THE WAY

OF THE CROSS

✠

THE WAY OF THE CROSS ✠

Contemplative Preparation Leader: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Pilgrims: 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. For Thine is the kingdom, and the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen. Scripture: A Reading from John Jesus answered [Nicodemus], For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. Indeed God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. (John 3:10, 16-17) Leader: Let us pray; Jesus, as we begin this journey with you, help us to see that for you it was a journey of Love. May we learn from this walk how to follow you more closely and accept the love that you have for us. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Pilgrims: Holy Spirit, open our hearts. May we hear what the Scriptures proclaim, so that we may immerse ourselves in the mystery of the passion and death of Jesus and leave here with the hope of sharing in his resurrection. Amen.

THE FIRST STATION ✠ JESUS IS CONDEMNED TO DEATH

Leader: We praise you Jesus, and give you thanks. Pilgrims: By your holy cross you have redeemed the world. Voice: Consider how Jesus Christ, after being scourged and crowned with thorns, was unjustly condemned by Pilate to die on the cross. Scripture: A Reading from Luke But they kept urgently demanding with loud shouts that he be crucified; and their voices prevailed. So Pilate

gave his verdict that their demand should be granted. (Luke 23:24) Meditation: Lord Jesus, often I judge others and fail to be understanding or loving. Help me to see the people in my life through your eyes, and not the eyes of Pontius Pilate. (reflect) Leader: Heavenly Father, 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 Jesus Christ your Son our Lord. Amen. Pilgrims: (During movement between stations) Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and forever shall be, world without end. Amen.

THE SECOND STATION ✠ JESUS IS MADE TO CARRY HIS CROSS

Leader: We praise you Jesus, and give you thanks. Pilgrims: By your holy cross you have redeemed the world. Voice: Consider Jesus as He walked this road with the cross on His shoulders, thinking of us, and offering to His Father, on our behalf, the death He was about to suffer. Scripture: A Reading from John So the soldiers took charge of Jesus.

Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the skull. (John 19:17) Meditation: Lord Jesus, you embraced your cross to redeem the world. Help me to embrace the crosses in my life—the hardships, struggles, disappointments, and pain. Only by recognizing my own weakness, can I discover your strength. (reflect) Leader: Heavenly Father, whose beloved Son willingly endured the agony and shame of the cross for our redemption: Give us courage to take up our cross and follow him; who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen. Pilgrims: (During movement between stations) Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and forever shall be, world without end. Amen.

THE THIRD STATION ✠ JESUS FALLS THE FIRST TIME

Leader: We praise you Jesus, and give you thanks. Pilgrims: By your holy cross you have redeemed the world. Voice: Consider the first fall of Jesus. Loss of blood from the scourging and crowning with thorns had so weakened Him that He could hardly walk; and yet He had to carry that great load upon His shoulders. As the soldiers struck Him cruelly, He fell several times under the heavy cross.

Meditation: Lord Jesus, you know how often I fall trying to follow you. Yet you are always there to lift me up. Forgive me when I fail you and help me to always trust in your loving care for me. (reflect) Pilgrims: My beloved Jesus, it was not the weight of the cross but the weight of my sins that made you suffer so much. By the merits of this first fall, save me from falling into mortal sin. Leader: Almighty God, you know 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 us strength and protection that will support us in all dangers, and carry us through all temptations; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Pilgrims: (During movement between stations) Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and forever shall be, world without end. Amen.

THE FOURTH STATION ✠ JESUS MEETS HIS SORROWFUL MOTHER

Leader: We praise you Jesus, and give you thanks. Pilgrims: By your holy cross you have redeemed the world. Voice: Consider how the Son met His Mother on the way to Calvary. Jesus and Mary gazed at each other and their looks became as so many arrows to wound those hearts that loved each other so tenderly. Meditation: Lord Jesus, your Mother Mary’s grief was surpassed

by her love for you. So often you come to me in others and their love gives me new life. Help me to see how often you love me through the people in my life. (reflect) Leader: Heavenly Father, who willed that in the passion of your Son, a sword of grief should pierce the soul of the Blessed Virgin Mary his mother; Mercifully grant that your people, having shared with her in his passion, may be worthy to share in the joys of his resurrection; who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen. Pilgrims: (During movement between stations) Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and forever shall be, world without end. Amen.

