Conference vmszoo::catholic-theology

Stations of the Cross

The practice of pilgrims to the Holy Land following the Way of Sorrows
from the house of Pilate to the Holy Sepulchre was the origin of this
devotion, which became widespread in the later Middle Ages, although
it was not completely formalized until the eighteenth century.  This is
a popular and appropriate devotion during Lent and Holy Week.

The devotion consists of fourteen meditations and prayers associated
with events along the Via Dolorosa.  So many forms are available that
it would be possible to use the devotion weekly each Lent and never
have to repeat a previously used form.  And, of course, personal
meditations and prayers may be used rather than a prepared form.  The
form I've provided here uses excerpts from the King James Bible for
most of the meditations but also relies on older English translations
for many of the responsive psalm extracts.

Eight of the stations are based directly on events recorded in the Gospels.
The remaining six (stations III, IV, VI, VII, IX, and XIII) are based on
inferences from the Gospels or upon pious legend, and may be omitted if
desired.

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Preparation

+ In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.  Amen.

Lord, have mercy upon us.
   Christ, have mercy upon us.
Lord, have mercy upon us.

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 tempation, but deliver us from evil.  For thine is the
kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever.  Amen.

V. God forbid that I should glory:
R. Save in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Let us pray.

Almighty God, we beseech thee graciously to behold this thy family, for
which our Lord Jesus Christ was contented to be betrayed, and given up into
the hands of wicked men, and to suffer death upon the cross; who now liveth
and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost ever, one God, world without end.
Amen.

� Stanzas of the hymn Stabat Mater may be sung with each station.

                       At the Cross her station keeping
                      Stood the mournful mother weeping,
                        Where he hung, the dying Lord.

                         For her soul of joy bereaved,
                      Bowed with anguish, deeply grieved,
                      Felt the sharp and piercing sword.

V. We adore thee, O Christ, and we bless thee,
R. Because by thy Cross and Precious Blood thou hast
   redeemed the world.

And straightaway in the morning the chief priests held a consultation with
the elders and scribes and the whole council, and bound Jesus, and carried
him away, and delivered him to Pilate.  And they all condemned him to be
guilty of death.  When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus
forth, and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called the
Pavement, but in the Hebrew, Golgotha.  Then delivered he him unto them to
be crucified.  And they took Jesus and led him away.

V. God spared not his own Son:
R. But delivered him up for us all.

Let us pray.

Grant, we beseech thee, Almighty God, that we, who for our evil deeds do
worthily deserve to be punished, by the comfort of thy grace may mercifully
be relieved; through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.  Amen.

                      Who on Christ's dear mother gazing,
                        Pierced by anguish so amazing,
                        Born of woman, would not weep?

V. We adore thee, O Christ, and we bless thee,
R. Because by thy Cross and Precious Blood thou hast
   redeemed the world.

And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a
skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha.  Though he were a Son, yet
learned he obedience by the things which he suffered.  He was led as a
sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened
he not his mouth.  Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and
riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing.

V. The Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all:
R. For the transgression of his people was he stricken.

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 the cross, may find it none other than the
way of life and peace; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

                     Who, on Christ's dear mother thinking
                        Such a cup of sorrow drinking,
                       Would not share her sorrows deep?

V. We adore thee, O Christ, and we bless thee,
R. Because by thy Cross and Precious Blood thou hast
   redeemed the world.

Christ Jesus, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be
equal with God: but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the
form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found
in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death,
even the death of the cross.  Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him,
and given him a name which is above every name.  O come, let us worship
and fall down, and kneel before the Lord our Maker, for he is the Lord
our God.

V. Surely he hath borne our griefs:
R. And carried our sorrows.

Let us pray.

O God, who knowest us to be set in the midst of so many and great dangers,
that by reason of the frailty of our nature we cannot always stand upright;
grant to us such strength and protection, as may support us in all dangers,
and carry us through all temptations; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

                       For his people's sins chastised,
                         She beheld her Son despised,
                  Scourged, and crowned with thorns entwined.

V. We adore thee, O Christ, and we bless thee,
R. Because by thy Cross and Precious Blood thou hast
   redeemed the world.

Christ Jesus, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be
equal with God: but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the
form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found
in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death,
even the death of the cross.  Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him,
and given him a name which is above every name.  O come, let us worship
and fall down, and kneel before the Lord our Maker, for he is the Lord
our God.

V. Surely he hath borne our griefs:
R. And carried our sorrows.

Let us pray.

