, as you accepted your cross, you knew you would carry it to your death on Calvary. You knew it wouldn't be easy, but you accepted it and carried it just the same.

My Jesus, Who by Your own will did take on the most heavy cross I made for You by my sins. O, make me feel their heavy weight, and weep for them as long as I live.
We adore you O Christ and we bless You, because by Your Holy Cross You have redeemed the world
3rd Station: Jesus falls the first time
Jesus, the cross you have been carrying is very heavy. You are becoming weak and almost ready to faint, and you fall down. Nobody seems to want to help you. The soldiers are interested in getting home, so they yell at you and try to get you up and moving again.

My Jesus, the heavy burden of my sins is on You, and bears You down beneath the cross. I loathe them, I detest them; I call on You to pardon them; may Your grace aid me never more to commit them
4th Station: Jesus meets his Mother

Jesus, you feel so alone with all those people yelling and screaming at you. You don't like the words they are saying about you, and you look for a friendly face in the crowd. You see your mother. She can't make the hurting stop, but it helps to see that she is on your side, that she is suffering with you. She does understand and care.

Jesus most suffering, Mary Mother most sorrowful, if, by my sins, I caused you pain and anguish in the past, by God's assisting grace it shall be so no more; rather be you my love from now until death.
We adore you O Christ and we bless You, because by Your Holy Cross You have redeemed the world
5th Station: Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus carry the cross

Jesus, the soldiers are becoming impatient. This is taking longer than they wanted it to. They are afraid you won't make it to the hill where you will be crucified. As you grow weaker, they grab a man out of the crowd and make him help carry your cross. He was just watching what was happening, but all of a sudden he is helping you carry your cross.

My Jesus, blest was he who aided You to bear the cross. Blest too shall I be if I aid You to bear the cross, by patiently bowing my neck to the crosses You shall send me during life.
6th Station: Veronica wipes the face of Jesus

Jesus, suddenly a woman comes out of the crowd. Her name is Veronica. You can see how she cares for you as she takes a cloth and begins to wipe the blood and sweat from your face. She can't do much, but she offers what little help she can.


My tender Jesus, Who did deign to print Your sacred face upon the cloth with which Veronica wiped the sweat from off Your brow, print in my soul deep, I pray You, the lasting memory of Your bitter pains.
We adore you O Christ and we bless You, because by Your Holy Cross You have redeemed the world
7th Station: Jesus falls the second time
This is the second time you have fallen on the road. As the cross grows heavier and heavier it becomes more difficult to get up. But you continue to struggle and try until you're up and walking again. You don't give up.

Help me when things seem difficult for me. Even when it's hard, help me get up and keep trying as you did. Help me do my best without comparing myself with others.
8th Station: Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem
Jesus, as you carry your cross you see a group of women along the road. As you pass by you see they are sad. You stop to spend a moment with them, to offer them some encouragement. Although you have been abandoned by your friends and are in pain, you stop and try to help them.

My Jesus, You did comfort the pious women of Jerusalem who wept to see You bruised and torn, comfort my soul with Your tender pity, for in Your pity lies my trust. May my heart ever answer Yours.
We adore you O Christ and we bless You, because by Your Holy Cross You have redeemed the world
9th Station: Jesus falls a third time
Jesus, your journey has been long. You fall again, beneath your cross. You know your journey is coming to an end. You struggle and struggle. You get up and keep going.

Help me think of the cross you carried.

Help me continue to hope that I can make the changes in my life I need to. You didn't give up. I can have the strength to get up again too.
10th Station: Jesus' clothes are taken away

The soldiers notice you have something of value. They remove your cloak and throw dice for it. Your wounds are torn open once again. Some of the people in the crowd make fun of you. They tease you and challenge you to perform a miracle for them to see. They're not aware that you'll perform the greatest miracle of all!

Help me to keep myself pure and clean. Help me say things that build up the people around me. Help me overcome worldly desires that I may become more like Jesus. Help me set a good example for others to follow.
We adore you O Christ and we bless You, because by Your Holy Cross You have redeemed the world
11th Station: Jesus is nailed to the Cross
You are stretched out on the cross you have carried so far. The soldiers take big nails and drive them into your hands and feet. You feel abandoned by the people you loved so much. People seem to have gone mad. You have done nothing but good, yet they drive nails through your hands and feet.

Help me look again at the people around me. Help me see the hurt and pain I have caused in others. Be with me to help me make amends for the harm I have done.
12th Station: Jesus dies on the cross

As Jesus hung on the cross, he forgave the soldiers who had crucified him, and prayed for his mother and friends. Jesus wanted all of us to be able to live forever with God, so he gave all he had for us.

My Jesus, three hours did You hang in agony, and then die for me; let me die before I sin, and if I live, live for Your love and faithful service.

My Jesus, three hours You hung in agony, and then died for me; let me live for Your love and faithful service.
We adore you O Christ and we bless You, because by Your Holy Cross You have redeemed the world
13th Station: The body of Jesus is taken down from the Cross

Jesus, how brutally you were put to death. How gently you are taken from the cross. Your suffering and pain are ended, and you are put in the lap of your mother. The dirt and blood are wiped away. You are treated with love.

O Mary, Mother most sorrowful, the sword of grief pierced your soul when you saw Jesus lying lifeless in your arms. Obtain for me a hatred of sin, because sin killed your Son and wounded your own heart, and grace to live a Christian life and save my soul.
14th Station: Jesus is laid in the tomb

Jesus, your body is prepared for burial. Joseph gave you his own tomb. He laid your body there and rolled a large stone in front of it, then went home. What a sad day it has been for so many people.

Help me think of Joseph of Arimathea, who risked his own life as he accepted Jesus' body for burial. To think of how Joseph loved Jesus so much that he gave him his own tomb.

My Jesus, beside Your body in the tomb I, too, would lie dead; but if I live, let it be for You, so as one day to enjoy with You in heaven the fruits of Your passion and Your bitter death.