The Stations of the Cross are a traditional devotion for Catholics, especially during Lent. The Stations retrace the final journey of Jesus Christ on the day of His crucifixion. The Stations inspire all of us to follow Christ through suffering to peace.  It's an opportunity to prayerfully reflect on His love for us. 

Stations of the Cross

READING AT THE FOOT OF THE ALTAR

LECTOR:

Mt. 26:36-39

Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” He took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be grieved and agitated. Then he said to them, “I am deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and stay awake with me.” And going a little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet not what I want but what you want.”

Jesus on the cross is dying
Soon his body will be lying
In the darkness of the tomb.
 

The First Station

JESUS IS CONDEMNED TO DEATH

PRIEST:

We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you. (Genuflect)

ALL:

Because by your holy Cross you have redeemed the world.

LECTOR:

Mk. 14:61-64

Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?” Jesus said, “I am; and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Power,and coming with the clouds of heaven.’” Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “Why do we still need witnesses? You have heard his blasphemy! What is your decision?” All of them condemned him as deserving death.

ALL:

I love you my beloved Jesus, with my whole heart.
I repent of having offended you.
Never permit me to offend you again.
Grant that I may love you always;
and then do with me what you will.

PRIEST:

Let us pray.
All powerful and eternal God, for proclaiming the truth
your Son, Jesus Christ, is condemned to death by crucifixion.
Stir up your love in our hearts
so that we might be ever faithful to all you have told us
and fear nothing more than the loss of your friendship through sin.
Through Christ our Lord.   R. Amen.

God's own mother, purest maiden
Sees the sinless One, sin laden
Blessed fruit of blessed womb.
 

The Second Station

JESUS CARRIES HIS CROSS

PRIEST:

We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you. (Genuflect)

ALL:

Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

LECTOR:

Jn 19:14-17

Now it was the day of Preparation for the Passover; and it was about noon. He said to the Jews, “Here is your King!” They cried out, “Away with him! Away with him! Crucify him!” Pilate asked them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but the emperor.” Then he handed him over to them to be crucified.
So they took Jesus; and carrying the cross by himself, he went out to what is called The Place of the Skull, which in Hebrew is called Golgotha.

ALL:

I love you, my beloved Jesus, with my whole heart.
I repent of having offended you.
Never permit me to offend you again.
Grant that I may love you always;
And then do with me what you will.

PRIEST:

Let us pray.
Father in heaven,
your Son, Jesus Christ, still carries his cross
in his persecuted brothers and sisters throughout the world.
Open our hearts to help them
as readily as we would help Jesus himself.
Through Christ our Lord.    R. Amen.

Mary's heart for him is aching
As she sees her son's heart breaking
So that love may be revealed.
 

The Third Station

JESUS FALLS THE FIRST TIME

PRIEST:

We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you. (Genuflect)

ALL:

Because by your holy Cross you have redeemed the world.

LECTOR:

Jn 15:18-20

“If the world hates you, be aware that it hated me before it hated you. If you belonged to the world, the world would love you as its own. Because you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world—therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, "Servants are not greater than their master."  If they persecuted me, they will persecute you; if they kept my word, they will keep yours also.

ALL:

I love you my beloved Jesus, with my whole heart
I repent of having offended you.
Never permit me to offend you again.
Grant that I may love you always;
And then do with me what you will.

PRIEST:

Let us pray.
Loving Father,
strengthen us in our baptismal resolutions
by which we renounced sin and Satan.
May we die with Christ to sin,
and rise with him to a new life of joyful service.
Through Christ our Lord. R. Amen.

Now at last her heart is feeling
Sorrow's sword, her son revealing
Thoughts in many hearts concealed.
 

The Fourth Station

JESUS MEETS HIS AFFLICTED MOTHER

PRIEST:

We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you. (Genuflect)

ALL:

Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

LECTOR:

Jn 19:25-27

And that is what the soldiers did. Meanwhile, standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, “Woman, here is your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home.

ALL:

I love you my beloved Jesus, with my whole heart.
I repent of having offended you.
Never permit me to offend you again.
Grant that I may love you always;
and then do with me what you will.

PRIEST:

Let us pray.
Loving Father,
As Mary stood at the foot of the cross
a sword of sorrow pierced her heart.
May we who look upon the sufferings of your son
be filled with the same spirit of compassion and love.
Through Christ our Lord. R. Amen.

How could pity not awaken
For the Son of God, forsaken
In the loneliness of death?
 

