Quick link to the Stations of the Cross for each week of Lent
Every Saturday morning during Lent at 9.30am, the Way of the Cross will be celebrated in Church before 10am Exposition with a different emphasis each week. You can also view the Stations online and the text will be available to help you reflect upon this prayerful journey through our Lord’s passion and death.
The text for the service each Saturday can be viewed online via the individual tabs below. It can also be downloaded in pdf form using the download buttons below.
The text for Stations of the Cross on Good Friday can be viewed or downloaded using the button above.
Photographs taken around the church showing the Stations of the Cross
Week 1 – Way of the Cross in a Time of Conflict
Sign of the Cross
Jesus prayed before his Passion that his cup of suffering be taken from him yet he undertook his final journey in a selfless act giving us the hope of eternal life. Today many other innocent victims are praying that their suffering will also pass may they also receive that gift of hope. Today many other innocent victims are praying that their suffering will also pass may they also receive that gift of hope.
PRAYER: Jesus, you embrace the whole world from the cross: forgive our failings, heal our hearts and grant us your peace.
The First Station Jesus is condemned to death
We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you.
Because by your Holy Cross, you have redeemed the world.
Washing his hands of innocent blood –Pilate condemns Jesus to death.
World leaders wash their hands of innocent blood: collateral damage –unfortunate victims of war.
PRAYER: Lord, forgive your people. Bring those who have died into the light of your presence –enfold them in your eternal mercy and love.
I love you Jesus, my love, above all things: I repent with my whole heart of having offended you. Never permit me to separate myself from you again. Grant that I may love you always and then do with me what you will.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be
The Second Station Jesus receives the Cross
We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you.
Because by your Holy Cross, you have redeemed the world.
Taking upon himself the burden of unwarranted suffering – Jesus shares the lot of all those who are overburdened. So many were already burdened with poverty and illness –and now have the burdens of fear of death or severe injury –fear of what will happen to loved ones –what will happen to their future.
PRAYER: Lord, you share the burdens of those who are overwhelmed by fear and anguish of heart. Show us ways in which we can share their burden – to be in solidarity with them –our brothers and sisters.
Glory Be….
The Third Station Jesus falls for the first time
We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you.
Because by your Holy Cross, you have redeemed the world.
The burden of the cross becomes too great – and Jesus falls. People scrabble for food but are not strong enough to get to the front of the queue. They are pushed aside: the children, the weak, the frail, the elderly. They fall, and the food disappears into the hands of the strong or to those who will sell it to them at extortionate prices. Their strength is further sapped, their weakness increases; in the dust they despair.
PRAYER: Lord, our brothers and sisters fall –too weak to stand up to the strong. Help us to support them through the work of agencies who can work alongside – protecting the weak raising the lowly.
Our Father…..
The Fourth Station Jesus meets his mother
We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you.
Because by your Holy Cross, you have redeemed the world.
Where else can a mother be? Drawn to the suffering of her child – Mary meets her son.
So many mothers are watching their children die with no access to medical aid or drugs to alleviate their suffering. Mothers cower over their children, using their own bodies to try to protect them from bombs and bullets. Pregnant women are killed before meeting their unborn children.
PRAYER: Lord, you looked into the eyes of your mother and saw how your suffering increased the anguish of her heart. Yet she would not leave you –she would not abandon you. May her heart reach out in love to all the mothers whose hearts are broken or filled with fear for their children.
Hail Mary….
The Fifth Station Simon of Cyrene helps to carry the cross
We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you.
Because by your Holy Cross, you have redeemed the world.
Seeing Jesus’ increasing weakness Simon of Cyrene is pressed into helping to carry the cross. A man in the crowd – who did not even know Jesus – forced to share his burden. How many men and women – whose names we may never know – are tonight sharing the burdens of suffering? Soldiers become brothers and sisters– sharing the fear – the grief for fallen comrades –striving to fight for peace –trying to show a human face in an inhuman war.
Prayer Lord, you had the strength of another man to share an intolerable burden. Bless all those who are using their strength to defend the weak –those who are sharing the burdens of those unable to carry them alone. Strengthen their sense of purpose, temper their determination to succeed with compassion for those they seek to liberate.
Glory Be….
The Sixth Station Veronica wipes the face of Jesus
We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you.
Because by your Holy Cross, you have redeemed the world.
A woman overwhelmed with pity comes from the crowd and wipes the face of Jesus. People wiping the tears of those who are broken-hearted – tending the wounds of those who are injured and in pain –going into places of danger to love and serve those in great need.
PRAYER: Lord, the tenderness of Veronica’s gesture –simple and loving –reflected in countless simple gestures of loving service. Bless those who show the courage to come forward and be seen –protect them as they show mercy and compassion for your people.
Our Father…
The Seventh Station Jesus falls the second time
We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you.
Because by your Holy Cross, you have redeemed the world.
The burden of the cross again overwhelms Jesus – and he falls a second time.How often can we pick ourselves up and start again. A people dominated by fear –oppressed and afraid –knowing the fate of those who tried to take a stand before them. Where do they get the courage to believe in their future – and to act in that belief that this time – this time it will succeed?
PRAYER: Lord, the people enduring conflict are bruised and battered –and some are without hope. Raise their eyes to a new future –give them confidence in their own strength and belief that they can make a difference –for themselves –for their future.
The Eighth Station The women of Jerusalem mourn for Jesus
We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you.
Because by your Holy Cross, you have redeemed the world.
Mourning – weeping – wailing – keening –the sound of grief that fills homes – streets – hospitals – and bomb-sites. Parents weep again for their children –and cannot be comforted.
PRAYER: Lord, you told the women of Jerusalem to weep not for you –but for themselves and for their children in so many war torn places - and now they do. Words spoken here cannot bring consolation –but take our love and our prayer –add it to your own –and let the little we can offer –be of some comfort and support to those left distraught and broken.
Hail Mary…
The Ninth Station Jesus falls for the third time
We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you.
Because by your Holy Cross, you have redeemed the world.
Weakened beyond endurance – Jesus falls for the third time. There will be some who will be overcome with despair –whose souls are ground down into the dust –for whom the prospect of rising to new challenges is beyond their strength –beyond wildest hopes.
PRAYER: Lord, you know the depths of utter fatigue –the sense of utter helplessness. Infuse your love and hope into the hearts of those who despair of beginning again –for whom future happiness is glimpsed only through the awareness of pain yet to come. Help us too to believe that we can make a difference –when all seems darkness – despair – and repeated failure.
Glory Be…
The Tenth Station Jesus is stripped of his clothing
We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you.
Because by your Holy Cross, you have redeemed the world.
How many people have been stripped of everything –their dignity lost in years of sanctions –their hope by years of oppression, grief and suffering -their wounds visible for the world to see? Some onlookers view with compassion –others with idle curiosity – and others with unwholesome gloating that this is the price of success.
PRAYER: Lord, a people stands naked before the world’s gaze. Let that gaze be compassionate, may their suffering evoke in us a desire to ease their pain and the will to fight for peace with justice in the whole of the earth.
Our Father…..
The Eleventh Station Jesus is nailed to the cross
We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you.
Because by your Holy Cross, you have redeemed the world.
Stories of great cruelty inflicted on rivals –torture and random killings of those who disagreed. People living with deep, cruel scars –minds haunted by memories too fearful to share. Nails driven through minds and hearts – pinning them to terror, to fear and to despair.
