As early as the 4th c., Christian pilgrims to the Holy Land would walk the
route that Our Lord walked as He made His way to Golgotha for our salvation.
When Muslims captured Jerusalem and it became too dangerous to make this
pilgrimage, Christians replicated the sites
back home in Europe, and there developed the "Stations of the Cross" devotion
(also known as "Way of the Cross," "Via Dolorosa," or "Via Crucis").
The devotion consists of meditating on 14 events -- that number being fixed
in 1731 by Pope Clement XII -- which took place during Christ's Passion,
from His being condemned to His burial. Franciscans popularized the devotion,
which was originally made outside, often along roads to shrines or churches.
The Way of the Cross can still be made outside, of course -- a perfect idea
for a Mary Garden -- but is usually made inside
nowadays, especially during the Season of Lent and most especially on
Good Friday.
If you enter a Catholic Church and look along the walls of the nave (where
the parishioners sit), you should see 14 representations on the walls which
depict 14 events of Christ's Passion that have been singled out for
contemplation. It is at these blessed artistic representations, these "stations"
-- which can be painted, carved, engraved, of wood, metal, paint on canvas,
etc., topped with a wooden Cross -- that the Way of the Cross is made during
public liturgy. The Way of the Cross can also be made privately, even at
home, with or without "visual aids."
When the Way of the Cross
is made in groups, each person first makes the Sign of the Cross, makes an
Act of Contrition (i.e., expresses penitence through prayer) and mentally
intends to gain indulgences, for himself or another. Then, typically, at
each station:
-
the leader will announce
the name of the station
-
the leader will lead with
a statement of praise, such as "We adore Thee O Christ and we bless Thee"
-
the people will respond, with,
for example, using the above acclamation, "Because by Thy Holy Cross Thou
hast redeemed the world."
-
the leader will read a meditative
reading, upon which all should meditate in penitence, thanking God for His
sacrifice and uniting himself with that sacrifice (often by identifying with
Mary)
-
all pray an Our Father
-
all pray a Hail Mary
-
all pray a Glory Be
-
traditionally, between the
stations, successive stanzas of the hymn called Stabat Mater are sung
-- a hymn known since at least 1388 A.D. and possibly written by Pope Innocent
III who died in 1216 A.D.
The meditations and prayers may vary, but the general outline above is pretty
standard. The most popular way of making the Stations of the Cross is to
use the meditations written by St. Alphonsus Liguori (A.D. 1696-1787); that
method (including meditations, prayers and the Stabat Mater stanzas)
appear below, with Scriptural references added. You
can download these (without the graphics below)
in Microsoft Word's .doc format (16 pages).
Click here to hear a traditional
melody of the Stabat Mater stanzas (many, many composers have
written works for the text of the Stabat Mater over the centuries, so you
may hear numerous variations).
Making the Way of the Cross
carries with it a partial indulgence under
the usual conditions. To gain a plenary indulgence, the following norms must
be followed, in addition to the usual conditions:
-
The pious exercise must be
made before stations of the Way of the Cross legitimately erected.
-
For the erection of the Way
of the Cross fourteen crosses are required, to which it is customary to add
fourteen pictures or images, which represent the stations of Jerusalem.
-
According to the more common
practice, the pious exercise consists of fourteen pious readings, to which
some vocal prayers are added. However, nothing more is required than a pious
meditation on the Passion and Death of the Lord, which need not be a particular
consideration of the individual mysteries of the stations.
-
A movement from one station
to the next is required. But if the pious exercise is made publicly and if
it is not possible for all taking part to go in an orderly way from station
to station, it suffices if at least the one conducting the exercise goes
from station to station, the others remaining in their place.
Those who are "impeded" can
gain the same indulgence if they spend at least one half an hour in pious
reading and meditation on the Passion and Death of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The Stations
The 14 stations are
1:
Jesus is Condemned to Die
Jesus is Made to Bear His Cross
Jesus Falls the First Time
Jesus Meets His Mother
Simon Helps Jesus Carry His Cross
Veronica Wipes Jesus' Face
Jesus Falls the Second Time
Jesus Meets the Women of Jerusalem
Jesus Falls the Third Time
Jesus is Stripped
Jesus is Nailed to the Cross
Jesus Dies on the Cross
Jesus is Taken Down from the Cross
Jesus is Laid in the Tomb
The
Way of the Cross by Saint Alphonsus Liguori (1696-1787), with Scriptural
references and the stanzas of the Stabat Mater (in Latin and English)
added:
SIGN OF THE CROSS AND FORMATION
OF INTENTIONS
(Make the Sign of the Cross
and say:)
In the name of the Father,
and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now,
and ever shall be, world without end.