The Fifth Station

SIMON OF CYRENE HELPS JESUS TO CARRY HIS CROSS

PRIEST:

We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you. (Genuflect)

ALL:

Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

LECTOR:

Mk.15:20-22

After mocking him, they stripped him of the purple cloak and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out to crucify him. They compelled a passer-by, who was coming in from the country, to carry his cross; it was Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus. Then they brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means the place of a skull).

ALL:

I love you, my beloved Jesus, with my whole heart.
I repent of having offended you.
Never permit me to offend you again.
Grant that I may love you always;
and then do with me what you will.

PRIEST:

Let us pray.
Father,
help us to see in the pain and suffering of our lives
a share in the cross of Jesus, your Son.
Strengthen and console us in the belief
that we bear all things in union with him,
who carries the burden of our guilt.
Through Christ our Lord. R. Amen.

Who would not give consolation
In this Mother’s desolation
As he breathes his dying breath?
 

The Sixth Station

VERONICA WIPES THE FACE OF JESUS

PRIEST:

We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you. (Genuflect)

ALL:

Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

LECTOR:

Mt. 25:37-40

Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?’ And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.’

ALL:

I love you, my beloved Jesus, with my whole heart.
I repent of having offended you.
Never permit me to offend you again.
Grant that I may love you always;
and then do with me what you will.

PRIEST:

Let us pray.
Almighty God,
we feel your love and understanding
in the consolation and support
we receive from one another.
Give us the courage and dedication
to serve the least of our brothers and sisters.
Through Christ our Lord. R. Amen.

Mary’s heart for him is bleeding
In his blood, for sinners pleading
God’s new law of love is sealed.
 

The Seventh Station

JESUS FALLS THE SECOND TIME

PRIEST:

We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you. (Genuflect)

ALL:

Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

LECTOR:

Is. 53:4-6

Surely he has borne our infirmities and carried our diseases; yet we accounted him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the punishment that made us whole, and by his bruises we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have all turned to our own way, and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

ALL:

I love you, my beloved Jesus, with my whole heart.
I repent of having offended you.
Never permit me to offend you again.
Grant that I may love you always;
and then do with me what you will.

PRIEST:

Let us pray.
Loving Father,
your Son, Jesus Christ, shared in our weakness
and accepted our guilt.
May his strength shine through our human weakness
and bring glory to your Name.
Through Christ our Lord. R. Amen.

“It is done”, she hears him crying
At the moment of his dying
Death by death has now been healed.
 

The Eighth Station

JESUS MEETS THE WOMEN OF JERUSALEM

PRIEST:

We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you. (Genuflect)

ALL:

Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

LECTOR:

Lk. 23:27-28

There was following Jesus a great crowd of people,
and among them were some women
who were bewailing and lamenting him.
Jesus turning to them said,
Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me,
but weep for yourselves and for your children.

ALL:

I love you, my beloved Jesus, with my whole heart.
I repent of having offended you.
Never permit me to offend you again.
Grant that I may love you always;
and then do with me what you will.

PRIEST:

Let us pray.
Loving Father,
with tears of pity these women of Jerusalem
responded to your Son Jesus,
bruised and beaten on the road to Calvary.
Deepen our faith,
so that we may see him
in the suffering of our brothers and sisters.
Through Christ our Lord. R. Amen.

Let me stand beside you, sharing
Grief for Jesus, my sins bearing
On the cross of Calvary.
 

The Ninth Station

JESUS FALLS A THIRD TIME

PRIEST:

We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you. (Genuflect)

ALL:

Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

LECTOR:

Ps. 118: 25-28

Save us, we beseech you, O LORD! O LORD, we beseech you, give us success! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the LORD. We bless you from the house of the LORD. The LORD is God, and he has given us light. Bind the festal procession with branches, up to the horns of the altar. You are my God, and I will give thanks to you; you are my God, I will extol you. O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.

ALL:

I love you my beloved Jesus, with my whole heart.
I repent of having offended you.
Never permit me to offend you again.
Grant that I may love you always
and then do with me what you will.

PRIEST:

Let us pray.
Almighty and eternal God,
you permitted your Son to be weakened, crushed and profaned
so that he might rise from the dead
freed from the ravages of sin.
Help us to accept our weaknesses and failings
as the foretaste and promise
of our own glorious resurrection.
Through Christ our Lord. R. Amen.

Let me stand beside you, sharing
Grief for Jesus, my sins bearing
On the cross of Calvary.
 

The Tenth Station

JESUS IS STRIPPED OF HIS CLOTHES

PRIEST:

We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you. (Genuflect)

ALL:

Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

LECTOR:

Mt. 27:34-35

They offered him wine to drink, mixed with gall; but when he tasted it, he would not drink it. And when they had crucified him, they divided his clothes among themselves by casting lots.