PRAYER: Lord, we cannot begin to imagine the pain you endured –but your pain makes your compassion real for those who have suffered unimaginable agony. Pour your healing love over them –enfold them in your mercy. Give them a sense of security –so that the wounds inflicted on body, mind and spirit can slowly be healed and, like yours, become signs of glory –of witness to the triumph of good over evil.
Hail Mary
The Twelfth Station Jesus dies on the cross
We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you.
Because by your Holy Cross, you have redeemed the world.
Jesus cried out in a loud voice “father into your hand I commend my spirit” Then bowing his head, he dies.
PAUSE FOR SILENT REFLECTION
So many deaths –some swift and unexpected –some slow and lingering. Death – no respecter of age, killing the elderly and frail – young soldiers – men and women in the prime of life –children – and babies yet unborn.
PRAYER: Lord, death feels final. Sudden death leaves us stunned and reeling –our hearts bleed for those who suffer long, slow decline. We entrust the souls of all who have died in war to your mercy. We ask you, who walked through the veil of death, to be there to meet them – and lead them home.
Glory Be…
The Thirteenth Station Jesus is taken down from the cross
We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you.
Because by your Holy Cross, you have redeemed the world.
A mother holding her dead child; friends standing in disbelief that the one they have loved has died. Long moments of weeping, sighing, longing to bring them back to life – but not to the suffering –never back to the suffering.
PRAYER: Lord, those moments of loss –as the reality that the one we love is no longer there. The hand we touch is cold – the heart is still. May those who mourn find comfort in the love of family and friends – may the love of your mother, who held you in her arms –bring them comfort. May our compassion transcend the distance that separates us and, in the solidarity of humanity, touch their souls with our love.
Our Father……
The Fourteenth Station Jesus is placed in the tomb
We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you.
Because by your Holy Cross, you have redeemed the world.
The final glimpse of the one who has been so loved. A last touch – and then – the end. A hasty burial with few mourners. A lonely cremation in a burnt-out tank. The moment when death becomes reality –the moment of parting –the moment of walking away –to try to pick up the pieces and rebuild a life.
PRAYER: Lord, so many people are standing by gravesides wondering how to rebuild life without the one they love. May they find hope in the midst of their grief –a conviction that their loved one did not die in vain and that they are safe, free from pain and fear, at rest in God’s loving arms for ever.
I love You, Jesus, my love above all things, I repent with my whole heart for having offended You. Never permit me to separate myself from You again. Grant that I may love You always and then do with me what You will.
Our Father…
Hail Mary…
Glory Be…
CLOSING PRAYER
In the rubble and carnage of war – what hope can we find? In the suffering and despair of humanity – how can we believe in the future? In the face of death – how can we believe in resurrection?
PRAYER: Lord, at times like these our faith can be tested to the full. We share the desolation of people torn apart by suffering and wonder whether life really is stronger than death. Yet you have walked through death to new life, your family and friends bore witness to your resurrection. We trust your word and their witness and look to the future with confidence that the cause of all the pain in the world is sin –but all shall be well –and all shall be well –and all manner of thing shall be well.
Sign of the Cross
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Week 2 – Way Of The Cross To Redemption
In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Jesus took the road of subservience. He entered into darkness and human weakness to take on everything but he was to rise again, with all his brothers and sisters in humanity to his beloved Father. Jesus invites all of us to follow him on this journey in order to rise in the glory of the Father.
I love you, Jesus, my love above all things, I repent with my whole heart of having offended you. Never permit me to separate myself from you again. Grant that I may love you always and then do with me what you will.
The First Station Jesus is condemned to death
We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you. Because by your Holy Cross, you have redeemed the world.
Jesus stands before us, an innocent yet condemned man. His very name means “God saves” and he himself tells us: “God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” To accomplish the work of redemption, Jesus willingly allows himself to be condemned to death on our behalf, the sinless for the sinful.
PRAYER: Lord, you stood alone, an innocent man sentenced to death, while I stand before you, sinful but granted eternal life. Help me to recall this when my life seems to get the best of me, when my life weighs me down, and when I feel as though no one is on my side. On the other side of your trial, abandonment, and death awaited the resurrection. Help me to grow in that light, knowing you are always at my side, and trusting whatever happens you are at work redeeming the moment.
I Love you Jesus, my love above all things, I repent with my whole heart of having offended you. Never permit me to separate myself from you again. Grant that I may love you always and then do with me what you will.
Our Father
The Second Station Jesus accepts the Cross
We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you. Because by your Holy Cross, you have redeemed the world.
Each one of us meets the Cross at one point or another: A layoff notice; divorce; a car accident, illness; violence. We cannot escape much of life’s more chronic trials: Strained relationships; the tedium of toil, uncertainty …. Whatever its form, the Cross awaits us – not to punish or torture, but simply because ours is a broken world in need of redemption. Jesus willingly accepts the Cross he received. Jesus takes it all, and through his Cross, the world is redeemed. Likewise, our crosses become openings for transformation, challenges to embrace, and opportunities for healing in ways that go beyond our present circumstances.
PRAYER: Lord, for you all things are possible. Remove this cross – but only according to your will. No matter what happens, help me to accept patiently what I must bear; give me the courage to overcome what I am able; and grant me the wisdom to unite my suffering with that of Christ’s, so that I may become the person you have called me to be.
Glory Be…
The Third Station Jesus falls the First Time
We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you. Because by your Holy Cross, you have redeemed the world.
When someone falls, our first instinct is to help them up. If we look around us more intently, we’ll see that many are falling one way or another – whether physically, emotionally, or spiritually. It is here that the eyes of Christ meet ours. On his shoulders, quite literally, rests the weight of the world, its people, and their sins. And it is heavy so he stumbles. His divine nature is able to get back up again. In him, with him, and through him, we also are lifted off the ground. By this Cross, we are lifted back to our feet, better equipped to recognize Christ in others and be Christ to them.
PRAYER: Jesus, when we fall and feel discouraged, may we know that you are especially close to us giving us the strength to stand up and walk again, Make our hearts tender to all those who fall under the weight of their cross and grant us renewed charity and unity.
Our Father…..
The Fourth Station Jesus meets His Mother
We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you. Because by your Holy Cross, you have redeemed the world.
Who can withstand the gaze of a mother – whether it’s a look of compassion, commendation, or consternation? Along the way of the Cross, Mary comes face to face with the fruit of her womb. As the new Eve – the mother of all the living whose “yes” to God reverses the first Eve’s “no” – she has a role to play in our redemption. Gazing at her son she intercedes for each of us. With Mary’s faithfulness, we are assured of grasping the mystery she pondered while on earth – that what is broken will emerge whole and transformed from an empty tomb at the dawn of eternal life.
PRAYER: Mary, you fix your gaze eternally on the mysteries of Jesus, and in in so doing, you meet the entire Body of Christ along the way. Ask him to help me do the same, so that my every thought, word and action originate from Jesus. As I bear my own cross in this life, ask him to take hold of me, to lift my body, heart, and soul to himself, so that I may be strengthened, so that through me, his love may radiate to all souls
Hail Mary….
The Fifth Station Simon helps Jesus carry His Cross
We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you. Because by your Holy Cross, you have redeemed the world.
Simon tries to slip through the crowd, pretending not to notice. Suddenly, providence touches his shoulder. “Why me?” he asks. Then his eyes meet those of Jesus, and their hearts speak as one “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Christ works with us, encourages us, and promises joy beyond all knowing. When we are pressed into service to bear a cross we didn’t seek, we must pray for strength and recall that, in the end, the cross does not belong to us, but to Christ, who bears it for all.
