The Way of the Cross

Celebrant:   In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

All:              Amen

Celebrant:   May the Lord Jesus, who suffered for us and, by his paschal mystery, redeemed us, be with you all.

All:             And with your spirit.
 

Celebrant:        Lord and Father, all holy, you willed that our Son’s cross should become the source of all blessings, the cause of all graces. Grant that we who on earth hold fast to the mysteries of his sacred passion may in heaven enter into the joys of his resurrection.

We ask this through Christ the Lord.

All:            Amen              

Introductory Verse
(Tune: Stabat Mater Dolorosa)

All Sing:    At the cross her station keeping
Stood the mournful Mother weeping,
Close to Jesus to the last.
 

The First Station

Jesus is Condemned to Death

 

(Kneel)

Celebrant:  We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you.

All:             Because by your holy cross, you have redeemed the world.

(Stand)

Reader:     Then the whole assembly of them arose and brought Jesus before Pilate.  They brought charges against him, saying, “We found this man misleading our people; he opposes the payment of taxes to Caesar and maintains that he is the Messiah, a king.”  With loud shouts, however, they persisted in calling for crucifixion, and their voices prevailed.  The verdict of Pilate was that their demand should be granted.

All:             Lord Jesus, often I judge others and fail to be understanding or loving.  Help me to see the people in my life through your eyes, not the eyes of a Pontius Pilate.

Reader:      Lord Jesus crucified

All:             Have mercy on us.

All sing:    Through her heart, his sorrow sharing,
All his bitter anguish bearing,
Now at length the sword had passed.

 

The Second Station

Jesus Carries the Cross

(Kneel)

Celebrant:  We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you.

All:            Because by your holy cross, you have redeemed the world.

(Stand)

Reader:    The soldiers of the governor took Jesus inside the praetorium and gathered the whole cohort around him.  They stripped off his clothes and threw a scarlet military cloak about him.  Weaving a crown out of thorns, they placed it on his head and a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews.”  They spat upon him and took the reed and kept striking him on the head.  And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the cloak, dressed him in his own clothes, and led him off to crucify him.

All:            Lord Jesus, you embraced your cross to redeem the world.  Help me to embrace the crosses in my life, the hardships, struggles, disappointments, and pain.  Only by recognizing my own weakness can I discover your strength.

Reader:     Lord Jesus crucified.

All:            Have mercy on us.

All sing:    O, how sad and sore, distressed
Was that Mother highly blessed
Of the sole-begotten One!
 

The Third Station

Jesus Falls the First Time

(Kneel)

Celebrant:  We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you.

All:            Because by your holy cross, you have redeemed the world.

(Stand)

Reader:     It was our infirmities that he bore, our sufferings that he endured.  While we thought of him as stricken, as one smitten by God and afflicted.  But he was pierced for our offenses, crushed for our sins, upon him was the chastisement that makes us whole; by his stripes, we were healed.

All:           Lord Jesus, you know how often I fall trying to follow you.  Yet you are always there to lift me up.  Help me always to trust in your loving care for me.

Reader:     Lord Jesus crucified

All:            Have mercy on us.

All Sing:    Is there one who would not weep,
Whelmed in miseries so deep,
Christ’s dear Mother to behold?
 

The Fourth Station

Jesus Meets His Mother

(Kneel)

Celebrant:  We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you.

All:             Because by your holy cross, you have redeemed the world.

(Stand)

Reader:     Rejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad because of her, all you who love her. As nurslings, you shall be carried in her arms and fondled in her lap; as a mother comforts her son, so will I comfort you.

All:            Lord Jesus, your mother Mary’s grief was surpassed by her love for you.  So often, you come to me in others, and their love gives me new life.  Help me to see how often you love me through the people in my life.

Reader:      Lord Jesus crucified

All:             Have mercy on us.

All sing:    Christ above in torment hangs,
She beneath beholds the pangs,
Of her dying, glorious Son.
 

The Fifth Station

Simon the Cyrene Helps Jesus to  Carry His Cross

(Kneel)

Celebrant:   We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you.

All:              Because by your holy cross, you have redeemed the world.

(Stand)

Reader:       As they led Jesus away, they took hold of a certain Simon, a Cyrenian, who was coming in from the country, and after laying the cross on him, they made him carry it behind Jesus.

All:              Lord Jesus, sometimes I am indifferent to the needs of others in my life.  I even neglect those whom I love.  Help me to see that loving others is the surest way to find you in my life.

Reader:       Lord Jesus crucified

All:              Have mercy on us.

All sing:     Can the human heart refrain
From partaking in her pain,
In that Mother’s pain untold?
 

The Sixth Station

Veronica Wipes the Face of Jesus 

(Kneel)

Celebrant:   We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you.

All:              Because by your holy cross, you have redeemed the world.

(Stand)

Reader:       A faithful friend is a sturdy shelter; he who finds one finds a treasure.  A faithful friend is beyond price; no sum can balance his worth.

