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THE FIRST STATION - JESUS IS CONDEMNED TO DEATH'My people, what have I done to you? How have I offended you? Answer me.' (From the reproaches on Good Friday)
We adore you, O Christ, Again, the high priest began to ask him, and said to him, "Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?" And Jesus said to him, "I am. And you shall see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power and coming with the clouds of heaven." But the high priest tore his garments and said, "What further need have we of witnesses? You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?" And they all condemned him as liable to death. 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 that You have told us and fear nothing more than the loss of your friendship through sin. Amen.
THE SECOND STATION - JESUS CARRIES HIS CROSS'Yet 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.'
(From the reproaches on Good Friday)
We adore you, O Christ, And Pilate said to the Jews, "Behold, your king!" But they cried out, "Away with him! Away with him! Crucify him!" Pilate said to them, "Shall I crucify your king?" The chief priests answered, "We have no king by Caesar." Then Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified. And so they took Jesus and led him away, bearing the corss for himself. Father in heaven, your Son, Jesus Christ, still carries his Cross in his persecuted brothers and sisters throughout the world. Make us feel the needs of all persons so that we might as readily help them as we would help Jesus himself. Amen.
THE THIRD STATION - JESUS FALLS THE FIRST TIME'Save me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from violent men who plan to trip my feet - the proud who have hidden a trap for me.'
(From the reproaches on Good Friday)
We adore you, O Christ, If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before you. If you were of the world, the world would love what is its own. Because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I have spoken to you: No servant is greater than his master. If they have persecuted me, they will persecute you also. O God, to free us from sin and weakness your Son, Jesus Christ, embraced his fearful passion and crucifixion. Strengthen us in our baptismal resolutions by which we renounced sin and Satan, so that through the passion of this life's sufferings we might rise to a new life of joyful service free of all selfishness. Amen.
THE FOURTH STATION - JESUS MEETS HIS MOTHER'I will put enmity between you and the woman, between your seed and her seed; he shall crush your head, and you shall lie in wait for his heel.'
(From the reproaches on Good Friday)
We adore you, O Christ, Now there were standing by the cross of Jesus his mother and his mother's sister, Mary of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus, therefore, saw his mother and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he said to his mother, "Woman, behold, your son." Then he said to the disciple, "Behold, your mother." And from that hour the disciple took her into his home. O blessed Lord, at your passion a sword of sorrow pierced the loving heart of your mother as Simeon had foretold. Grant that we who look back on her sorrows with compassion might receive the healing fruits of your sufferings. Amen.
THE FIFTH STATION - SIMON OF CYRENE CARRIES THE CROSS'Can you drink of the cup of which I am about to drink?'
(From the reproaches on Good Friday)
We adore you, O Christ And when they had mocked Jesus, they took the purple cloak off and put his own clothes on him, and they led him out to be crucified. Then they forced a certain passer-by, Simon of Cyrene, coming from the country, to take up his cross. They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha, a name meaning 'the place of the skull.' Lord Jesus Christ, help us to see in the sufferings and shortcomings of our lives a share in Your Cross; strengthen and console us in the belief that we bear all things in union with You, who have taken upon Yourself even our guilt. Amen.
THE SIXTH STATION - VERONICA WIPES THE FACE OF JESUS'Though constantly I take my life in my hands, yet I forget not your Law.'
(From the reproaches on Good Friday)
We adore you, O Christ, "Lord, when did we see you hungry, and feed you; or thirsty, and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger, and take you in; or naked, and clothe you? Or when did we see you sick, or in prison, and come to you?" And answering the king will say to them, "Amen, I say to you, as long as you did it for one of these, the least of my brethren, you did it for me." Almighty and ever-loving God, we feel your love and understanding in the consolation and support we receive from one another. Give us, we beg You, the courage and dedication to sacrifice and suffer with those who are in need, the least of your people. Amen.
THE SEVENTH STATION - JESUS FALLS THE SECOND TIME'I am like water poured out; all my bones are racked. My heart has become like wax...
(From the reproaches on Good Friday)
We adore you, O Christ, It was our weaknesses that he carried, our sufferings that he endured, while we thought of him as stricken, as one struck by God and afflicted. But he was pierced for our offenses, crushed for our sins; upon him was the punishment that makes us whole, by his stripes we were healed. We had all gone astray like sheep, each following his own way; but the Lord laid upon him the guilt of us all. Lord Jesus Christ, You shared in our weaknesses and accepted our guilt. Grant us the favor of rejoicing over our human weaknesses, so that in all we do, Your strength, dwelling in us, may be shown to all others. Amen.