PRAYER: Lord, we don’t get to choose our crosses, and it is difficult for us to see and accept the reasons they are thrust upon us. May we be unashamed to accept help when we need it and may we be eager to offer aid when others have needs. May our mutual dependence be a source of joy and an occasion of grace.
Glory Be….
The Sixth Station Veronica wipes the Face of Jesus
We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you. Because by your Holy Cross, you have redeemed the world.
Our deepest desire is to see his face of the God who made us. As he was led to his crucifixion, Jesus’ face was slapped, spat upon, and mocked. Even worse, it was ignored, as passers-by turned their faces and pretended not to see. Veronica demonstrates an example of tremendous compassion through one simple act. Approaching Jesus, she steps through the surrounding cruelty and indifference, and with a cloth wipes the grime and exhaustion from his face. She beholds the face of God, and her heart rests in him whose image she bears.
PRAYER: Lord, I long to see your face. Help me to see it more clearly in the faces of your children. Help me to reach out in compassion to the physically or spiritually hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the poor, the sick and the imprisoned. Grant me the courage to resist the selfishness, indifference, and cruelty of human nature, and instead minister to the weak, suffering and needy, for as Jesus said, “Just as you did it to the least of my brothers, you did it to me.
Our Father…
The Seventh Station Jesus falls for the Second Time
We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you. Because by your Holy Cross, you have redeemed the world.
Once again, Christ stumbles and falls to the ground. Out of immense love for us, God lowers himself in Jesus to restore the dignity that sin has stripped from humanity. God stoops to us, allows himself to be broken and shared among us, so that we who are so broken may together become the whole Christ, blessed and shared with all.
PRAYER: Lord, how often I stumble and fall, but you are with me every step of the way to lift me up, to encourage and strengthen me. Help me each day to truly realize what you have done for me, so that your mercy and grace may inspire me to encourage and strengthen others – not from a position of superiority, but from your own self-sacrificing love.
Glory Be….
The Eighth Station Jesus meets the Women of Jerusalem
We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you. Because by your Holy Cross, you have redeemed the world.
Unable to contain their sorrow and compassion for the suffering Jesus, a group of women following him along the way to Calvary openly mourns for him. Jesus asks them to set their sights on the eternal, to lament supernaturally the underlying reason for his necessary suffering – the evil that humanity habitually falls into, and the good it often neglect to do. “Weep instead”, Jesus says, for those among you who refuse to turn and follow me”. We must “weep” – that is, intercede – for the entire Body of Christ, that through him we may all be brought to everlasting life.
PRAYER: Jesus, bruised and broken, never let us pass by when my brother or sister weeps and needs us. Help us to awaken hope to all who need our compassion and help.
Our Father…
The Ninth Station Jesus falls for The Third Time
We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you. Because by your Holy Cross, you have redeemed the world.
Weary and exhausted, Jesus collapses once again under the weight of humanity’s pride. How often do we feel utterly overwhelmed by our weakness? We make sincere resolutions to change, but then fall once again. Typically, we do not stumble over new obstacles, but over the same old ones that continually trip us up no matter how hard we try to step around them. Human failure in this life is to be expected. The point is to recognize it, acknowledge it, look to Christ for further strength and courage and move on. When we are weak – and admit it – it is then that we are strong.
PRAYER: Lord, forgive me. My pride is my shame, but your mercy is my peace. Strengthen me as I shoulder my cross, and lift me up when I fall. Help me to forgive myself and move on. By your grace, may I always extend to others the mercy you’ve granted me, so that one little by little, step by step, we may all keep to your way. You are our strength and salvation.
Hail Mary…
The Tenth Station Jesus Is stripped of His Garments
We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you. Because by your Holy Cross, you have redeemed the world.
Jesus is stripped of his garments in front of everyone. For our sake, he not only lets go of his human life, but his very dignity as a person. Little by little, from birth to death, we must inevitably learn to let go of what we possess. “Those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will save it.” With an honest self-examination, we can all list desires that need to be stripped away from our lives.
PRAYER: Lord, be patient with me as I learn to detach myself from any love which does not have you as its origin and end. Help me to be with those who also are in the process of being stripped of what they hold dear. Grant us all the vision to realize that as we let go of the desires that clothe us, you stand ready to wrap us in the garment of salvation and the robe of righteousness.
Glory Be…
The Eleventh Station. Jesus is nailed to the Cross
We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you. Because by your Holy Cross, you have redeemed the world.
Here, perhaps more than anywhere else, we see God’s undeniable mercy and undying love for each of every one of us. Though he is innocent, Jesus willingly stretches out his Body upon a Cross reserved for the worst of criminals and insurrectionists. On that Cross, in the Body of Christ, hangs our every fault, fear, and tear. Every ounce of it is put to death with him and transformed by the Resurrection three days later. God does what only God can: He makes the imperfect perfect, brings new life from death, changes mourning into dancing.
PRAYER: If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities, Lord, who could stand? But there is forgiveness with you, so that you may be revered. For with the Lord there is steadfast love, and with him is the great power to redeem.
Our Father….
The twelfth Station Jesus dies on the Cross
We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you. Because by your Holy Cross, you have redeemed the world.
Jesus had been seized, tortured and crucified by fear and hatred. He who only offered love had been put to death. He cries out “Father into your hands I commend my spirit”
PAUSE FOR SILENT REFLECTION
PRAYER: Jesus by your death, you teach us to embrace love and so to live a full life. May we have solidarity with those who suffer, mercy towards our enemies and generosity to the poor.
Hail Mary….
The Thirteenth Station Jesus Is taken down from the Cross
We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you. Because by your Holy Cross, you have redeemed the world.
Look at Mary’s eyes as she cradles the body of her son, Jesus, after he has breathed his last. Can you discern how she pieces together the mysteries of Christ which she has pondered in her heart from the very beginning? Now, beneath the Cross, her son’s body in her arms, the words of the boy Jesus resounds once again in Mary’s heart: “Why are you searching for me? Do you not know that I must be about my Father’s business?”
PRAYER: Mary, Mother of the Church, you are the hope of all Christian pilgrims on the way to heaven where you and your son Jesus, the Lamb of God, await us all.
The Fourteenth Station Jesus Is laid in the Tomb
We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you. Because by your Holy Cross, you have redeemed the world.
As the stone is rolled over your tomb, Lord Jesus, your loved ones leave to prepare for the Sabbath. They grieve the loss of their most precious friend and teacher. Despair and grief are ever-present today. Loss of life, love, home, family, identity, community and hope can break us. We need to share in the mourning, divide the despair, and conquer fear together.
PRAYER: We pray for strength to be present to one another especially in times of doubt, confusion, and despair. For this we pray: God among us, hear our prayer.
Glory Be
CLOSING PRAYER
Our Jesus, guide us from the Cross to the resurrection and teach us that evil shall not have the last word, but rather it be love mercy and forgiveness. O Christ help me to exclaim again: “yesterday I was crucified with Christ; today I am glorified with Him; yesterday I died with Him, today I live in him, yesterday I was buried with Him, today I am raised with Him. (Pope Francis)
Prayer: As we journey through Lent and prepare ourselves to enter into the Paschal Mystery of your Passion, Death and Resurrection we make this prayer in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen
Adapted from: ww.daylesford.org/about-us/stations-of-the-cross/
Week 3 – Stations of the Cross based on Pope Francis Urbi et Orbi
In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit Amen.