O God, who knowest us to be set in the midst of so many and great dangers,
that by reason of the frailty of our nature we cannot always stand upright;
grant to us such strength and protection, as may support us in all dangers,
and carry us through all temptations; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

                       For his people's sins chastised,
                         She beheld her Son despised,
                  Scourged, and crowned with thorns entwined.

V. We adore thee, O Christ, and we bless thee,
R. Because by thy Cross and Precious Blood thou hast
   redeemed the world.

And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name, coming
out of the country, and on him they laid the cross, that he might bear it
after Jesus.  If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and
take up his cross and follow me.  Take my yoke upon you and learn of me;
for my yoke is easy, and my burden light.

V. Whosoever doth not bear his cross and come after me:
R. Cannot be my disciple.

Let us pray.

O God, whose blessed Son did overcome death for our salvation: Mercifully
grant that we who have his glorious passion in remembrance may take up our
cross daily and follow him; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

                         Jesus, may her deep devotion
                         Stir in me the same emotion,
                         Fount of love, Redeemer kind.

V. We adore thee, O Christ, and we bless thee,
R. Because by thy Cross and Precious Blood thou hast
   redeemed the world.

He hath no form or comeliness; and when we see him, there is no beauty that
we should desire him.  He was despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows,
and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him: he was
despised, and we esteemed him not.  His visage was so marred more than any
man, and his form more than the sons of men.  He was wounded for our
transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of
our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

V. Turn us again, O Lord God of hosts:
R. Show us the light of thy countenance, and we shall be whole.

Let us pray.

O God, who before the passion of thine only begotten Son didst reveal his
glory upon the holy mount:  Grant unto us thy servants, that in faith
beholding the light of his countenance, we may be strengthened to bear
the cross, and be changed into his likeness from glory to glory: through
the same Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

                      That my heart fresh ardor gaining,
                          And a purer love attaining,
                        May with thee acceptance find.

V. We adore thee, O Christ, and we bless thee,
R. Because by thy Cross and Precious Blood thou hast
   redeemed the world.

Surely he hath borne our griefs and carried our sorrows.  All we like
sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way; and the
Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.  He was oppressed, and he
was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: for the transgression of his
people was he stricken.

V. But as for me, I am a worm and no man:
R. A very scorn of men, and the outcast of my people.

Let us pray.

Almighty and everlasting God, who, of thy tender love towards mankind,
hast sent thy Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ, to take upon him our flesh
and to suffer death upon the cross, that all mankind should follow the
example of his great humility; Mercifully grant that we may both follow
the example of his patience, and also be made partakers of his
resurrection; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

                        True repentance, Jesus, win me:
                      Saviour print thy wounds within me.
                       Brand them on my stubborn heart.

                    As thou bought'st, through tribulation,
                         In thy passion my salvation,
                         Let me bear therein my part.

V. We adore thee, O Christ, and we bless thee,
R. Because by thy Cross and Precious Blood thou hast
   redeemed the world.

And there followed him a great company of people, and of women, which
also bewailed and lamented him.  But Jesus turning unto them said,
"Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and
for your children."

V. They that sow in tears:
R. Shall reap in joy.

Let us pray.

Almighty and everlasting God, who hatest nothing that thou has made,
and dost forgive the sins of all those who are penitent:  Create and
make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our
sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of thee, the God
of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ
our Lord.  Amen.

                       Let me mourn, O Lord, beside thee
                      For the sins which crucified thee,
                         While my life remains in me.

V. We adore thee, O Christ, and we bless thee,
R. Because by thy Cross and Precious Blood thou hast
   redeemed the world.

O my people, what have I done unto thee, or wherein have I wearied thee?
Testify against me.  Because I brought thee forth from the land of Egypt,
thou hast prepared a Cross for thy Saviour.  Because I led thee through
the desert forty years, and fed thee with manna, and brought thee into
a land exceeding good, thou hast prepared a Cross for thy Saviour.  What
more could I have done unto thee that I have not done?

V. He was led as a sheep to the slaughter:
R. And like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth.

Let us pray.

Keep, we beseech thee, O Lord, thy Church with thy perpetual mercy; and,
because the frailty of man without thee cannot but fall, keep us ever by
thy help from all things hurtful and lead us to all things profitable to
our salvation; through Christ our Lord.  Amen.

                      Take beneath the cross my station.
                           And in all thy desolation
                           So unite myself with thee.

V. We adore thee, O Christ, and we bless thee,
R. Because by thy Cross and Precious Blood thou hast
   redeemed the world.

And when they were come unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say,
place of a skull, they gave him vinegar to drink and mingled with gall:
and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink.  And they parted his
garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by
the prophet, "They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture
did they cast lots."

