“Mary advanced in her pilgrimage of faith through her perfect union with her Son unto the cross, and offers an eminent and singular example to the whole People of God, who follow the same path in the footsteps of Christ.”
—Pope John Paul ll
Tradition tells us Mary pondered all the mysteries of Christ in her heart and retraced the steps of her Son’s Passion, thus, keeping in her memory and for the memory of the church, the significant events that happened along the way … the sacred path on which the Son of God, trod for our redemption.
The Way of the Cross is a devotion to the Sacred Passion, in which we accompany, in spirit, our Blessed Lord in His sorrowful journey from the house of Pilate to Calvary, and recall to mind, with sorrow and love, all that took place from the time when He was condemned to death to His being laid in the tomb.
For centuries, pilgrims to the Holy Land have walked the steps of our Lord’s Passion in Jerusalem. This ancient and profound devotional walk, also known as the Stations of the Cross or Via Dolorosa (Sorrowful Way), became a favorable way for the devout to meditate on Christ’s Passion.
The Franciscans, a religious order, brought this tradition to their churches in Europe. From the 18th century, by Papal decree, all Catholic churches were permitted to erect the Stations of the Cross in the sanctuary, with the number of Stations fixed to fourteen. This meant that for pilgrims who could not travel to Jerusalem, they could still experience in a virtual way, the Stations of the Cross, by following a signposted path around the inside and/or outside of the church. Here the faithful would walk and pray and meditate on the sufferings of Jesus as if they were walking the real places in Jerusalem.
“There is no practice more profitable for the entire sanctification of the soul than the frequent meditation of the sufferings of Jesus Christ.”
—St. Alphonsus de Liguori
Contrary to popular belief, this devotion is prayed beyond the season of Lent. It is always recommended to the faithful to meditate on Christ’s Passion frequently, especially on Fridays as a perpetual day of penance, to obtain graces and grow in holiness.
“But especially I commend earnest mental prayer to you, more particularly such as bears upon the Life and Passion of our Lord. If you contemplate Him frequently in meditation, your whole soul will be filled with Him, you will grow in His Likeness, and your actions will be molded on His. He is the Light of the world; therefore, in Him, by Him, and for Him we shall be enlightened and illuminated.” -St. Francis de Sales
Praying The Way of the Cross:
The sign of the Cross (In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen)
Opening Scripture Reading
The Son of Man is destined to suffer grievously, to be rejected, and to be raised up on the third day. If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him renounce himself and take up his cross every day and follow me. For anyone who wants to save his life will lose it; but anyone who loses his life for my sake will save it. Luke 9: 22-24
Opening Prayer
We Pray: Lord Jesus, help me to be open to your closeness and presence as I begin this journey to Calvary with you.
Prayer Before Each Station
I adore you, Lord Jesus, and I praise you. Because by your holy cross, you have redeemed the world. (Contemplate Christ’s Death and Passion in your own life).
1st Station: Jesus Is Condemned To Death.
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, not the eyes of Pontius Pilate.
We Pray: Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be to the Father.
Prayer Before Each Station
I adore you, Lord Jesus, and I praise you. Because by your holy cross, you have redeemed the world.
2nd Station: Jesus Carries His Cross
Lord Jesus, you embraced your cross to redeem the world. Help me to embrace the crosses in my life – the hardships, struggles, disappointments, pain. Only by recognizing my own weakness, can I discover your strength.
We Pray: Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be to the Father.
Prayer Before Each Station
I adore you, Lord Jesus, and I praise you. Because by your holy cross, you have redeemed the world.
3rd Station: Jesus Falls The First Time
Lord Jesus, you know how often I fail trying to follow you. Yet you are always there to lift me up. Help me always to trust in your loving care for me.
We Pray: Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be to the Father.
Prayer Before Each Station
I adore you, Lord Jesus, and I praise you. Because by your holy cross, you have redeemed the world.
4th Station: Jesus Meets His Mother
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.
We Pray: Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be to the Father.
Prayer Before Each Station
I adore you, Lord Jesus, and I praise you. Because by your holy cross, you have redeemed the world.
5th Station: Jesus Is Helped By Simon
Lord Jesus, sometimes I am indifferent to the needs of others in my life. I even neglect those whom I love. Help me to see that loving others is the surest way to find you in my life.