First Station: Jesus is condemned to death
We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you. Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
When Pilate condemned Jesus to death, it seemed like there was no hope. He stood alone unjustly judged, falsely accused.
Prayer: Dear Lord, when we are misjudged or falsely accused we are standing in darkness. Give us the strength to bear the injustice with tolerance, as our way of following You, on the way to the cross.
Jesus Christ Son of God we remember your journey. Guide us on our way.
Our Father – Hail Mary – Glory Be …
Second Station: Jesus carries his Cross
We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you. Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
Jesus carried the heavy cross out of love for us. So too must we put up with the trials and crosses we face in following Him. In this way our individual crosses can become a means of salvation for us.
Prayer: We bring to mind those who carry a cross today. Those who have suffered a bereavement, lost a job or who are terminally ill. We remember those who feel lonely or carry the burden of past mistakes. May they be reminded of the words of Pope Francis “The Cross is our Hope”Jesus Christ Son of God we remember your journey. Guide us on our way.
Our Father..
Third Station: Jesus falls for the first time
We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you. Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
Jesus, our Lord, fell beneath the weight of His heavy cross. He knows we need His help when we stumble and fall in following Him. When we turn to Him in our distress, He will not fail to come to our aid.
Prayer: Jesus, you took our human nature so you know what it means to fall when one is weak. There are times when we fall when we ignore the needs of others in our community.. Help us Jesus to always be present for the distressed, lonely and housebound in the parish and wider community. Jesus Christ Son of God we remember your journey. Guide us on our way.
Hail Mary..
Fourth Station: Jesus meets his mother
We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you. Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
How Mary must have grieved to see her Son, Jesus, being led to his crucifixion. Our Lady shared the pain with her son, and so she will also shares in His triumph over death. Our Saviour gives us this same opportunity.
Prayer: Mother Mary, we can only imagine the sorrow that you carried in your heart, as you followed Jesus on the way to the cross. Please give us all the grace to have faith and trust in God when things go wrong and we watch our families and friends in hardship or pain. May we surrender our loved ones totally to God, as you did with your son. Jesus Christ Son of God we remember your journey. Guide us on our way.
Glory Be …
Fifth Station: Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus to carry his Cross
We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you. Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
Simon’s strength eases some of the burden for Jesus as he follows behind in his footsteps. We know nothing about Simon except that on this day he found himself helping a beaten and abused prisoner. You press on knowing the worst is yet to come.
Prayer: Jesus, we pray that, just like Simon, we can help others by sharing the burden of their crosses. Just spending time with and supporting those who are lonely and distressed, the homeless and refugees can ease the weight of their crosses.Jesus Christ Son of God we remember your journey. Guide us on our way.
Our Father..
Sixth Station: Veronica wipes the face of Jesus
We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you. Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
Veronica had the courage to step out of the crowd and wipe the blood and sweat from the face of Jesus.
Jesus rewarded Veronica with the imprint of his face on the cloth.
Prayer: Imprint your face dear Lord on our hearts, so we will work among the suffering people in our communities – the lonely, the sick, the disabled and the housebound. Show us how to help others wipe away their tears of sadness and loneliness.Jesus Christ Son of God we remember your journey. Guide us on our way.
Hail Mary …
Seventh Station : Jesus falls a second time
We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you. Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
Our Lord fell again under the weight of His cross on the steep hill to Golgotha. It is so difficult for him to get up again but he does.
Prayer: Dear Lord we pray for all who fall due to addictions – alcohol, gambling, hoarding and drugs. They have separated family members from each other and caused heartache, despair and loneliness to their loved ones. Lord we pray that with your blessings they can build their family relationships again.
Jesus Christ Son of God we remember your journey. Guide us on our way.
Glory Be …
Eighth Station : Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem
We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you. Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
The heart of Jesus was full of pity for the sufferings he knew His people were destined to undergo. So, too, does he have immense pity for us, those for whom He suffered and died. Ask Him to help you when times are hard.
Prayer: Dear Jesus our hearts break when we see families in tears as they are driven from their homes due to lack of money, war and indifference. We pray for the people in The Holy Land and those suffering in Ukraine and Russia. Jesus, help us to remember that we are all one family in You, and we must do all we can to support those in desolation and despair. Jesus Christ Son of God we remember your journey. Guide us on our way.
Our Father …
Ninth Station: Jesus Falls a Third Time
We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you. Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
How frail at this stage is Christ in His human nature! Exhaustion builds yet He endured despite His weakness and failing strength. So must we carry on to do God’s work in spite of our infirmity and failings.
Prayer: Sometimes we can all feel wretched and weak with our burdens, that we just don’t have the strength or spirit to get up again. Give us the wisdom to know that it is in our utmost weakness, that we experience Your immense love and mercy for us. Jesus Christ Son of God we remember your journey. Guide us on our way.
Hail Mary …
Tenth Station: Jesus is stripped of his garments
We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you. Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
Just as Christ’s clothing was taken away, so one day will we be separated from all our possessions. Nothing we own belongs to us permanently. We must take stock of what is important.
Prayer: Dear Jesus, we pray for all those who are vulnerable. They often feel stripped of their dignity and a burden to their families. Lord help us to be the arms to hold them, the ears to hear them and the tongue to speak for them at all times. Jesus Christ Son of God we remember your journey. Guide us on our way.
Glory Be..
Eleventh Station: Jesus is nailed to the cross
After carrying the very heavy cross the soldiers nailed Christ to that very cross. Never had he known such pain and agony. He was unable to move hand or foot and was exhausted. We fix our eyes on the symbol of the cross not as a symbol of distress, hatred or condemnation but rather as a symbol of “hope” By His cross we have been redeemed.
Prayer: Dear Lord, while we follow you on your way of the cross we know that someday you will deliver us from the sufferings of this world. When that time comes close, please help us to remember that ‘death’ is only the entrance to our new life with you. Jesus Christ Son of God we remember your journey. Guide us on our way.
Our Father ..
Twelfth Station: Jesus Dies on the Cross
We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you. Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
In his distress Jesus cried out “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” but then continued “Father into Your Hands I commend my Spirit.” Then he surrendered to the will of God, bowed his head and died.
Prayer: Dear Jesus, we pray for all those who have died alone – for families who have lost a loved one – for those with mental health problems- for those in prison .. Lord, when we cry in anguish “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” we remember that we will never be abandoned by God – He will not leave us in the mercy of the storm- we will never be alone. Jesus Christ Son of God we remember your journey. Guide us on our way.
Hail Mary …
Thirteenth Station: Jesus is Taken Down from the Cross
We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you. Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
You gently rest in your mother arms when taken down from the cross, in pain no more. Christ’s death is the final proof of His humanity. Unless He was human, he could not have died. Unless He was God, His death would profit us nothing. “Ours were the sufferings He bore.”
Prayer: Lord may we always appreciate your unconditional love and be truly grateful for those who have stood by us and prayed for us when times were difficult. As we look at her sorrowful eyes, Mary might say to us: “Here is my son who died for you” Thank you Jesus. Jesus Christ Son of God we remember your journey. Guide us on our way.
Glory Be -…
Fourteenth Station: Jesus’ body is laid in the tomb
We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you. Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
Christ’s lifeless body is laid to rest. The King of the universe is laid in a borrowed tomb.
Prayer: Even at that most sorrowful time – a mother’s anguish was satisfied. Help us Lord to remain humble, even through the most sorrowful experiences. It is during the saddest times in our life – that we experience the love and care of family, friends and even strangers like Joseph of Arimathea.
Jesus Christ Son of God we remember your journey. Guide us on our way.