All:              Lord Jesus, at times, I am afraid to reach out to others.  I do nothing when I should speak out.  Give me a deeper and more courageous faith. Help me to trust that you are with me.

Reader:       Lord Jesus crucified

All:              Have mercy on us.

All sing:      Bruised, derided, cursed, defied,
She beheld her tender Child,
All with bloody scourges rent.
 

The Seventh Station

Jesus Falls the Second Time

(Kneel)

Celebrant:     We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you.

All:                Because by your holy cross, you have redeemed the world.

(Stand)

Reader:        The watchmen came upon me as they made their rounds of the city; they struck me and wounded me and took my mantle from me, the guarding of the walls.  I adjure you, daughters of Jerusalem, if you find my lover - What shall you tell him? That I am faint with love.

All:               Lord Jesus, failure and disappointment sometimes lead me to despair.  I hide behind my pride and self-pity, withdrawing from you and others.  Give me the hope I need and help me never to be afraid to begin again.

Reader:        Lord Jesus crucified

All:               Have mercy on us.

All sing:      For the sins of his own nation
Saw him hang in desolation
Till his spirit forth he sent.
 

The Eighth Station

Jesus Meets the Women of Jerusalem

(Kneel)

Celebrant:     We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you.

All:                Because by your holy cross, you have redeemed the world.

(Stand)

Reader:        A large crowd of people followed Jesus, including many women who mourned and lamented him. Jesus turned to them and said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep instead for yourselves and for your children.”

All:              Lord Jesus, your great compassion for others overwhelms me.  I feel petty and selfish when I think of you and the way you love. Help me to pour out my love, that you might fill me with your love.

Reader:       Lord Jesus crucified

All:              Have mercy on us.

All sing:     O Sweet Mother font of love,
Touch my spirit from above,
Make my heart with yours accord.

The Ninth Station

Jesus Falls a Third Time

(Kneel)

Celebrant:        We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you.

All:                  Because by your holy cross, you have redeemed the world.

(Stand)

Reader:          Amen, amen, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit.
 

All:                Lord Jesus, your failing strength makes me see how helpless I am.  Without you, I can do nothing.  Help me to rely on your strength to see how much I need you.

Reader:        Lord Jesus crucified

All:               Have mercy on us.

All sing:      Make me feel as you have felt,
Makes my soul to glow and melt
With the love of Christ, my Lord.
 

The Tenth Station

Jesus is Stripped of His Clothes

All:              Because by your holy cross, you have redeemed the world.

(Stand)

Reader:      They brought Jesus to the place of Golgotha (which is translated as Place of the Skull).  They gave him wine drugged with myrrh, but he did not take it.  Then, they crucified him and divided his garments by casting lots for them to see what each should take.

All:             Lord Jesus, seeing you so cruelly humiliated makes me realize how I cling to my accomplishments, my possessions, my way.  Help me to let go of those things in my life that prevent me from growing closer to you and others.

Reader:      Lord Jesus crucified

All:             Have mercy on us.

All sing:     Holy Mother, pierce me through,
In my heart, each wound renew
Of my Savior crucified.
 

The Eleventh Station

(Kneel)

Celebrant:  We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you.

All:            Because by your holy cross, you have redeemed the world.

(Stand)

Reader:     When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified Jesus and the criminals there, one on his right, the other on his left.  Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them; they know not what they do.”

All:             Lord Jesus, I can never doubt your great love for me when I see you crucified.  Help me to see your cross as the great sign of your love for me.

Reader:      Lord Jesus crucified

All:             Have mercy on us.

All sing:    Let me share with you his pain,
Who for all our sins was slain,
Who for me in torments died.

The Twelfth Station

(Kneel)

Celebrant:   We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you.

All:              Because by your holy cross, you have redeemed the world.

(Stand)

Reader:       At noon, darkness came over the whole land until three o’clock in the afternoon.  And at three o’clock, Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which is translated as, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last.

All:             Lord Jesus, your broken and lifeless body calls me to deeper faith.  You chose death, even death on the cross.  Help me to see my crosses as ways of loving you.

Reader:      Lord Jesus crucified

All:             Have mercy on us.

All sing:     Let me mingle tears with you,
Mourning him who mourned for Me,
All the days that I may live.
 

The Thirteenth Station

(Kneel)

Celebrant:    We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you.

All:               Because by your holy cross, you have redeemed the world.

(Stand)

Reader:       There was a virtuous and righteous man named Joseph who, though he was a member of the council, had not consented to their plan of action.  He came from the Jewish town of Arimathea and was awaiting the kingdom of God.  He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.  After he had taken the body down, he wrapped it in a linen cloth.

All:              Lord Jesus, seeing your body taken from the cross reminds me how fearful I am of letting go of my own life.  I am frightened when I think of being unimportant, useless, helpless.  Help me to place my life in your hands.
 
Reader:       Lord Jesus crucified

All:             Have mercy on us.

All sing:     By the cross with you to stay,
There with you to weep and pray,
Is all I ask of you to give.
 

The Fourteenth Station

Jesus is Laid in the Tomb