(Now one forms the intention
of gaining indulgences, either for one's self or for others)
ACT OF CONTRITION
My Lord Jesus Christ, Thou
hast made this journey to die for me with love unutterable, and I have so
many times unworthily abandoned Thee; but now I love Thee with my whole heart,
and because I love Thee I repent sincerely for having ever offended Thee.
Pardon me, my God, and permit me to accompany Thee on this journey. Thou
goest to die for love of me; I wish also, my beloved Redeemer, to die for
love of Thee. My Jesus, I will live and die always united to Thee.
FIRST
STATION
Jesus is Condemned to Death
(John 3:16, Isaiah 53:7, John 18:33-John 19:1-16)
V. We adore Thee, O Christ,
and we praise Thee.
R. Because by Thy holy cross Thou hast redeemed the world.
Consider, that Jesus, after having been scourged and crowned with thorns,
was unjustly condemned by Pilate to die on the cross. 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
toward 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.
All:
Our Father, Who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come, Thy
will be done on earth, as it is in Heaven. And 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.
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst
women and blessed is the Fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was
in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Stabat Mater
Stanza:
Stabat Mater dolorosa (At the cross her station keeping)
Juxta crucem lacrymosa (Stood the mournful Mother weeping)
Dum pendebat Filius (Close to Jesus to the last)
Response:
Sancta Mater, istud agas ( Holy Mother! pierce me through)
Crucifixi fige plagas (In my heart each wound renew)
Cordi meo valide (Of my Saviour crucified)
SECOND
STATION
Jesus is Made to Bear His Cross
(Isaiah 53:4-6, Matthew 27:31, Luke 9:23)
V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we praise Thee.
R. Because by Thy holy cross Thou hast redeemed the world.
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. 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 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.
All:
Our Father, Who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come, Thy
will be done on earth, as it is in Heaven. And 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.
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst
women and blessed is the Fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was
in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Stabat Mater
Stanza:
Cujus animan gementem (Through her heart, His sorrow sharing)
Contristatam, et dolentem (All His bitter anguish bearing)
Pertransivit gladius (Now at length the sword had passed)
Response:
Sancta Mater, istud agas ( Holy Mother! pierce me through)
Crucifixi fige plagas (In my heart each wound renew)
Cordi meo valide (Of my Saviour crucified)
THIRD
STATION
Jesus Falls for the First Time
(Isaiah 53:6)
V. We adore Thee, O Christ,
and we praise Thee.
R. Because by Thy holy cross Thou hast redeemed the world.
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.
My beloved 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 offend Thee again. Grant that I may love Thee always; and then do with
me what Thou wilt.
All:
Our Father, Who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come, Thy
will be done on earth, as it is in Heaven. And 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.
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst
women and blessed is the Fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was
in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Stabat Mater
Stanza:
O quam tristis et afflicta (Oh, how sad and sore distressed)
Fuit illa benedicta (Was that Mother highly blessed)
Mater Unigeniti (Of the sole-begotten One!)
Response:
Sancta Mater, istud agas ( Holy Mother! pierce me through)
Crucifixi fige plagas (In my heart each wound renew)
Cordi meo valide (Of my Saviour crucified)
FOURTH
STATION
Jesus Meets His Mother
(John 19:25-27, John 16:22)
V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we praise Thee.
R. Because by Thy holy cross Thou hast redeemed the world.
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.
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.
All:
Our Father, Who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come, Thy
will be done on earth, as it is in Heaven. And 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.
