![[Prayer]](prayer.gif)
Stations of the Cross
according to the method of St. Alphonsus Liguori
Kneel before the altar and say the Act of Contrition:
Oh my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee. And I detest all my sins because I dread the loss of heaven and the pains of hell, but most of all because they offend Thee, my God, Who art all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace, to confess my sins, to do penance, and to amend my life. Amen.
Immediately proceed with this prayer:
My Lord Jesus Christ, Thou hast made this journey to die for me -- with great love, and I have so often unworthily abandoned Thee; but now I love Thee with my whole heart, and because I love Thee, I am sincerely sorry for having offended Thee. Pardon me, my Jesus, and permit me to accompany Thee on this journey. Thou art going to die for love of me; I wish also, my dearest Redeemer, to die for love of Thee. My Jesus, I will die united to Thee.
Stand and Process to the First Station singing:
Stabat mater dolorosa,
Juxta crucem lacrimosa,
Dum pendebat Filius.
The First Station
Jesus is condemned to death
Genuflect
Adoramus te, Christe, et benedicimus tibi, quia per sanctam crucem tuam redemisiti mundum.
Stand
Consider how Jesus, after having been scourged and crowned with thorns, was unjustly condemned by Pilate to die on the Cross.
Kneel
My loving 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 for having offended Thee. Never permit me to separate myself from Thee again. Grant that I may love Thee; and then do with me what Thou wilt.
Pray one Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be. Then stand and Process to the Second Station singing:
Cuius animam gementem,
contristatam et dolentem,
Pertransivit gladius.
The Second Station
Jesus Takes Up His Cross
Genuflect
Adoramus te, Christe, et benedicimus tibi, quia per sanctam crucem tuam redemisiti mundum.
Stand
Consider how Jesus, in making this journey with the Cross on His Shoulders, thought of us, and offered for us to His Father the death He was about to undergo.
Kneel
My most beloved 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 with all my heart for 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.
Pray one Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be. Then Stand and Process to the Third Station singing:
O quam tristis et aflicta,
Fuit illa benedicta,
Mater unigeniti!
The Third Station
Jesus Falls the First Time
Genuflect
Adoramus te, Christe, et benedicimus tibi, quia per sanctam crucem tuam redemisiti mundum.
Stand
Consider the 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 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.
Kneel
My adorable Jesus, it is not the weight of the Cross, but of my sins, which has 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 separate myself from Thee again. Grant that I may love Thee always; and then do with me what Thou wilt.
Pray one Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be. Then Stand and Process to the Fourth Station singing:
Quae maerebat et dolebat,
Pia mater cum videbat,
Nati poenas incliti.
The Fourth Station
Jesus Meets His Mother
Genuflect
Adoramus te, Christe, et benedicimus tibi, quia per sanctam crucem tuam redemisiti mundum.
Stand
Consider the meeting of the Son and the Mother which took place on this journey. Their looks became as so many arrows to wound those Hearts which loved each other so tenderly.
Kneel
My 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 thine intercession, a continual and tender rememberance of the Passion of thy Son. I love Thee, Jesus my love, above all things; 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.
Pray one Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be. Then Stand and Process to the Fifth Station singing:
Quis est homo qui non fleret,
Matrem Christi si videret,
In tanto supplicio?
The Fifth Station
The Cyrenian Helps Jesus
Genuflect
Adoramus te, Christe, et benedicimus tibi, quia per sanctam crucem tuam redemisiti mundum.
Stand
Consider how the Jews, seeing that at each step Jesus was on the point of expiring, and fearing He would die on the way, when they wished Him to die the ignominous death of the Cross, constrained Simon the Cyrenian to carry the Cross behind our Lord.
Kneel
My most loving Jesus, I will not refuse the Cross, as the Cyrenian did; I accept it, I embrace it. I accept in particular the death Thou hast destined for me, with all the pains that may accompany it; I unite it to Thy death, I offer it to Thee; Thou hast died for the love of me; I will die for the love of Thee, and to please Thee. Help me by Thy grace. I love Thee, Jesus my love, above all things; 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.