I love You, Jesus, my love above all things; I repent with my whole heart for having offended You. Never permit me to separate myself from You again. Grant that I may love You always, and then do with me
Father – Hail Mary – Glory Be …
This is God’s strength; turning to good everything that happens to us, even the bad things. He brings serenity into our storms, because with God life never dies.
Sign of the Cross
Stations of the Cross based on Pope Francis Urbi et Orbi
Week 4 – Mary’s Way of the Cross
“Mary’s Way of the Cross” follows the mother of Jesus as she walks the road to Calvary, where Jesus was crucified, emphasising her sense of surrender: “I knew it had to be, so I walked on silently.” Let us enter an intimate journey of faith through a deep reflection that will unite our pain and suffering with Jesus on the cross through the sorrowful heart of His Mother.
First Station: Jesus is condemned
We adore you, O Christ, and we bless You, because by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.
It was early Friday morning when I saw my son. That was the first glimpse I had of him since they took him away. His bruised and bleeding skin sent a sword of pain deep into my heart and tears down my cheeks. Then Pilate, from his chair of judgment, asked the crowd why they wanted my son executed. All around me they shouted, “Crucify him!” I wanted to plead with them to stop, but I knew this had to be. So, I stood by and cried silently.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, it is hard for me to imagine the anguish your mother felt at your condemnation. But what about today when I hold a grudge? “Crucify him!” When I judge others…? “Crucify him!” Doesn’t this bring tears of anguish to both you and your mother? Forgive me, Jesus Hail Mary…
Second Station: Jesus take up his cross
We adore you, O Christ, and we bless You, because by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.
Regaining a little strength, I walked with the crowds to the entrance of the square. A door flew open and my son stumbled out, the guards laughing behind him. Two men dragged over a heavy wooden cross and dropped it on his shoulders. Then they shoved him down the road. My pain for him was unbearable. I wanted to take the cross from him and carry it myself. But I knew this had to be, so I walked on silently.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, I beg you to forgive me for the many times I have added more weight to your cross by closing my eyes to the pain and loneliness of my neighbour. Forgive me for gossiping about others and for always trying to find excuses to avoid certain people who wish to talk with me. Help me to be like Mary, always seeking to lighten the crosses of others. Forgive me, Jesus. Hail Mary…
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.
I followed close behind my son as he stumbled toward Calvary. Nothing had ever hurt me more than to see him in such pain. I saw the cross digging into his shoulders. My heart dropped when I saw him fall face to the ground, the heavy cross landing squarely on his back. For a moment I thought my beloved son was dead. Now my whole body began to tremble. Then the guards kicked him. He rose slowly and began to walk again, yet they still whipped him. I
wanted to protect him with my own body. But I knew this had to be, so I walked on and wept silently.
Prayer: Lord, how often have I seen you fall, and, unlike Mary, have left you there without concern? How often have I seen people make mistakes and laughed at them? How often do I find myself getting angry when someone does things differently than I? Mary offered you her support through your entire passion. Help me to do the same for you by the support I give to others. Lord, have mercy on me. Hail Mary…
Fourth Station: Jesus meets his mother
We adore you, O Christ, and we bless You, because by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.
I had managed to break through the crowd and was walking side by side with my son. I called to him through the shouting voices. He stopped. Our eyes met, mine full of tears of anguish, his full of pain and confusion. I felt helpless; then his eyes said to me, “Courage! There is a purpose for this.” As he stumbled on, I knew he was right. So I followed and prayed silently.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, forgive me the many times our eyes met, and I turned mine away. Forgive me the times things did not go my way and I let everyone know about it. Forgive me the times I brooded over little inconveniences or became discouraged and did not heed your call to courage! Yes, Lord, our eyes have met many times, but fruitlessly. Hail Mary…
Fifth Station: Simon of Cyrene helps carry the cross
We adore you, O Christ, and we bless You, because by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.
I could now see almost complete helplessness on the face of my son as he tried to carry his heavy load. Each step looked as if it would be his last. I felt his every pain in my heart, and I wanted the whole thing to end. Then I noticed some commotion near Jesus. The guards had pulled a protesting man from the crowd. They forced him to pick up the back of the cross to help lighten my son’s load. He asked the guards why this had to be. I knew, and so followed silently.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, I have many times refused to help you. I have been a selfish person who has often questioned your word. Don’t let me remain like Simon, but help me to be like your mother, Mary, who always silently followed and obeyed. Hail Mary…
Sixth Station: Veronica wipes the face of Jesus
We adore you, O Christ, and we bless You, because by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.
As I continued close by Jesus, a woman pushed past the guards, took off her veil and began to wipe my son’s sweating, bloody face. The guards immediately pulled her back. Her face seemed to say, “Why are you doing this to him?” I knew, so I walked on in faith, silently.
Prayer: Lord, this woman gave you the best she could. On the other hand, I have wanted to take more than I give. So many opportunities arise every day for me to give to you by giving to others —– but I pass them by. My Saviour, never let me ask why again, but help me to give all I have to you. Hail Mary…
Seventh Station: Jesus falls the second time
We adore you, O Christ, and we bless You, because by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.
Again, my son fell, and again my grief was overwhelming at the thought that he might die. I started to move toward him, but the soldiers prevented me. He rose and stumbled ahead slowly. Seeing my son fall, get up again, and continue on, was bitter anguish to me. But, since I knew this had to be, I walked on silently.
Prayer: Lord, of all people Mary was your most faithful follower, never stopping in spite of all the pain she felt for you. I have many times turned away from you by my sins and have caused others to turn away from you. I beg you to have mercy on me. Hail Mary…
Eighth Station : Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem
We adore you, O Christ, and we bless You, because by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.
I was walking a few steps behind Jesus when I saw him stop. Some women were there crying for him and pitying him. He told them not to shed tears for him. They had the opportunity to accept him as the messiah; like many others, they rejected him instead. He told them to shed tears for themselves, tears that would bring their conversion. They did not see the connection between that and his walk to death. I did, and as he walked on, I followed silently.
Prayer: My Saviour, many times have I acted like these women, always seeing the faults in others, and pitying them. Yet, very rarely have I seen my own sinfulness and asked your pardon. Lord, you have taught me through these women. Forgive me, Lord, for my blindness. Hail Mary…
Ninth Station: Jesus falls the third time
third time
We adore you, O Christ, and we bless You, because by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.
This fall of Jesus was agony to me. Not only had he fallen on the rocky ground again, but now he was almost at the top of the hill of crucifixion. The soldiers screamed at him and abused him, almost dragging him the last few steps. My heart pounded as I imagined what they would do to him next. But I knew this had to be, so I climbed the hill silently behind him.
Prayer: My loving Jesus, I know that many times I have offered my hand to help people but when it became inconvenient or painful to me, I left them, making excuses for myself. Help me, Lord, to be like your mother, Mary, and never take my supporting hand away from those who need it. Hail Mary…
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.
With my son finally relieved of the weight of the cross, I thought he would have a chance to rest. But the guards immediately started to rip his clothes off his blood-clotted skin. The sight of my son in such pain was unbearable. Yet, since I knew this had to be, I stood by and cried silently.
Prayer: Lord, in my own way I too have stripped you. I have taken away the good name of another by foolish talk and have stripped people of human dignity by my prejudice. Jesus, there are so many ways I have offended you through the hurt I have caused others. Help me to see you in all people. Hail Mary…
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.