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst
women and blessed is the Fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was
in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Stabat Mater
Stanza:
Quae moerebat, et dolebat (Christ above in torment hangs)
Pia Mater, dum videbat (She beneath beholds the pangs)
Nati poenas inclyti (Of her dying, glorious Son)
Response:
Sancta Mater, istud agas ( Holy Mother! pierce me through)
Crucifixi fige plagas (In my heart each wound renew)
Cordi meo valide (Of my Saviour crucified)
FIFTH
STATION
Simon Helps Jesus Carry His Cross
(Matthew 27:30-32, Matthew 25:40, Galatians 6:2)
V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we praise Thee.
R. Because by Thy holy cross Thou hast redeemed the world.
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.
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 has 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.
All:
Our Father, Who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come, Thy
will be done on earth, as it is in Heaven. And 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.
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst
women and blessed is the Fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was
in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Stabat Mater
Stanza:
Quis est homo qui non flerent (Is there one who would not weep)
Matrem Christi si videret (Whelmed in miseries so deep)
In tanto supplicio? (Christ's dear Mother to behold?)
Response:
Sancta Mater, istud agas ( Holy Mother! pierce me through)
Crucifixi fige plagas (In my heart each wound renew)
Cordi meo valide (Of my Saviour crucified)
SIXTH
STATION
Veronica Wipes the Face of Jesus
(Isaiah 52:14, John 14:9)
V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we praise Thee.
R. Because by Thy holy cross Thou hast redeemed the world.
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.
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 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. 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.
All:
Our Father, Who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come, Thy
will be done on earth, as it is in Heaven. And 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.
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst
women and blessed is the Fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was
in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Stabat Mater
Stanza:
Quis non posset contristari (Can the human heart refrain)
Christi Matrem contemplari (From partaking in her pain)
Dolentem cum Filio? (In that Mother's pain untold?)
Response:
Sancta Mater, istud agas ( Holy Mother! pierce me through)
Crucifixi fige plagas (In my heart each wound renew)
Cordi meo valide (Of my Saviour crucified)
SEVENTH
STATION
Jesus Falls a Second Time
(Hebrews 4:15)
V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we praise Thee.
R. Because by Thy holy cross Thou hast redeemed the world.
Consider the second fall of
Jesus under the cross—a fall which renews the pain of all the wounds
of the head and members of our afflicted Lord.
My most gentle Jesus, how many times Thou hast 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.
All:
Our Father, Who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come, Thy
will be done on earth, as it is in Heaven. And 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.
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst
women and blessed is the Fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was
in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Stabat Mater
Stanza:
Pro peccatis Suae gentis (Bruised, derided, cursed, defiled)
Vidit Jesum in tormentis (She beheld her tender Child)
Et flagellis subditum (All with bloody scourges rent)
Response:
Sancta Mater, istud agas ( Holy Mother! pierce me through)
Crucifixi fige plagas (In my heart each wound renew)
Cordi meo valide (Of my Saviour crucified)
EIGHTH
STATION
Jesus Meets the Women of Jerusalem
(Luke 23:27-31, John 15:6)
V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we praise Thee.
R. Because by Thy holy cross Thou hast redeemed the world.
Consider that those women wept with compassion at seeing Jesus in so pitiable
a state, streaming with blood, as He walked along. But Jesus said to them,
"Weep not for Me but for your children."
My Jesus, laden with sorrows, I weep for the offenses that I have committed
against Thee, because of the pains which they have deserved, and still more
because of the displeasure which they have caused Thee, Who hast loved me
so much. It is Thy love, more than the fear of hell, which causes me to weep
for my sins. My Jesus, I love Thee more than myself; 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.
All:
Our Father, Who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come, Thy
will be done on earth, as it is in Heaven. And 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.
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst
women and blessed is the Fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was
in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Stabat Mater
Stanza:
Vidit suum dulcem Natum (For the sins of His own nation)
Moriendo desolatum (Saw Him hang in desolation)
Dum emisit spiritum (Till His spirit forth He sent)
Response:
Sancta Mater, istud agas ( Holy Mother! pierce me through)
Crucifixi fige plagas (In my heart each wound renew)
Cordi meo valide (Of my Saviour crucified)
NINTH
STATION
Jesus Falls the Third Time
(Philippians 2:5-7, Luke 14:11)
V. We adore Thee, O Christ,
and we praise Thee.