Pray one Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be. Then Stand and Process to the Sixth Station singing:
Quis non posset contristari,
Piam matrem contemplari,
Dolentem cum Filio?
The Sixth Station
Veronica Wipes the Face of Jesus
Genuflect
Adoramus te, Christe, et benedicimus tibi, quia per sanctam crucem tuam redemisiti mundum.
Stand
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 Face.
Kneel
My most sweet Jesus, Thy Face was beautiful before, but in this journey it has lost all its beauty. Alas, my soul also was once beautiful, when it received 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, and then do with me what Thou wilt.
Pray one Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be. Then Stand and Process to the Seventh Station singing:
Pro peccatis suae gentis,
Vidit Jesum in tormentis,
Et flagellis subditum.
The Seventh Station
Jesus Falls the Second Time
Genuflect
Adoramus te, Christe, et benedicimus tibi, quia per sanctam crucem tuam redemisiti mundum.
Stand
Consider the second fall of Jesus under His Cross - a fall which renews the pain of all the wounds of our afflicted Lord.
Kneel
My most beloved Jesus, how many times hast Thou pardoned me, and how many times have I fallen again, and begun again to offend Thee! Oh, by the merits of this second 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 separate myself from Thee again. Grant that I may love Thee always; and then do with me what Thou wilt.
Pray one Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be. Then Stand and Process to the Eighth Station singing:
Vidit suum dulcem Natum,
Morientem desolatum,
Cum emisit Spiritum.
The Eighth Station
Jesus Speaks To the Women of Jerusalem
Genuflect
Adoramus te, Christe, et benedicimus tibi, quia per sanctam crucem tuam redemisiti mundum.
Stand
Consider how those women wept with compassion at seeing Jesus in such a pitiful state, streaming with Blood as He walked along. But Jesus said to them, "Weep not for Me, but for yourselves and for your children."
Kneel
My most beloved Jesus, laden with sorrows, I weep for the offenses I have committed against Thee, because of the pains they have deserved, and still more because of the displeasure they have caused Thee, Who hast loved me so much. It is Thy love, much more than the fear of hell, which causes me to weep for my sins. My Jesus, I love Thee more than myself; I repent with all my 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.
Pray one Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be. Then Stand and Process to the Ninth Station singing:
Tui Nati vulnerati,
Tam dignati pro me pati,
Poenas mecum divide.
The Ninth Station
Jesus Falls the Third Time
Genuflect
Adoramus te, Christe, et benedicimus tibi, quia per sanctam crucem tuam redemisiti mundum.
Stand
Consider the third fall of Jesus. His weakness was extreme, and the cruelty of His executioners excessive. They tried to hasten His steps when He could scarcely move.
Kneel
Ah, my outraged Jesus, by the merits of the weakness Thou didst 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 Thy friendship. I love Thee, Jesus my love, with my whole heart; 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.
Pray one Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be. Then Stand and Process to the Tenth Station singing:
Fac me vere tecum flere,
Crucifixo condolere,
Donec ego vixero.
The Tenth Station
Jesus Is Stripped of His Garments
Genuflect
Adoramus te, Christe, et benedicimus tibi quia per sanctam crucem tuam redemisiti mundum.
Stand
Consider the violence with which the executioners stripped Jesus. His inner garments adhered to His torn Flesh, and they pulled them off so roughly that the Skin came with them. Compassionate your Savior thus cruelly treated.
Kneel
My innocent Jesus, by the merits of the torment Thou hast felt, help me to strip myself of all affection to things of earth, in order that I may place all my love in Thee, Who art so worthy of my love. I love Thee, O Jesus, with my whole heart; 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.
Pray one Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be. Then Stand and Process to the Eleventh Station singing:
Eia, Mater, fons amoris,
Me sentire vim doloris;
Fac, ut tecum jugeam.