As they threw Jesus on the cross, he willingly allowed himself to be nailed. As they punctured his hands and his feet, I felt the pain in my heart. Then they lifted up the cross. There he was, my son, whom I love so much, being scorned as he struggled for the last few moments of earthly life. But I knew this had to be, so I stood by and prayed silently.
Prayer: Lord, what pain you endured for me. And what pain your mother went through, seeing her only son die for love of me! Yet, both you and she are ready to forgive me as soon as I repent of my sin. Help me, Lord, to turn away from my sinfulness. Hail Mary…
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.
What greater pain is there for a mother than to see her son die right before her eyes! I, who had brought this Saviour into the world and watched him grow, stood helplessly beneath his cross as he lowered his head and died. His earthly anguish was finished, but mine was greater than ever. Yet, this had to be and I had to accept it, so I stood by and I mourned silently.
PAUSE FOR SILENT REFLECTION
Prayer: My Jesus, have mercy on me for what my sins have done to you and to others. I thank you for your great act of love. You have said that true love is laying down your life for your friends. Let me always be your friend. Teach me to live my life for others, and not fail you again. Hail Mary…
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.
The crowd had gone; the noise had stopped. I stood quietly with one of Jesus’ friends and looked up at the dead body of our Saviour, my son. Then two men took the body from the cross and placed it in my arms. A deep sorrow engulfed my being. Yet, I also felt deep joy. Life had ended cruelly for my son, but it had also brought life to all of us. I knew this had to be, and I prayed silently.
Prayer: Lord, your passion has ended. Yet, it still goes on whenever I choose sin over you. I have done my part in your crucifixion and now, my Saviour, I beg your forgiveness with all my heart. Help me to live a life worthy of you and your mother. Hail Mary…
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.
We brought Jesus’ body to a tomb and I arranged it there myself, silently weeping, silently rejoicing. I took one more look at my loving son, and then walked out. They closed the tomb and before I left, I thought, I knew this had to be …… it had to be for you! I would wait in faith silently.
Prayer: Yes, my Lord, this had to be because you love me, and for no other reason. All you ask is that I live a good life. You never said such a life would be easy. I am willing to leave sin behind and live for you alone, in my brothers and sisters. My Saviour, thank you! Thank you for such endless love that helps me to rise out of my own sinfulness. I will try again to live a better life. Help me to always remember that love. Mary, mother of our risen Saviour, teach me to be like you, and in my love for others, love him in return.
Our Father…
Hail Mary…
Glory Be…
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
Mary’s Way of the Cross were written by Fr Richard Furey CSsR and are used with permission of Redemptorist Publications https://www.rpbooks.co.uk/
Week 5 – Adult Faith Formation
In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
O Jesus, we recall, with sorrow and love, all that took place from the time when You were condemned to death to Your Resurrection. Grant us the grace of accompanying You in this Way of the Cross which shows Your great love for us.
Our Father who art in Heaven… Hail Mary…….. Glory Be
First Station: Jesus is condemned to die
No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
(John 15:13)
We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you. Because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.
Jesus stands in the most human of places. He has already experienced profound solidarity with so many on this earth, by being beaten and tortured. Now he is wrongfully condemned to punishment by death. His commitment to entering our lives completely begins its final steps. He has said “Yes” to God and placed his life in God’s hands. We follow him in this final surrender, and contemplate with reverence each place along the way, as he is broken and given for us.
PRAYER: Let me remember all those condemned unjustly. Give me the wisdom not to ‘go along with the crowd’
I love you Jesus, my love, above all things. I repent with my whole heart of having offended you. Never permit me to separate myself from you again. Grant that I may love you always and then do with me what you will.
Our Father….
Second Station: Jesus carries his cross
If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me (Luke 9:23)
We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you. Because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.
Jesus is made to carry the cross on which he will die. It represents the weight of all our crosses. What he must have felt as he first took it upon his shoulders! With each step he enters more deeply into our human experience. He walks in the path of human misery and suffering, and experiences its crushing weight.
PRAYER: Let me take up my cross daily and ask for God’s grace to help me through each day.
I love you Jesus…………………
Hail Mary….
Third Station: Jesus falls the first time
He has broken my teeth with gravel, pressed my face in the dust; my soul is deprived of peace. I have forgotten what happiness is. (Lamentations 3:16-17)
We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you. Because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.
The weight is unbearable. Jesus falls under it. How could he enter our lives completely without surrendering to the crushing weight of the life of so many on this earth! He lays on the ground and knows the experience of
weakness beneath unfair burdens. He feels the powerlessness of wondering if he will ever be able to continue. He is pulled up and made to continue.
PRAYER: Remember the deprived and the lonely. It is easy to fall but divine grace is always at hand.
I love you ……….
Glory be….
Fourth Station: Jesus meets his mother
Come, all you who pass by the way, look and see whether there is any suffering like My suffering. (Lamentations 1:12)
We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you. Because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.
Jesus’ path takes him to a powerful source of his strength to continue. All his life, his mother had taught him the meaning of the words, “Behold, the handmaid of the Lord”. Now they look into each other’s eyes. How pierced-through her heart must be! How pained he must be to see her tears! Now, her grace-filled smile blesses his mission and stirs his heart to its depth. Love and trust in God bind them together.
PRAYER: Let me dwell on the pain of all parents when their children are suffering and help seems unavailable.
I love you Jesus……
Our Father….
Fifth Station: Simon helps Jesus carry his cross
Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of Mine, you did for Me. (Matthew 25:40)
We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you. Because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.
Jesus even experiences our struggle to receive help. He is made to experience the poverty of not being able to carry his burden alone. He enters into the experience of all who must depend upon others to survive. He is deprived of the satisfaction of carrying this burden on his own.
PRAYER: I remember the times I have struggled to bear my burdens and those who helped me.
I love you Jesus……
Hail Mary….
Sixth Station: Veronica wipes the face of Jesus
Without beauty, without majesty we saw him, no looks to attract our eyes; despised and rejected, a man of sorrows and familiar with suffering.
(Isaiah 53:2-4)
We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you. Because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.
Jesus’ journey is at times brutal. He has entered into the terrible experiences of rejection and injustice. He has been whipped and beaten. His face shows the signs of his solidarity with all who have ever suffered injustice and vile, abusive treatment. He encounters a compassionate, loving disciple who wipes the vulgar spit and mocking blood from his face. On her veil, she discovers the image of his face – his gift to her. And, for us to contemplate forever.
PRAYER: Let me break through the bustle of life and offer help where it is needed.
I love you Jesus………
Glory be….
Seventh Station: Jesus falls the second time
Come to Me, all you who labour and are burdened, and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28)
We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you. Because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.
Even with help, Jesus stumbles and falls to the ground. In deep exhaustion he stares at the earth beneath him. “Remember, you are dust and to dust you will return”. He has seen death before. Now he can feel the profound weakness of disability and disease and aging itself, there on his knees, under the weight of his cross.
Prayer: When I feel abandoned by everyone let me remember how Jesus suffered for me.
I love you Jesus…….
Our Father….
Eighth Station: Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem
A large number of people followed Him, including women who mourned and wailed for Him. Jesus turned and said to them, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for Me; weep for yourselves and for your children” (Luke 23:27-28)
We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you. Because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.
The women of Jerusalem, and their children, come out to comfort and thank him. They had seen his compassion and welcomed his words of healing and freedom. He had broken all kinds of social and religious conventions to connect with them. Now they are here to support him. He feels their grief. He suffers, knowing he can’t remain to help them more in this life. He knows the mystery of facing the separation of death.