V. They gave me gall to eat.
R. And when I was thirsty they gave me vinegar to drink.

Let us pray.

O Lord God, whose blessed Son, our Saviour, gave his back to the smiters
and hid not his face from shame: Grant us grace to take joyfully the
sufferings of the present time, in full assurance of the glory that shall
be revealed; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

                        Jesus, great beyond all other,
                      Turn not from me, heav'nly brother,
                          Let me too bewail thy pain.

V. We adore thee, O Christ, and we bless thee,
R. Because by thy Cross and Precious Blood thou hast
   redeemed the world.

And when they were come to the place which is called Calvary, there they
crucified him.  And with him they crucified two thieves; the one on his
right hand, and the other on his left.  And the scripture was fulfilled,
which saith, "And he was numbered with the transgressors."  O my people,
what have I done unto thee?  I did raise thee on high with great power:
and thou hast hanged me upon the gibbet of the Cross.

V. I, if I be lifted up:
R. Will draw all men unto me.

Let us pray.

O God, who by the passion of thy blessed Son hast made the instrument of
shameful death to be unto us the means of life and peace: Grant us so to
glory in the Cross of Christ, that we may gladly suffer shame and loss; for
the sake of the same thy Son our Lord.  Amen.

                       Let my soul, thy death declaring,
                        Thy unsparing passion sharing,
                         Count thy bruises one by one.

V. We adore thee, O Christ, and we bless thee,
R. Because by thy Cross and Precious Blood thou hast
   redeemed the world.

When Jesus therefore saw his mother and the disciple standing by, whom
he loved, he saith unto his mother, "Woman, behold thy Son!"  Then saith
he to the disciple, "Behold thy mother!"  When Jesus therefore had received
the vinegar, he said, "It is finished."  And when he had cried with a loud
voice, he said, "Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit."  And he bowed
his head, and gave up the ghost.

� All kneel.  Then may be said the Lord's Prayer silently, after which all rise.

V. Christ for our sake became obedient unto death:
R. Even the death of the Cross.

Let us pray.

O God, who for our redemption didst give thine only-begotten Son to the
death of the Cross, and by his glorious resurrection has delivered us from
the power of our enemy; Grant us so to die daily from sin, that we may
evermore live with him in the joy of his resurrection; through the same
thy Son Christ our Lord.  Amen.

                    Let thy stripes and scourging smite me;
                         At thy holy Cross requite me,
                        Let thy blood refresh me there.

V. We adore thee, O Christ, and we bless thee,
R. Because by thy Cross and Precious Blood thou hast
   redeemed the world.

All ye that pass by, behold, and see if there be any sorrow like unto my
sorrow.  Mine eyes do fail with tears, my soul is troubled; my heart is
poured out in grief because of the downfall of my people.  Call me not
Naomi (which is Pleasant), call me Mara (which is Bitter); for the
Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me.

V. Her tears are on her cheeks:
R. She hath none to comfort her.

Let us pray.

Grant we beseech thee, merciful Lord, to thy faithful people pardon and
peace, that they may be cleansed from all their sins, and serve thee with
a quiet mind; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

                        O how said and sore distressed
                       Now was she, that mother blessed
                           Of the sole-begotten One.

V. We adore thee, O Christ, and we bless thee,
R. Because by thy Cross and Precious Blood thou hast
   redeemed the world.

When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimethaea, named Joseph,
who also himself was Jesus' disciple; he went to Pilate, and begged the
body of Jesus.  Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered.  And when
Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and laid
it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled
a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed.

V. Thou shalt not leave my soul in hell:
R. Neither shalt thou suffer thy Holy One to see corruption.

Let us pray.

Grant, O Lord, that as we are baptized into the death of thy blessed Son,
our Saviour Jesus Christ, so by continual mortifying our corrupt affection
we may be buried with him; and that through the grave, and gate of death,
we may pass to our joyful resurrection; for his merits, who died, and was
buried, and rose again for us, the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

                        Deep the woe of her affliction
                         When she saw the crucifixion
                           Of her ever glorious Son.

� Here may be said the Apostles' Creed.

V. O Saviour of the world, who by thy Cross and Precious Blood hast
   redeemed us
R. Save us and help us, we humbly beseech thee, O Lord.

Let us pray.

Almighty Father, who hast given thine only Son to die for our sins, and to
rise again for our justification; Grant us so to put away the leaven of
malice and wickedness, that we may always serve thee in pureness of living
and truth; through the merits of the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

+ The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship
of the Holy Ghost be with us all evermore.  Amen.