As we pray these Stations during Lent, let us pray for all those who are suffering in the world - the poor, the vulnerable, the neglected, the abused, all affected by the coronavirus, and those who live in conditions of poverty and deprivation, in our own parish and in our city and throughout the world. We pray that as we enter into the sufferings of Christ we will see Him suffering in the world around us. This Lent we also pray for peace in Ukraine.
Stations of the Cross
Words: Saint Alphonsus Liguori
Stations: Church of the Holy Spirit, Southsea
Introduction
+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit
Amen
The Lord be with you
And also with you
Let us pray
Almighty God, whose most dear Son went not up to joy but first he suffered pain and entered not into glory before he was crucified; mercifully grant that we, walking in the way of his cross may find it none other than the way of life and peace; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen
+ + +
First Station - Jesus is condemned to death
We adore you O Christ and we bless you
+ Because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the World
Our Lord stands in silence condemned to death. False witnesses have accused him; judges in bad faith have condemned him; a friend has betrayed him, still he remains silent. ‘Harshly dealt with, he bore it humbly, never opening his mouth; like a lamb before its shearer never opening its mouth.’
Lord, it was not Pilate; no, it was my sins that condemned you to die. I beseech you by the merits of this sorrowful journey, to assist my journey towards eternity.
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
At the cross her station keeping
Stood the mournful Mother weeping
Close to Jesus at the last
+ + +
Second Station - Jesus is loaded with his cross
We adore you O Christ and we bless you
+ Because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the World
Jesus begins his sorrowful journey. Burdened with the world’s sin, still he thinks of each one of us. Embracing the cross he does not complain of his fate. But as Scripture says, ‘For my part I make no resistance, I offered my back to those who struck me, I did not cover my face against insult and spittle.’
My loving Jesus, by the merits of carrying your cross, give me the necessary help to carry mine with perfect patience and resignation.
Lord have mercy
Lord have mercy
Christ have mercy
Christ have mercy
Lord have mercy
Lord have mercy
Through her soul of joy bereaved
Bowed with anguish deeply grieved
Now at length the sword hath passed
+ + +
Third Station - Jesus falls the first time
We adore you O Christ and we bless you
+ Because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the World
Jesus falls at the feet of his tormentors. Yet his longing for our salvation drives him on. He did not need the blows of the soldiery to flog him to Calvary. The love of his Sacred Heart drove him on; the Holy Spirit drove him on; the longing of the Eternal Father to win us to heaven drove him on.
Lord, how heavily my sins must weigh upon your Sacred Heart. By the merits of this first fall, deliver me from the misfortune of falling into mortal sin.
Lamb of God you take away the sins of the World
Have mercy on us
Lamb of God you take away the sins of the World
Have mercy on us
Lamb of God you take away the sins of the World
Grant us peace
O that blessed one grief-laden
Blessed Mother blessed Maiden
Mother of the all-holy One
+ + +
Fourth Station - Jesus meets his afflicted Mother
We adore you O Christ and we bless you
+ Because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the World
Jesus beholds the loving face of Mary amidst the mockeries around him. But now he is hardly recognizable, so disfigured did he look. Without beauty, without majesty she saw him, ‘A thing despised and rejected by men, and the Lord has laid upon him the sins of us all.’
My Jesus, by the sorrow you experienced in this meeting, grant me the grace of a devoted love for your Holy Mother. And do you my Queen, who were overwhelmed with sorrow, obtain for me a continual and tender remembrance of the Passion of your Son.
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
Amen
O that silent ceaseless mourning
O those dim eyes never turning
From that wondrous suffering Son
+ + +
Fifth Station - Simon helps Jesus to carry his cross
We adore you O Christ and we bless you
+ Because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the World
A stranger is forced to carry the cross of Jesus. And yet in doing so, faith came to Simon and his family, for Scripture names him, ‘Simon the father of Alexander and Rufus’ who became well known to Christ’s followers.
Lord Jesus, you invite all your people to take part with you in carrying the cross and, like Simon, bring blessings upon themselves and others. I will try more willingly to unite my crosses and trials to your Sacred Passion; help me by your grace.
Lord, by your cross and resurrection, you have set us free
You are the Saviour of the world!
Who on Christ’s dear Mother gazing
In her trouble so amazing
Born of woman would not weep
+ +
Sixth Station - Veronica offers Jesus a towel
We adore you O Christ and we bless you
+ Because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the World
This was indeed a gracious reward for Veronica’s compassion. Yet in this meeting there is a lesson for us all. For whenever out of love we minister to the needy, we receive an increase of grace, and the image and likeness of Christ grows in our souls.
Lord, my soul was once beautiful, when I received your grace in Baptism. But I have often disfigured it by my sins. You alone, my Redeemer, can restore it to its former beauty. Do this by your passion, O Jesus.
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 trespasses
As we forgive those who trespass against us
And lead us not into temptation
But deliver us from evil
Amen
Who on Christ’s dear Mother thinking
Such a cup of sorrow drinking
Would not share her sorrows deep
+ + +
Seventh Station - Jesus falls a second time
We adore you O Christ and we bless you
+ Because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the World
Again, Jesus falls beneath the weight of the cross. Yet again he staggers to his feet and continues along the road to Calvary.
Lord, how many times have you pardoned me, and how many times have I fallen again and begun to offend you. By the merits of this second fall, give me the help necessary to persevere in your grace until death. Grant that in all temptations which assail me I may always commend myself to you.