THE EIGHTH STATION - THE WOMEN OF JERUSALEM'Hear me, you who know justice, you people who have my teaching at heart:
(From the reproaches on Good Friday)
We adore you, O Christ, 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." Beloved Jesus, with tears of pity these women of Jerusalem responded to You, broken, bruised, and beaten, on the road to Calvary. Deepen our faith, we beg You, so that we may see You in our brothers and sisters, bruised by our envy, beaten down by injustice, and broken by our greed and our indifference. Amen.
THE NINTH STATION - JESUS FALLS A THIRD TIME'... he shall take away the sins of many, and win pardon for their offenses.'
(From the reproaches on Good Friday)
We adore you, O Christ, I like prostrate in the dust; give me life according to your word. I declare my ways, and you answered me; teach me your commands. Make me understand the way of your precepts, and I will meditate on your wondrous deeds. My soul weeps for sorrow; strengthen me with your words. 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 forerunners of our glorious resurrection in union with your Son. Amen.
THE TENTH STATION - JESUS IS STRIPPED OF HIS CLOTHES'All who see me scoff at me...'
(From the reproaches on Good Friday)
We adore you, O Christ, They gave Jesus wine to drink mixed with gall; but when he tasted it, he would not drink. Then after they had crucified him, they divided his clothes, casting lots, to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet, "They divided my clothes among them, and upon my garments they cast lots." Lord Jesus Christ, stripped of everything, You stood exposed to the jeers and contempt of the people whom You loved. Clothe us with genuine love of others, so that nothing we suffer may ever fill our hearts with hatred or bitterness. Amen.
THE ELEVENTH STATION - JESUS IS NAILED TO THE CROSS'... they have pierced my hands and my feet: I can count all my bones.
(From the reproaches on Good Friday)
We adore you, O Christ, When they came to Golgotha, the place called the Skull, they crucified Jesus and the robbers, one on his right and the other on his left. And Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." Lord and Savior, You have told us that we too must accept crucifixion if we are to accept resurrection with You. Help us to rejoice in the sufferings that come with the fulfillment of our daily duties, seeing in them the royal road of the cross to the resurrection. Amen.
THE TWELFTH STATION - JESUS DIES ON THE CROSS'Just as by the disobedience of one man the many were costituted sinners,
(From the reproaches on Good Friday)
We adore you, O Christ, It was now about the 6th hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the 9th hour. And the sun was darkened, and the curtain of the temple was torn in the middle. Jesus cried out with a loud voice and said "It is finished. Father, into your hands I commend my spirit." Then, bowing his head, he died. Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our tresspasses, as we forgive those who tresspass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.
THE THIRTEENTH STATION - JESUS IS REMOVED FROM CROSS'Jesus, when delivered up by the settled purpose and foreknowledge of God,
(From the reproaches on Good Friday)
We adore you, O Christ, When the soldiers came to Jesus, they saw that he was already dead so that they did not break his legs, but one of them opened his side with a lance, and immediately there came out blood and water. Joseph of Arimathea, because he was a disciple of Jesus (although a secret one for fear of the Jews), besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus. And Pilate gave permission. Beloved Savior, You returned to the Father all that He had given You, so that He might restore all to You a hundred-fold in the glorious resurrection. Help us, we beg You, to give generously of ourselves in all that we do for You, so that like You we might be made perfect in a new resurrection. Amen.
THE FOURTEENTH STATION - JESUS IS LAID IN THE TOMB'My heart is glad and my soul rejoices, my body, too, abides in confidence;
(From the reproaches on Good Friday)
We adore you, O Christ, Joseph of Arimathea took the body of Jesus, and wrapping it in a clean linen cloth he laid it in his new tomb, which he had hewn out of rock. Then he rolled a large stone against the entrance of the tomb and departed. Almighty and eternal God, on the edge of sadness when all seemed lost, You restored to us the Savior we thought defeated and conquered. Help us, we beg You, so to empty ourselves of self concern that we might see your hand in every failiure and your victory in every defeat. These things we ask in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns forever with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS'Every eye shall see him, and they also who pierced him...
We adore you, O Christ, When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought spices that they might go and annoint Jesus. Very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had just risen, they came to the tomb. They were saying to one another, "Who will roll the stone back from the entrance of the tomb for us?", for it was very large. But looking up they saw that the stone had been rolled back, and upon entering the tomb they were amazed to see a young man sitting at the right side and clothed in a white robe. He said to them, "Do not be terrified. You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen, he is not here. Behold the place where they laid him." I believe in God, the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell; the third day he arose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty; from there he shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.
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