We Pray: Our Father, Hail Mary, Glor be to the Father.
Prayer Before Each Station
I adore you, Lord Jesus, and I praise you. Because by your holy cross, you have redeemed the world.
6th Station: Veronica Wipes The Face Of Jesus
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.
We Pray: Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be to the Father.
Prayer Before Each Station
I adore you, Lord Jesus, and I praise you. Because by your holy cross, you have redeemed the world.
7th Station: Jesus Falls The Second Time
Lord Jesus, failure and disappointment sometimes lead me to despair. I hide behind my pride and self-pity, withdrawing from you and others. Give me the hope I need and help me to never be afraid to begin again.
We Pray: Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be to the Father.
Prayer Before Each Station
I adore you, Lord Jesus, and I praise you. Because by your holy cross, you have redeemed the world.
8th Station: Jesus Meets The Women Of Jerusalem
Lord Jesus, your great compassion for others overwhelms me. I feel petty and selfish when I think of you and the way you love. Help me to pour out my love, that you might fill me with your love.
We Pray: Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be to the Father.
Prayer Before Each Station
I adore you, Lord Jesus, and I praise you. Because by your holy cross, you have redeemed the world.
9th Station: Jesus Falls The Third Time
Lord Jesus, your failing strength makes me see how helpless I am. Without you, I can do nothing. Help me to rely on your strength, to see how much I need you.
We Pray: Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be to the Father.
Prayer Before Each Station
I adore you, Lord Jesus, and I praise you. Because by your holy cross, you have redeemed the world.
10th Station: Jesus is Stripped Of His Garments.
Lord Jesus, seeing you so cruelly humiliated makes me realize how I cling to my accomplishments. my possessions, my ways. Help me to let go of those things in my life that prevent me from growing closer to you and others.
We Pray: Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be to the Father.
Prayer Before Each Station
I adore you, Lord Jesus, and I praise you. Because by your holy cross, you have redeemed the world.
11th Station: Jesus Is Nailed To The Cross
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.
We Pray: Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be to the Father.
Prayer Before Each Station
I adore you, Lord Jesus, and I praise you. Because by your holy cross, you have redeemed the world.
12th Station: Jesus Dies On The Cross
Lord Jesus, your broken and lifeless body calls me to deeper faith. You chose death, even death on the cross. Help me to see my crosses as ways of loving you.
We Pray: Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be to the Father.
Prayer Before Each Station
I adore you, Lord Jesus, and I praise you. Because by your holy cross, you have redeemed the world.
13th Station: Jesus Is Taken Down From The Cross
Lord Jesus, seeing your body taken down from the cross reminds me how fearful I am of letting go of my own life. I am frightened when I think of being unimportant, useless or helpless. Help me to place my life in your hands.
We Pray: Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be to the Father.
Prayer Before Each Station
I adore you, Lord Jesus, and I praise you. Because by your holy cross, you have redeemed the world.
14th Station: Jesus Is Laid In The Tomb
Lord Jesus, When I see the great stone sealing your tomb I feel alone and abandoned. Even though you sometimes seem distant or absent in my life, help me always to believe in your closeness and your loving presence.
We Pray: Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be to the Father.
Closing Scripture Reading
On the first day of the week, at the first sign of dawn, they went to the tomb with the spices they had prepared. They found that the stone had been rolled away from the tomb, but on entering they discovered that the body of the Lord Jesus was not there. As they stood there not knowing what to think, two men in brilliant clothes suddenly appeared at their side. Terrified, the women lowered their eyes. But the two men said to them, “Why look among the dead for someone who is alive? He is not here; he has risen.
Remember what he told you when he was still in Galilee; that the Son of Man had to be handed over into the power of sinful men and be crucified, and rise again on the third day?” And they remembered his words.
Luke 24: 1-8
Closing Prayer
Lord Jesus, help me to walk with you each day of my life, even to Calvary. The sorrow and joy, the pain and healings, the failures and triumphs of my life are truly small deaths and resurrections that lead me to closeness with you. Give me the faith and trust I need to walk with you always. Amen.
I typically end with Splinters From The Cross.
“There is more merit in one hour of meditation on My sorrowful Passion than there is to a whole year of flagellation that draws blood; the contemplation of My painful wounds is of great profit to you, and it brings Me great joy.”
(Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska, 369).