The Eleventh Station
Jesus Is Nailed To the Cross
Genuflect
Adoramus te, Christe, et benedicimus tibi, quia per sanctam crucem tuam redemisiti mundum.
Stand
Consider how Jesus, after having been thrown on the Cross, extended His Hands, and offered to His eternal Father the sacrifice of His Life for our salvation. These barbarians fastened Him with nails, and then raising the Cross, left Him to die with anguish on this infamous gibbit.
Kneel
My Jesus, loaded with contempt, nail my heart to Thy Feet, that it may ever remain there, to love Thee, and never quit Thee again. 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.
Pray one Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be. Then Stand and Process to the Twelfth Station singing:
Fac me cruce custodiri,
Morte Christi praemuniri;
Confoveri gratia.
The Twelfth Station
Jesus Dies On the Cross
Genuflect
Adoramus te, Christe, et benedicimus tibi, quia per sanctam crucem tuam redemisiti mundum.
Stand
Consider how your Jesus, after 3 hours' agony on the Cross, consumed at length with anguish, abandoned Himself to the weight of His Body, bowed His Head and died.
Kneel
My dying Jesus, I kiss devoutly the Cross on which Thou didst die for love of me. I have merited by my sins to die a miserable death; but Thy death is my hope. Ah, by the merits of Thy death, give me grace to die embracing Thy Feet, and burning with love for Thee. I abandon my soul into Thy Hands, I love Thee with my whole heart; I repent of ever having offended Thee. Permit me not to ever separate myself from Thee again. Grant that I may love Thee always; and then do with me what Thou wilt.
Pray one Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be. Then Stand and Process to the Thirteenth Station singing:
Virgo virginum praeclara,
Mihi jam non sis amara;
Fac me tecum plangere.
The Thirteenth Station
Jesus Is Taken Down From the Cross
Genuflect
Adoramus te, Christe, et benedicimus tibi, quia per sanctam crucem tuam redemisiti mundum.
Stand
Consider how our Lord having expired, 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 bosom.
Kneel
O Mother of Sorrow, for the love of thy Son, accept me for thy servant, and pray to Him for me. And Thou, my Redeemer, since Thou hast died for love of me, permit me to love Thee; for I wish but Thee and nothing more. I love Thee, my Jesus, above all things, and I repent of ever 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.
Pray one Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be. Then Stand and Process to the Fourteenth Station singing:
Fac me plagis vulnerati,
Cruce hac inebriari
Et cruore Filii.
The Fourteenth Station
Jesus Is Placed In the Sepulchre
Genuflect
Adoramus te, Christe, et benedicimus tibi, quia per sanctam crucem tuam redemisiti mundum.
Stand
Consider how the disciples carried the Body of Jesus to bury It, accompanied by His holy Mother, who arranged It in the sepulchre with her own hands. Then they closed the tomb, and all withdrew.
Kneel
Ah, my buried Jesus, I kiss the stone that encloses Thee. But Thou didst rise again on the third day. I beseech Thee, by Thy resurrection, make me rise glorious with Thee at the last day, to be always united with Thee in heaven, to praise Thee and love Thee forever. I love Thee, O Jesus, and I repent of ever 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.
Pray one Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be. Then Stand and Process back to the altar singing:
Sancta Mater, istud agas,
Crucufixi fige plagas
Cordi meo valide.
Jesus Rose From the Dead
Kneel
I firmly believe, my God, in the resurrection of Jesus Christ, as I believe in the resurrection of the dead.
Everyday I wish to arise to a new life so as to merit to arise in the glory of the last day. I hope in this, O Jesus, through the merits of Thy Passion and death.
Pray one Our Father, three Hail Marys, and a Glory Be for the intention of our Holy Father the Pope. Then conclude Stations of the Cross singing:
Quando corpus morietur,
Fac ut animae donetur,
Paradisi gloria. + Amen.
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