ALL:

I love you, my beloved Jesus, with my whole heart.
I repent of having offended you.
Never permit me to offend you again.
Grant that I may love you always:
and then do with me what you will.

PRIEST:

Let us pray...
Loving Father,
stripped of everything,
your Son, Jesus Christ, stood exposed
to the jeers and contempt of the people he loved.
Clothe us with genuine love of others,
so that nothing we suffer
may ever fill our hearts
with hatred or bitterness.
Through Christ our Lord. R. Amen.

Let me, though in humble fashion,
Share with you the bitter passion
Of the Son you brought to birth.
 

The Eleventh Station

JESUS IS CRUCIFIED

PRIEST:

We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you. (Genuflect)

ALL:

Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

LECTOR:

Lk. 23:33-34

When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.”

ALL:

I love you, my beloved Jesus, with my whole heart.
I repent of having offended you.
Never permit me to offend you again.
Grant that I may love you always;
and then do with me what you will.

PRIEST:

Let us pray.
Father in Heaven,
we too must accept crucifixion
if we are to rise with Jesus to new life.
Help us to accept the sufferings that come each day,
seeing in them the royal road to salvation.
Through Christ our Lord. R. Amen.

Let me bear the wounds of Jesus,
Drink the precious blood that frees us,
Glory only in his cross
 

The Twelfth Station

JESUS DIES ON THE CROSS

PRIEST:

We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you. (Genuflect)

ALL:

Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

LECTOR:

Lk. 23:44-46

It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, while the sun’s light failed; and the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” Having said this, he breathed his last.

PRIEST:

Let us kneel
(All kneel for a few moments in silence)

PRIEST:

Let us stand

ALL:

Our Father, who art in heaven ...

Let the cross be my salvation,
Jesus’ death my consolation,
In that hour when I must die.
 

The Thirteenth Station

JESUS IS TAKEN DOWN FROM THE CROSS

PRIEST:

We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you. (Genuflect)

ALL:

Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

LECTOR:

Jn 19:33-34, 38a

But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. Instead, one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once blood and water came out.
After these things, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, though a secret one because of his fear of the Jews, asked Pilate to let him take away the body of Jesus. Pilate gave him permission; so he came and removed his body.

ALL:

I love you, my beloved Jesus, with my whole heart.
I repent of having offended you.
Never permit me to offend you again.
Grant that I may love you always;
and then do with me what you will.

PRIEST:

Let us pray.
Beloved Father,
by his death on the cross,
your Son, Jesus Christ, returned to you
all that you had given him.
Help us to give generously of ourselves,
so that like him
we might be made perfect in a new resurrection.
Through Christ our Lord. R. Amen.

Queen of Heaven, by the merit
Of your son let me inherit
Joy with all the saints on high.
 

The Fourteenth Station

JESUS IS LAID IN THE TOMB

PRIEST:

We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you. (Genuflect)

ALL:

Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

LECTOR:

Mt. 27:59-60

So Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn in the rock. He then rolled a great stone to the door of the tomb and went away.

ALL:

I love you, my beloved Jesus, with my whole heart.
I repent of having offended you.
Never permit me to offend you again.
Grant that I may love you always;
and then do with me what you will.

PRIEST:

Let us pray.
Almighty and eternal God,
on the edge of sadness when all seemed lost,
you restored to us the Saviour we thought defeated and conquered.
Help us to empty ourselves of self-concern,
that we might see your hand in every failure
and your victory in every defeat.
Through Christ our Lord. R. Amen.

Let me to your love be taken,
Let my soul in death awaken
to the joys of Paradise.
 

Closing Prayer

PRIEST:

God, Who, by the Precious Blood of Your only-begotten Son did sanctify the Standard of the Cross, grant, we beseech You, that we who rejoice in the glory of the same Holy Cross may at all times and places rejoice in Your protection. Through the same Christ, Our Lord.

ALL:

Amen.

PRIEST:

Let us pray for our Holy Father the Pope:
Our Father...
Hail Mary...
Glory be...

Prayer before a Crucifix

Look down upon me, good and gentle Jesus
while before Your face I humbly kneel and,
with burning soul,
pray and beseech You
to fix deep in my heart lively sentiments
of faith, hope, and charity;
true contrition for my sins,
and a firm purpose of amendment.
While I contemplate,
with great love and tender pity,
Your five most precious wounds,
pondering over them within me
and calling to mind the words which David,
Your prophet, said to You, my Jesus:
"They have pierced My hands and My feet,
they have numbered all My bones."
Amen.