THE FIFTH STATION ✠ SIMON OF CYRENE HELPS JESUS TO CARRY HIS CROSS

Leader: We praise you Jesus, and give you thanks. Pilgrims: By your holy cross you have redeemed the world. Voice: Consider how weak and weary Jesus was. At each step He was at the point of expiring. The soldiers, fearing that He would die on the way when they wished Him to die the infamous death of the cross, forced Simon of Cyrene to help carry the cross after Our Lord.

Scripture: A Reading from Matthew As they were on the way to the execution grounds they came across a man from Cyrene, Simon was his name, and forced him to carry Jesus’ cross. (Matthew 27:32) Meditation: Lord Jesus, I confess to you that sometimes I am blind and indifferent to the needs of others. I even neglect those whom I love. Help me to see that loving others is the surest way to find you in my life. (reflect) Leader: Heavenly Father, you know me better than I know myself. May your Holy Spirit remove anything in my heart that is not of you. Shine the light of your truth into the dark places to illumine areas I need to change, so that my light may clearly reflect your glory. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Pilgrims: (During movement between stations) Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and forever shall be, world without end. Amen.

THE SIXTH STATION ✠ VERONICA WIPES THE FACE OF JESUS

Leader: We praise you Jesus, and give you thanks. Pilgrims: By your holy cross you have redeemed the world. Voice: Consider the compassion of the holy woman, Veronica. Seeing Jesus in such distress, His face covered in sweat and blood, she presented Him with her veil. Jesus wiped His face, and left upon the cloth the image of His sacred countenance.

Meditation: Lord Jesus, at times I am afraid to reach out to others. I do nothing when I should act; I say nothing when I should speak out. Give me a deeper and more courageous faith. Help me to trust that you are with me. (reflect) Pilgrims: My beloved Jesus, your face was beautiful before you began this journey; but now it is disfigured with wounds and blood. My soul was beautiful, but I disfigure it with my sins. Leader: Heavenly Father, who before the passion of your only-begotten Son revealed his glory upon the holy mountain: Grant to us that we, beholding by faith the light of his countenance, may be strengthened to bear our cross, and be changed into his likeness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Pilgrims: (During movement between stations) Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and forever shall be world without end. Amen.

THE SEVENTH STATION ✠ JESUS FALLS THE SECOND TIME

Leader: We praise you Jesus, and give you thanks. Pilgrims: By your holy cross you have redeemed the world. Voice: Consider how the second fall of Jesus under His cross renews the pain in all the wounds of the head and body of our suffering Lord. Meditation: Lord Jesus, your failing strength makes me see how helpless I am. You said, “apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). Help me to rely on your strength so I can see how much I need you. (reflect)

Leader: Dearest Jesus, while your body is physically tired, your love is tireless. You are never too tired to forgive us no matter how many times we ask. It is not your weakness, but rather our weakness and the burden of our sins that made you fall. Forgive us for all the times we have fallen away from you because we did our will. Imprint in our minds and on our hearts your wounds and all your pains, so that we will remember how much you suffered for us, and then always choose to live in your will. In your most Holy Name we pray. Amen. Pilgrims: (During movement between stations) Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and forever shall be, world without end. Amen.

