The Way of the Cross (Stations of the Cross)

The Way of the Cross (Stations of the Cross)

The Way of the Cross (Stations of the Cross)

The Stations of the Cross is a fourteen part Catholic devotion that commemorates the Passion and death of Jesus on Good Friday. The fourteen prayers, or stations, focus on specific events of His last day, starting with His condemnation and sentence of death. These prayers are commonly used as a mini pilgrimage as the individual moves from station to station, recalling Christ's Passion. At each station, the individual recalls and meditates on a specific event from Christ's last day. Specific prayers are recited, then the individual moves on to the next station until all fourteen are complete. Many Catholics and others use these images as a visual aid to pray and reflect on the last hours of Jesus Christ. The Stations of the Cross is commonly prayed during the season of Lent, and especially on Good Friday.

The Stations of the Cross is a powerful and moving prayer experience. The most suitable way to pray the Stations of the Cross is to attend to them at your church meditating on each of the stations. You may also pray them at home or in the adoration chapel at your church.

The traditional fourteen Stations of the Cross are:

1st Station: Jesus is condemned to death

Leader: We adore you O Christ and we praise you,

Response: Because by your holy cross and resurrection you have redeemed the world.

2nd Station: Jesus carries His cross

Leader: We adore you O Christ and we praise you,

Response: Because by your holy cross and resurrection you have redeemed the world.

3rd Station: Jesus falls the first time

Leader: We adore you O Christ and we praise you,

Response: Because by your holy cross and resurrection you have redeemed the world.

4th Station: Jesus meets His mother

Leader: We adore you O Christ and we praise you,

Response: Because by your holy cross and resurrection you have redeemed the world.

5th Station: Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus to carry His cross

Leader: We adore you O Christ and we praise you,

Response: Because by your holy cross and resurrection you have redeemed the world. 

6th Station: Veronica wipes the face of Jesus

Leader: We adore you O Christ and we praise you,

Response: Because by your holy cross and resurrection you have redeemed the world.

7th Station: Jesus falls the second time

Leader: We adore you O Christ and we praise you,

Response: Because by your holy cross and resurrection you have redeemed the world.

8th Station: Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem

Leader: We adore you O Christ and we praise you,

Response: Because by your holy cross and resurrection you have redeemed the world.

9th Station: Jesus falls a third time

Leader: We adore you O Christ and we praise you,

Response: Because by your holy cross and resurrection you have redeemed the world.

10th Station: Jesus is stripped of His clothes

Leader: We adore you O Christ and we praise you,

Response: Because by your holy cross and resurrection you have redeemed the world. 

11th Station: Jesus is nailed to the cross

Leader: We adore you O Christ and we praise you,

Response: Because by your holy cross and resurrection you have redeemed the world. 

12th Station: Jesus dies on the cross

Leader: We adore you O Christ and we praise you,

Response: Because by your holy cross and resurrection you have redeemed the world. 

13th Station: The body of Jesus is taken down from the cross

Leader: We adore you O Christ and we praise you,

Response: Because by your holy cross and resurrection you have redeemed the world.

14th Station: Jesus is laid in the tomb

Leader: We adore you O Christ and we praise you,

Response: Because by your holy cross and resurrection you have redeemed the world. 

A set of beads designed to assist in praying the Stations of the Cross, especially for those unable to visit a church is now available online from https://stpauls.org.uk/sacramentals/rosaries-chaplets.html/way-stations-of-the-cross-rosary.html . It comprises the medals of all fourteen stations. The centre junction shows a colour picture of the resurrection on one side and, on the other, a colour picture of Our Lord on the way to Calvary. There are three wooden beads between each station to count an Our Father, Hail Mary, & Glory Be.

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