R. Because by Thy holy cross Thou hast redeemed the world.
Consider the third fall of Jesus Christ. His weakness was extreme, and the
cruelty of His executioners excessive, who tried to hasten His steps when
He had scarcely strength to move. 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 offend Thee again. Grant
that I may love Thee always; and then do with me what Thou wilt.
All:
Our Father, Who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come, Thy
will be done on earth, as it is in Heaven. And 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.
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst
women and blessed is the Fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was
in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Stabat Mater
Stanza:
Eia Mater, fons amoris (Ah Mother, fountain of love)
Me sentire vim doloris (make me feel the force of the sorrow)
Fac, ut tecum lugeam (so that I may mourn with you)
Response:
Sancta Mater, istud agas ( Holy Mother! pierce me through)
Crucifixi fige plagas (In my heart each wound renew)
Cordi meo valide (Of my Saviour crucified)
TENTH
STATION
Jesus is Stripped of His Garments
(John 19:23-25, Luke 14:33)
V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we praise Thee.
R. Because by Thy holy cross Thou hast redeemed the world.
Consider the violence with which the executioners stripped Jesus. His inner
garments adhered to His torn flesh and they dragged them off so roughly that
the skin came with them. Compassionate your Saviour thus cruelly treated,
and say to Him:
My innocent Jesus, by the merits of the torment which 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
offend Thee again. Grant that I may love Thee always; and then do with me
what Thou wilt.
All:
Our Father, Who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come, Thy
will be done on earth, as it is in Heaven. And 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.
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst
women and blessed is the Fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was
in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Stabat Mater
Stanza:
Fac ut ardeat cor meum (Make me feel as thou hast felt)
In amando Christum Deum (Make my soul to glow and melt)
Ut sibi complaceam (With the love of Christ, my Lord)
Response:
Sancta Mater, istud agas ( Holy Mother! pierce me through)
Crucifixi fige plagas (In my heart each wound renew)
Cordi meo valide (Of my Saviour crucified)
ELEVENTH
STATION
Jesus is Nailed to the Cross
(Psalm 22:17-18, Zechariah 12:10, Luke 23:33)
V. We adore Thee, O Christ,
and we praise Thee.
R. Because by Thy holy cross Thou hast redeemed the world.
Consider that Jesus, after being 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 gibbet.
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 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.
All:
Our Father, Who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come, Thy
will be done on earth, as it is in Heaven. And 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.
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst
women and blessed is the Fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was
in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Stabat Mater
Stanza:
Sancta Mater, istud agas ( Holy Mother! pierce me through)
Crucifixi fige plagas (In my heart each wound renew)
Cordi meo valide (Of my Saviour crucified)
Response:
Sancta Mater, istud agas ( Holy Mother! pierce me through)
Crucifixi fige plagas (In my heart each wound renew)
Cordi meo valide (Of my Saviour crucified)
TWELFTH
STATION
Jesus Dies on the Cross
(Luke 23:46, John 19:30, Philippians 2:8-9)
V. We adore Thee, O Christ,
and we praise Thee.
R. Because by Thy holy cross Thou hast redeemed the world.
Consider how thy Jesus, after three hours of agony on the cross, consumed
at length with anguish, abandons Himself to the weight of His body, bows
His head, and dies.
O 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 of Thee. I commit my soul into Thy hands.
I love Thee with my whole heart; 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.
All:
Our Father, Who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come, Thy
will be done on earth, as it is in Heaven. And 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.
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst
women and blessed is the Fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was
in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Stabat Mater
Stanza:
Tui Nati vulnerati (Let me share with thee His pain)
Tam dignati pro me pati (Who for all our sins was slain)
Poenas mecum divide (Who for me in torments died)
Response:
Sancta Mater, istud agas ( Holy Mother! pierce me through)
Crucifixi fige plagas (In my heart each wound renew)
Cordi meo valide (Of my Saviour crucified)
THIRTEENTH
STATION
Jesus is Taken Down from the Cross
(Luke 23:50-53, John 19:31-37, Luke 24:26)
V. We adore Thee, O Christ,
and we praise Thee.
R. Because by Thy holy cross Thou hast redeemed the world.
Consider that, 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.