THE EIGHTH STATION ✠ THE WOMEN OF JERUSALEM WEEP OVER JESUS

Leader: We praise you Jesus, and give you thanks. Pilgrims: By your holy cross you have redeemed the world. Voice: Consider how the women wept with compassion seeing Jesus so distressed and dripping with blood as He walked along. Jesus said to them, “Weep not so much for me, but rather for your children.” Scripture: A Reading from Luke

Great crowds trailed along behind, and many grief-stricken women. But Jesus turned to them and said “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but for yourselves and for your children…” (Luke 23:27-31) Meditation: Lord Jesus, even on the road to your death, you thought of your children. Your great compassion for others overwhelms me. Help me to make your loving sacrifice real in my life by sharing it with others. (reflect) Leader: Heavenly Father, using your beloved Son as our example, help us to be loving, kind, and compassionate with others. Forgive us when we fail you. Help us to always look upon his ‘way of the cross’ as a reminder of His never-failing love, kindness, and compassion for us. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Pilgrims: (During movement between stations) Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and forever shall be, world without end. Amen.

THE NINTH STATION ✠ JESUS FALLS THE THIRD TIME

Leader: We praise you Jesus, and give you thanks. Pilgrims: By your holy cross you have redeemed the world. Voice: Consider how Jesus fell for the third time. He was extremely weak and the cruelty of His executioners was excessive; they tried to hasten His steps, though He hardly had strength to move. Meditation: Lord Jesus, in your third fall I see my sins added to your already too heavy burden. I often hide behind

my pride and self-pity, withdrawing from you and others. Seeing you rise from the ground gives me courage to confront my sins in the light of your love for me. (reflect) Pilgrims: I love you Jesus with all of my heart. I am sorry for ever having offended you. Never permit me to offend you again. By your mercy, grant that I may love you always; and then do with me what you will. Leader: Heavenly Father, who for our redemption gave your only Son to the death of the cross, and by his glorious resurrection delivered us from the power of the enemy: Grant us to die daily to sin, that we may evermore live with him in the joy of his resurrection; who lives and reigns now and forever. Amen. Pilgrims: (During movement between stations) Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and forever shall be, world without end. Amen.

THE TENTH STATION ✠ JESUS IS STRIPPED OF HIS GARMENTS

Leader: We praise you Jesus, and give you thanks. Pilgrims: By your holy cross you have redeemed the world. Voice: Consider how Jesus was violently stripped of His clothes by His executioners. The inner garments adhered to His lacerated flesh. Have pity for your Savior so cruelly treated. Scripture: A Reading from John When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they put his garments into four piles, one for each of them. But they said, Let’s not

tear up his robe, for it was seamless. “Let’s throw dice to see who gets it”. This fulfilled the scripture that says, “They divided my clothes among them, and cast lots for my robe.” (John 19:23-24) Meditation: Lord Jesus, seeing you so cruelly humiliated makes me realize how I cling to my accomplishments, my possessions, my way. Help me to let go of those things in my life that prevent me from growing closer to you and others. (reflect) Leader: Innocent Jesus, by the torment you suffered in being stripped of your garments, help us to strip ourselves of all attachments for the things of the earth, that we may place all our love in you who are so worthy of our love; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Pilgrims: (During movement between stations) Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and forever shall be world without end. Amen.

THE ELEVENTH STATION ✠ JESUS IS NAILED TO THE CROSS

Leader: We praise you Jesus, and give you thanks. Pilgrims: By your holy cross you have redeemed the world. Voice: Consider Jesus, thrown down upon the cross, He stretched out His arms and offered to His Eternal Father the sacrifice of His life for our salvation. They nailed His hands and feet, and then raising the cross, left Him to die in anguish.

Scripture: A Reading from Mark And then they crucified him...it was about nine o'clock in the morning when the crucifixion took place. (Mark 15:24-25) Meditation: Lord Jesus, I can never doubt your great love for me when I see you crucified. Help me to see your cross as the great sign of your love for me. (reflect) Leader: Beloved Jesus, you stretched out your arms of love on the hard wood of the cross that everyone might come within the reach of your saving embrace: Fill us with your Holy Spirit that we, reaching forth our hands in love, may bring those who do not know you to the knowledge and love of you; for the honor of your Name. Amen. Pilgrims: (During movement between stations) Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and forever shall be, world without end. Amen.