PRAYER: How can I help and encourage those downtrodden by life’s injustices?
I love you Jesus…..
Hail Mary….
Ninth Station: Jesus falls the third time
Everyone who exalts himself shall be humbled, and he who humbles himself shall be exalted (Luke 14:11)
We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you. Because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.
This last fall is devastating. Jesus can barely proceed to the end. Summoning all his remaining strength, supported by his inner trust in God, Jesus collapses under the weight of the cross. His executioners look at him as a broken man, pathetic yet paying a price he deserves. They help him up so he can make it up the hill of crucifixion.
PRAYER: Allow me, in my frequent failings, to know that God’s grace is always available.
I love you Jesus….
Glory be….
Tenth Station: Jesus is stripped
When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took His clothes, dividing them into four shares, one for each of them (John 19:21)
We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you. Because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.
Part of the indignity is to be crucified naked. Jesus is completely stripped of any pride. The wounds on his back are torn open again. He experiences the ultimate vulnerability of the defenceless. No shield or security protects him. As they stare at him, his eyes turn to heaven.
PRAYER: Remember those who suffer loss of dignity because of the inhumanity of others.
I love you Jesus……..
Our Father….
Eleventh Station: Jesus is nailed to the cross
Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing (Luke 23:34)
We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you. Because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.
Huge nails are hammered through his hands and feet to fix him on the cross. He is bleeding much more seriously now. As the cross is lifted up, the weight of his life hangs on those nails. Every time he struggles to pull himself up to breathe, his ability to cling to life slips away.
PRAYER: Let me remember the pain I cause when I neglect or reject the Christian way of life.
I love you Jesus………..
Hail Mary….
Twelfth Station: Jesus dies on the cross
He humbled Himself, becoming obedient to death, even to death on a cross. Therefore God has exalted Him. (Philippians 2:8-9)
We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you. Because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.
Between two criminals, a mocking title above his head, with only Mary, John and Mary Magdalene to support him, Jesus surrenders his last breath: “Into your hands I commend my spirit”.
PRAYER: Lord give me the peace of Christ at the end of my life.
I love you Jesus……..
Glory be….
Thirteenth Station: Jesus is taken down from the cross
In this has the love of God been shown in our case, that God has sent His only-begotten Son into the world as propitiation for sins (I John 4:9-10)
We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you. Because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.
What tender mourning! Jesus’ lifeless body lays in his mother’s arms. He has truly died. A profound sacrifice, complete.
PRAYER: Remember the tragedy of parents who receive the bodies of their children
I love you Jesus……
Our Father….
Fourteenth Station: Jesus is laid in the tomb
Unless the grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone. But if it dies, it brings forth much fruit (John 12: 24-25)
We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you. Because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.
They take the body of Jesus to its resting place. The huge stone over the tomb is the final sign of the permanence of death. In this final act of surrender, who would have imagined this tomb would soon be empty or that Jesus would show himself alive to his disciples, or that they would recognise him in the breaking of bread? Oh, that our hearts might burn within us, as we realise how he had to suffer and die so as to enter into his glory, for us.
PRAYER: Let the tomb be my source of new life. May I find light in times of darkness.
I love you Jesus, my love, above all things. I repent with my whole heart of having offended you. Never permit me to separate myself from you again. Grant that I may love you always and then do with me what you will.
Our Father….Hail Mary…Glory be…
In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The text for these Stations and prayers are adapted from https://www.st-philomena.co.uk/stations-of-the-cross/stations-of-the-cross-sacred-heart and https://www.spms.org/lent2020
Week 6 – CAFOD Way of the Cross
OPENING REFLECTION
In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
As we reflect on the final journey of Jesus, leading to his death on the cross, we do so in solidarity with all those, here at home and across the world, who are suffering today. Let us pray together for God to transform our lives and the lives of others:
PRAYER: God of mercy, we gather as disciples, seeking to follow Christ, on the costly path to Calvary. As we walk the Way of the Cross, open our eyes to see the face of Jesus in the faces of people in every kind of need and sustain in us the commitment to build a better world where all can flourish. Amen.
I love you, Jesus; my love above all things; I repent with my whole heart for having offended you. Never permit me to separate myself from you again. Grant that I may love you always and then do with what you will.
First Station: Jesus is condemned to death
“And Pilate said to them, “Why? What evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Crucify him.” So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.” Mark 15:14-15
We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you, because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.
Challenging injustice can be costly today, just as it was for Jesus. The gospel is a disruptive force; it points toward a kingdom of justice and peace that necessarily unsettles the status quo. While Jesus’ message is hope for the vulnerable and marginalised, it is a provocation to those who hold onto oppressive systems. As followers of Christ, we are entrusted with continuing his mission of liberation and healing. We pray for the strength to live the radical way of the gospel and to speak courageously for what is right, even when it is difficult,
PRAYER: Christ Jesus, you remained faithful, in the face of injustice and violence. Give us the courage and commitment to live with generosity and justice, to speak out for peace and love
Second Station: Jesus carries his Cross
“So they took Jesus, and he went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called The Place of a Skull, which in Aramaic is called Golgotha.” John 19:16b-17
We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you, because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.
Jesus begins his walk, forced to carry the heavy wooden cross, on the road that leads to the hill where he will be crucified. Across the world, many of our sisters and brothers are on difficult journeys. More than 100 million people are displaced due to conflict, persecution and disasters. Refugee camps in the area are past capacity, with many families vulnerable to the spread of diseases and unable to feed their children dinner every night We pray for the grace to walk alongside refugees, migrants and all those making challenging journeys.
PRAYER: Faithful Jesus, you carried the wood of the cross with courage and love. May we walk alongside our neighbours seeking sanctuary seeking to build a world where all people are loved, welcomed and safe. Amen.
Third Station: Jesus Falls for the First Time
“Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.” James 1:12
We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you, because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.
Burdened by his heavy cross, worn down by fatigue and pain, Jesus falls. Yet he pushes himself up and continues on.
We pray for all those in the front line of the climate crisis who continue to persevere in the face of adversity. We pray for strength and determination when we face challenges.
PRAYER: Resolute Jesus, you fell under the weight of the wood yet did not abandon the journey. Be with us when we are struggling, and help us persevere in love. Amen.
Fourth Station: Jesus Meets His Mother
“Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.” Luke 2:33-35
We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you, because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.
This was the fulfilment of Simeon’s prophecy, the sword that ran through Mary’s soul. She who nurtured Jesus as a baby, witnessed his first steps and words, now meets her son on this final journey. What pain Mary must have felt, unable to reach out to help or comfort Jesus. Yet she remains present and steadfast. So many mothers throughout the world grieve, as they struggle to feed their hungry children or access vital medicines and healthcare. Let us look to the example of Mary and not turn our faces away from those who are suffering.
PRAYER: Compassionate Jesus, you gave us your mother and entrusted us to her care. May we stand with those who suffer offering comfort and assistance. Amen.
Fifth Station: Simon of Cyrene carries the Cross
“And they compelled a passer by, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to carry his cross.” Mark 15:21
We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you, because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.
Simon of Cyrene comes into the city of Jerusalem on the day of Jesus’ death. He finds himself in the crowds along Jesus’ pathway to Golgotha and is enlisted to help carry his cross. He does not know Jesus but lends his strength to carrying the heavy weight of the wood. Although Simon did not have a choice but to help carry Jesus’ cross, we do. We pray that we will look for opportunities to help one another and to build a better world.