O Mother of Sorrow, for the love of this Son, accept me for thy servant and
pray to Him for me. And Thou, my Redeemer, since Thou hast died for me, permit
me to love Thee; for I wish but Thee, my Jesus, and 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
All:
Our Father, Who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come, Thy
will be done on earth, as it is in Heaven. And 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.
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst
women and blessed is the Fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was
in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Stabat Mater
Stanza:
Fac me tecum pie flere (Let me mingle tears with thee)
Crucifixo condolere (Mourning Him Who mourned for me)
Donec ego vixero (All the days that I may live)
Response:
Sancta Mater, istud agas ( Holy Mother! pierce me through)
Crucifixi fige plagas (In my heart each wound renew)
Cordi meo valide (Of my Saviour crucified)
FOURTEENTH
STATION
Jesus is Laid in His Tomb
(Luke 23:50-56, John 19:38-42, John 12:24-25, Romans
6:10-11)
V. We adore Thee, O Christ,
and we praise Thee.
R. Because by Thy holy cross Thou hast redeemed the world.
Consider that 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.
They then closed the tomb and all withdrew.
Oh, my buried Jesus, I kiss the stone that encloses Thee. But Thou didst
rise again 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, and I repent of ever having
offended Thee. Never permit me to offend Thee again. Grant that I may love
Thee; and then do with me what Thou wilt.
All:
Our Father, Who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come, Thy
will be done on earth, as it is in Heaven. And 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.
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst
women and blessed is the Fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was
in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Stabat Mater
Stanza:
Juxta Crucem tecum stare (By the cross with thee to stay)
Et me tibi sociare (There with thee to weep and pray)
In plactu desidero (Is all I ask of thee to give)
Response:
Sancta Mater, istud agas ( Holy Mother! pierce me through)
Crucifixi fige plagas (In my heart each wound renew)
Cordi meo valide (Of my Saviour crucified)
PRAYERS IN HONOR OF THE
PASSION
O my Lord Jesus, in honor
of Thy Passion and death, I offer the following prayers:
Our Father, Who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come, Thy
will be done on earth, as it is in Heaven. And 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.
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst
women and blessed is the Fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was
in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
PRAYERS FOR THE INTENTIONS
OF THE HOLY FATHER
O, my Lord Jesus, I offer
the following prayers as my petition for this month's intentions of our Holy
Father, the Pope:
Our Father, Who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come, Thy
will be done on earth, as it is in Heaven. And 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.
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst
women and blessed is the Fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was
in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
CLOSING PRAYER TO JESUS
CHRIST CRUCIFIED
Behold, O kind and most sweet
Jesus, I cast myself on my knees in Thy sight, and with the most fervent
desire of my soul, I pray and beg Thee to impress upon my heart lively sentiments
of faith, hope, and charity, with true repentance for my sins, and a firm
desire of amendment, while with deep affection and grief of soul I contemplate
Thy five most precious Wounds, having before my eyes that which David spoke
in prophecy: "They pierced My hands and My feet; they have numbered all My
bones." God has loved us from all eternity. So He says: "Remember I first
loved you. You had not come to be, nor did the world yet exist, but I loved
you already. From all eternity I have loved you."
Footnote:
1 A novel variation you might see (and should
ignore) in the enumeration of the Stations adds a 15th station -- Christ's
Resurrection. The reason this should be ignored is because a) it changes
the very purpose of the Lenten "Way of the Cross" devotion, which is to focus
on His Passion, b) it is not traditional, and c) it is an appeasement to
Protestants and to those who support the "Paschal Mystery Theology" that
has destroyed the liturgy.
Yet another variation you might see (and should ignore), another designed
to appease Protestants because it lacks the stations not explicitly enumerated
in Scripture, lists the following 14 stations:
Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemani
Jesus Betrayed by Judas
Jesus Condemned by the Sanhedrin
Jesus denied by Peter
Jesus Condemned by the People
Jesus Crowned with Thorns and Clothed in Purple
Jesus Carries the Cross
Jesus Assisted by Simon of Cyrene
Jesus Meets the Women of Jerusalem
Jesus is Crucified
Jesus Speaks to the Thief
Jesus Speaks to his Mother
Jesus Dies on the Cross
Jesus is Laid in the Tomb
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