THE TWELFTH STATION ✠ JESUS IS RAISED UPON THE CROSS AND DIES

Leader: We praise you Jesus, and give you thanks. Pilgrims: By your holy cross you have redeemed the world. Voice: Consider how Jesus, after three hours of agony on the cross, is finally overwhelmed with suffering, and abandoning Himself to the weight of His body, bows His head and dies. Scripture: A Reading from Luke It was about the sixth hour and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth

hour, for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain in the temple was torn in two. Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last. (Pause) The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, “Truly, this was the Son of God!” (Luke 23:44-47) Meditation: Lord Jesus, your broken and lifeless body calls me to deeper faith. You chose death, even death on the cross. Help me to see the crosses I bear as ways of loving you. (reflect) Leader: Heavenly Father, by the passion of your beloved Son, you made an instrument of shameful death to be for us the means of life: Grant us so to glorify His cross, that we may suffer shame and loss for the sake of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. Pilgrims: (During movement between stations) Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and forever shall be, world without end. Amen.

THE THIRTEENTH STATION ✠ JESUS IS TAKEN DOWN FROM THE CROSS AND

PLACED IN THE ARMS OF HIS MOTHER Leader: We praise you Jesus, and give you thanks. Pilgrims: By your holy cross you have redeemed the world. Voice: Consider how, after our Lord had died, He was taken down from the cross by two of His disciples, Joseph and Nicodemus, and placed in the arms of His grieving mother. She received Him with utter tenderness and pressed Him close to her.

Scripture: A Reading from Luke (Luke 23:53) So he took down Jesus’ body and wrapped it in a long linen cloth…

Meditation: Lord Jesus, seeing your body taken from the cross reminds me how fearful I am of letting go of my own life. Help me to place my life in your hands. Help me to remember that my soul must be precious in your sight to deserve such a loving sacrifice. (reflect) Leader: Most merciful Savior, by your death you took away the sting of death: Grant to us your servants so to follow in faith where you lead the way, that we may at length fall asleep peacefully in you and wake in your likeness; for your tender mercies sake. Amen. Pilgrims: (During movement between stations) Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and forever shall be, world without end. Amen.

THE FOURTEENTH STATION ✠ JESUS IS LAID IN THE SEPULCHRE

Leader: We praise you Jesus, and give you thanks. Pilgrims: By your holy cross you have redeemed the world. Voice: Consider how the body of Jesus was carried to its burial, while His holy Mother went with them. They then closed the tomb and all departed. Scripture: A Reading from Matthew Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and placed it in his

own new rock-hewn tomb, and rolled a great stone across the entrance as he left. Both Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting nearby watching. (Matthew 27:59-61) Meditation: Lord Jesus, when I see the great stone sealing your tomb, I feel alone and abandoned. Even though you sometimes feel distant or absent in my life, help me to realize that it is I who has pulled away from you and to always feel your closeness, your peace and your loving presence. Enclose me in your Sacred Heart that I might lose myself in your love, because only there will I be able to truly understand how much you love me and how much you suffered for me. Give me the grace to walk the Way of the Cross every day for you. (reflect) Leader: Most merciful Father, your blessed Son was laid in a tomb in a garden, and rested on the Sabbath day: Grant that we, his children by the waters of Baptism, may find our rest in his eternal and glorious kingdom; through Christ our Lord. Amen. Pilgrims: Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and forever shall be, world without end. Amen.

THE WAY OF THE CROSS ✠

Concluding Prayers Leader: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Pilgrims: My good and dear Jesus, we come before you now, asking you most earnestly to engrave upon our heart a deep and lively faith, hope, and charity, with true repentance for our sins, and a firm resolve to make amends. Jesus, with joy we view your victorious wounds; help us to meditate on them and to see in them the sign of victory. May they give us courage to go forth with your blessing.

Leader: Go from this place...meditate on what you have witnessed here...and prepare yourself for the miracle of the resurrection of the Son of God. Pilgrims: Amen

THE WAY

OF THE CROSS

✠