PRAYER: Jesus, our brother, you call us to bear each other’s burdens. Bless all who give of themselves in the service of others; and make us always ready to offer and to receive help. Amen.
Sixth Station: Veronica Wipes the face of Jesus
“With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable shall we use for it? It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when sown on the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth, yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and puts out large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.” Mark 4:30-32
We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you, because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.
Moved by Jesus’ pain, Veronica’s love overcomes her fear and she courageously steps forward to wipe the blood and sweat from Jesus’ face. She cannot change his fate, but recognising his dignity, she faithfully performs her small act of compassion. As the guards force Jesus onward, the image of his face is left on Veronica’s veil. At this station, we pray for the grace to look for opportunities to do small acts of kindness and generosity. In so doing, we recognise the face of Jesus in our neighbours, and he imprints his face on each of us.
PRAYER: Jesus, our teacher, as you journey to the Cross, you show us the way of your kingdom. May we not grow discouraged but be always ready to act with compassion and hope. Amen.
Seventh Station: Jesus Falls for the Second Time
“For you load people with burdens hard to bear, and you yourselves do not touch the burdens with one of your fingers.” Luke 11:47
We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you, because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.
Under the weight of the cross, Jesus is once again brought to his knees. After this second fall, Jesus’ struggle to rise up again is much harder. In Dilexi Te, Pope Leo XIV reminds us of our call, as the People of God, to speak out against structural injustice. He writes “Unjust structures need to be recognized and eradicated by the force of good.” As we reflect on nations trapped in a cycle of debt, we pray that God will help us to build a global family where the dignity of the person is always placed before the demands of profit.
PRAYER: Jesus, our redeemer, you were willing to die that we might live. Help us stand against injustice so all people can flourish and fulfil their potential. Amen.
Eighth Station: Jesus meets the Women of Jerusalem
“And there followed him a great multitude of the people and of women who were mourning and lamenting for him. But turning to them Jesus said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.” Luke 23:27-28
We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you, because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.
As Jesus draws closer to the place of execution, he encounters the women of Jerusalem weeping for him. There is a shared empathy here as Jesus recognises their difficulties and tells them not to weep for him, but for themselves and their children. As we recall this exchange, we remember the many societies where women face huge challenges. Today, women represent the majority of the world’s poor. Globally, they are less likely than men to be involved in decision making, to own land or property, or to have access to education, technology and employment. We pray for the work of Women for Change and for a world where the distinctive contributions of women and girls are valued and all can live free from violence, fear and discrimination.
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, despite your own pain you notice the suffering of others. Give us hearts that grieve for all that is wrong in our world and embolden us to work for change. Amen.
Ninth Station: Jesus Falls for the Third Time
“Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows.” Isaiah 53:4
We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you, because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.
Jesus falls a third time. In this final fall, he shares the exhaustion of those who feel overwhelmed by difficulties. Love gave Jesus the strength to stand again and continue onwards. We pray for all those who need strength and courage, that in the face of so many struggles, they will know Christ’s love and comfort.
PRAYER: Jesus, suffering servant, you know the crushing weight of violence and hate. Be with all who suffer because of conflict and inspire all people to work for reconciliation and peace. Amen.
Tenth Station: Jesus is Stripped of His Garments
“When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his garments and divided them into four parts, one part for each soldier; also his tunic.” John 19:23
We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you, because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.
Jesus has nothing left. Arriving at his place of execution, even his clothes are taken from him. He holds nothing back. Let’s pray that we will also stand in solidarity with our sisters and brothers whose rights are being unjustly challenged.
PRAYER: Jesus, you sacrificed everything and endured mockery for our sake. Strip away our indifference and clothe us with your love May we advocate for justice for all our global family. Amen.
Eleventh Station: Jesus is Nailed to His Cross
“But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.” Isaiah 53:5
We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you, because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.
The soldiers drive the nails into Jesus’ hands and feet. Yet even in this moment he shows his compassion, praying for those who crucify him. Jesus continues to be crucified in all who suffer in our world. He is present in those whom society marginalises: people who are hungry or homeless, refugees or asylum seekers. He is crucified in the exploitation of our common home, the earth and its resources. As followers of Jesus, may we show his compassion and so be a source of hope for all our brothers and sisters, our global family, and our common home, the earth.
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, you stretched out your arms on the cross, to embrace all creation. Bless all those who reach out in love to their neighbours speak out for justice, care for creation and work to build your peace. Amen.
Twelfth Station: Jesus Dies on the Cross
“After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfil the Scripture), ‘I thirst.’ A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth. When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, ‘It is finished,’ and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” John 19:28-30
PAUSE FOR REFLECTION
We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you, because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.
Just before he dies on the cross Jesus cries out that he is thirsty. We can hear him continue to say these words to us, through our brothers and sisters who each day must strive for enough water to live. These last words of Jesus challenge us. They call us to see his face in all those who thirst for justice and to stand alongside them raising our own voices for change. May we thirst for a better world, where all our neighbours have safe water.
PRAYER: Jesus, the living water, you know what it is to thirst. Let your love well up within us. Together may we reshape the world, so that the thirst for water, and for justice, is satisfied. Amen.
Thirteenth Station: Jesus’ Body is Taken Down from the Cross
“Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the council, who was also himself looking for the kingdom of God, took courage and went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.” Mark 15: 43
We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you, because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.
The bodies of those crucified were usually left on the cross to decay. Joseph of Arimathea has been a secret follower of Jesus, but now he finds the courage to go to Pilate and ask for Jesus’ body. He acts despite the fear he must have felt, to ensure the lifeless body of his teacher is, at least now, treated with dignity and gentleness. As we gaze on the Lord’s lifeless body, we see too the bodies of refugees washed ashore from the sea, the bloodied victims of conflict and war, and those consumed by the slow violence of poverty. May we join Joseph in seeking the kingdom of God, where the dignity of all is respected.
PRAYER: Jesus, Lord of life, you descended into death. May we, the Body of Christ, cherish the gift of life and promote the dignity of all people. Amen.
Fourteenth Station: Jesus’ body is Laid in the Tomb
“Joseph bought a linen shroud, and taking him down, wrapped him in the linen shroud and laid him in a tomb that had been cut out of the rock. And he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb.” Mark 15: 46
We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you, because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.
There has been little time to prepare Jesus’ body for burial. Joseph has to move quickly to place it in the tomb before the Sabbath begins. He wraps it in a simple linen cloth and rolls the stone over the door. The disciples have scattered in fear and grief and it seems like the end. We too must act quickly if we are to protect our common home, the earth, for future generations. As Pope Francis warned in his final apostolic exhortation Laudate Deum: “Our responses have not been adequate, while the world in which we live is collapsing and may be nearing the breaking point.” We pray that we may have a sense of urgency and hope, even in dark times, as we seek to make a difference.
PRAYER: Jesus, rock of our salvation, your body was sealed in a tomb, May our hearts be broken open by the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor. Amen.
Closing Reflection
“Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here but has risen.” Luke 24:5-6
Jesus is alive. He has conquered death and is here among us. His resurrection opens the way of hope and assures us that injustice, pain and death can be overcome. As we reflect on Jesus’ final journey, we pray for the strength to live each day as people transformed through God’s love. May we radiate God’s love to all our sisters and brothers throughout the world.
PRAYER: Risen Jesus, you make all things new, Renew us with your risen life, to carry your loving presence
into our broken world. Amen. Glory be to the Father……………………..……….Amen
Adapted from CAFOD Stations of the Cross 2026 https://pray/prayer-resources/stations-of-the-cross