Lord have mercy
Lord have mercy
Christ have mercy
Christ have mercy
Lord have mercy
Lord have mercy
For his people’s sins in anguish
There she saw the victim languish
Bleed in torments bleed and die
+ + +
Eighth Station - Jesus speaks to the weeping women
We adore you O Christ and we bless you
+ Because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the World
These courageous women mourned for him as he passed by. And supporting him in their grief they openly confessed their faith in his name, fearless of what might happen to them.
Lord Jesus, by the example of this meeting, let me always confess my faith in you as my Lord and my God, careless of any danger or derision it may bring me.
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
Saw the Lord’s anointed taken
Saw her Child in death forsaken
Heard his last expiring cry
+ + +
Ninth Station - Jesus falls a third time
We adore you O Christ and we bless you
+ Because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the World
Jesus was but a few steps from Calvary. Yet before he gained the very spot where he was to be crucified, again he fell to the ground. As Scripture says of our Holy Redeemer, ‘My throat is dried up as parched as clay, and in the dust of death you have laid me.’
My loving Jesus, by the merits of this third fall, never allow me to remain discouraged beneath the weight and repetition of my sins. Grant me confidence in your forgiveness, and a firm purpose of amendment.
Lamb of God you take away the sins of the World
Have mercy on us
Lamb of God you take away the sins of the World
Have mercy on us
Lamb of God you take away the sins of the World
Grant us peace
In the Passion of my Maker
Be my sinful soul partaker
May I bear with her my part
+ + +
Tenth Station - Jesus is stripped of his garments
We adore you O Christ and we bless you
+ Because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the World
Our Lord stands exposed to the gaze of the jeering crowd. He is made to look a fool for my sake. He who as God’s creating Word rightly possesses all things, now possesses nothing.
Most innocent Jesus, by the merits of the ridicule that you bore, grant me readiness to be considered a fool for your sake. Strip me of all sinful desires for worldly things. But above all, never allow me to be stripped of your grace.
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 trespasses
As we forgive those who trespass against us
And lead us not into temptation
But deliver us from evil
Amen
Of his Passion bear the token
In a spirit bowed and broken
Bear his death within my heart
+ + +
Eleventh Station - Jesus is nailed to the cross
We adore you O Christ and we bless you
+ Because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the World
Our Saviour is crucified, and in the company of two thieves. As Scripture had foretold, he was taken for a sinner, while he was praying all the time for sinners. As they fastened him with nails, he prayed for us all: ‘Father forgive them for they know not what they do.’
Lord, by the merits of your prayer on Calvary, grant me real sorrow for all my sins. Not only because of the punishment they deserve, but still more because of the suffering they have caused you, who love me so much.
Lord have mercy
Lord have mercy
Christ have mercy
Christ have mercy
Lord have mercy
Lord have mercy
May his wounds both wound and heal me
He enkindle cleanse and heal me
Be his cross my hope and stay
+ + +
Twelfth Station - Jesus dies on the cross +
We adore you O Christ and we bless you
+ Because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the World
(We kneel throughout this Station where able, bow our heads, and pause and reflect a short while)
How completely dependent we are on that Holy Cross: for the grace of God’s friendship; for the forgiveness of sins; for the hope of heaven hereafter. On Calvary, his life of sacrifice has reached its conclusion, ‘It is finished; Father into your hands I commit my spirit.’
My dying Jesus, since you are so deserving of all my love, may your love henceforward be my first concern. By the merits of your cross, unite my heart more firmly to your holy will. I commit my life into your hands.
Love of the heart of Jesus, inflame my heart
Charity of the heart of Jesus, flow into my heart
Strength of the heart of Jesus, support my heart
Mercy of the heart of Jesus, pardon my heart
Patience of the heart of Jesus, grow not weary of my heart
Kingdom of the heart of Jesus, be in my heart
Wisdom of the heart of Jesus, teach my heart
Will of the heart of Jesus, guide my heart
Zeal of the heart of Jesus, consume my heart
Immaculate Virgin Mary, pray for me to the heart of Jesus
May he when the mountains quiver
From that flame which burns for ever
Shield me on the judgment day
+ + +
Thirteenth Station - Jesus is taken down from the cross
We adore you O Christ and we bless you
+ Because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the World
Mary at last has possession of her Son. Now when his enemies can do no more, they leave him to her in contempt. How deeply now she felt the force of Simeon’s words, ‘And your own soul a sword shall pierce.’
O Mother of sorrows, for the love of your Son, accept me as your servant and pray for me. And do you my Redeemer, since you have died for me, grant that I may love you always, for I wish but you and nothing more.
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
Amen
Jesus may thy Cross defend me
And thy saving death befriend me
Cherished by thy deathless grace
+ + +
Fourteenth Station - Jesus is laid in the tomb
We adore you O Christ and we bless you
+ Because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the World
Jesus is left alone to rest in peace. And yet he is not alone, for the Father is always with him. He came from the Father into the world, and now he has left the world and gone to the Father.
My buried Jesus, grant that I too may find your peace at life’s end. And by the merits of your own resurrection on the third day, make me rise in glory with you on the last day, to be always united with you in heaven, to praise you and love you for ever.
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 trespasses
As we forgive those who trespass against us
And lead us not into temptation
But deliver us from evil
Amen
When to dust my dust returneth
Grant a soul that to thee yearneth
In thy Paradise a place
The Lord be with you
And also with you
Christ crucified draw you to himself
To find in him a sure ground for faith
A firm support for hope
And the assurance of sins forgiven
And the blessing of God almighty, + the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit
Be with you and remain with you forever
Amen
May the Divine assistance remain with us always and may the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
Amen
Let us bless the Lord
Thanks be to God
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