STATIONS OF THE CROSS
Opening Prayer
Let us follow Christ on His painful path to Calvary. To follow Him is to take up a similar cross and follow His way of life that is His attitude to His heavenly Father and His love reaching out to all even to His enemies. He accompanies each one of us on our Way of the Cross, which is our journey through life.
Prayer
Dear Jesus, we offer this Way of the Cross to you for all our shortcomings. Help us, Lord Jesus, to see you alive from day to day; enable us to love you more and more and to surrender our lives completely to your Holy will.
1st Station – Jesus is Condemned to Death.
Leader: We adore you, O Christ and we bless you.
All: Because by your Holy cross, You have redeemed the world.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, fill us with the power of the Holy Spirit, your grace and strength to enable us not to belittle anyone in this world, but by our good example bring more and more people to experience your unconditional love.
Leader: Have mercy on us, O Lord.
All: Have mercy on us.
2nd Station – Jesus takes up His Cross.
Leader: We adore you, O Christ and we bless you.
All: Because by your Holy cross, You have redeemed the world.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, we humbly ask you to be with us, and keep us close to your loving and compassionate; Heart. Let us experience your love, ; and concern. let us realize that in all our sufferings you are closest to us.
Leader: Have mercy on us, O Lord.
All: Have mercy on us.
3rd Station – Jesus falls the First Time.
Leader: We adore you, O Christ and we bless you.
All: Because by your Holy cross, You have redeemed the world.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, as we reflect on this your fall, we are reminded of the many times that we fall when we are frustrated, worried, when things don’t go our way. Help us Lord, to realise that every failure is a stepping stone to success.
Leader: Have mercy on us, O Lord.
All: Have mercy on us.
4th Station – Jesus meets His Mother.
Leader: We adore you, O Christ and we bless you.
All: Because by your Holy cross, You have redeemed the world.
Prayer: Mary our beloved Mother, Jesus gave you as our mother. Help us dear mother, like you to be resigned to the Will of God in our lives too. As you bore and kept everything in your heart dear mother full us with the courage to face whatever difficulties come our way. Lord, we thank you for our mothers. Help us to reach out to all mothers in distress.
Leader: Have mercy on us, O Lord.
All: Have mercy on us.
5th Station – Simon helps Jesus to carry His Cross.
Leader: We adore you, O Christ and we bless you.
All: Because by your Holy cross, You have redeemed the world.
Prayer: Help us Lord, to realise that we will be double blessed if only we by our example of good deeds and kindness of heart extend a helping hand to every suffering soul.
Leader: Have mercy on us, O Lord.
All: Have mercy on us.
6th Station – Veronica wipes the face of Jesus.
Leader: We adore you, O Christ and we bless you.
All: Because by your Holy cross, You have redeemed the world.
Prayer: Help us Lord to realise that whenever we do any good, never to expect anything in return. You in your own time and your own way will reward us. You needed very much the help of Simon and Veronica in your time of distress. There are so many, Lord who also needs our help, strength, and courage in so many ways. Help us to give without counting the cost.
Leader: Have mercy on us, O Lord.
All: Have mercy on us.
7th Station – Jesus falls the second time.
Leader: We adore you, O Christ and we bless you.
All: Because by your Holy cross, You have redeemed the world.
Prayer: Many a time Lord, we too feel we have fallen when we are criticized or laughed at for the good we do or for standing up for what is right. We feel left alone. Lord Jesus, we need your strength to fight for justice.
Leader: Have mercy on us, O Lord.
All: Have mercy on us.
8th Station – Jesus consoles the women of Jerusalem.
Leader: We adore you, O Christ and we bless you.
All: Because by your Holy cross, You have redeemed the world.
Prayer: Help us, Lord, not to allow our emotions to take the better of us. Help us to curb our emotions and to look beyond ourselves, our own lives, and go out of our way in love and service
Leader: Have mercy on us, O Lord.
All: Have mercy on us.
9th Station – Jesus falls for the third time.
Leader: We adore you, O Christ and we bless you.
All: Because by your Holy cross, You have redeemed the world.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, this your third fall did not defeat you. You could have given up. But you got up and went on. Lord Jesus, help us to remember whenever we fall to get up and continue to walk on the road that you have willed for us. Help us Lord to fill ourselves with love for you and for all who are poor and less fortunate. Walk with each of us, O Lord.
Leader: Have mercy on us, O Lord.
All: Have mercy on us.
10th Station – Jesus is stripped of his garments.
Leader: We adore you, O Christ and we bless you.
All: Because by your Holy cross, You have redeemed the world.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, you were born poor. Help us, Lord, to detach ourselves from the craving for position, wealth, and prestige, from lust and luxury. Lord, make us poor in spirit so that we can be rich in you.
Leader: Have mercy on us, O Lord.
All: Have mercy on us.
11th Station – Jesus is nailed to the Cross.
Leader: We adore you, O Christ and we bless you.
All: Because by your Holy cross, You have redeemed the world.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, show us the way and give us the strength to pull out these nails by loving each and everyone.
Leader: Have mercy on us, O Lord.
All: Have mercy on us.
12th Station – Jesus dies on the Cross.
Leader: We adore you, O Christ and we bless you.
All: Because by your Holy cross, You have redeemed the world.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for dying so that we might live. You were the example of consolation for many to follow. Give us also Lord consolation when we experience unbearable suffering. help us, Lord, to accept what you have willed for us just as you accepted the Will of your Father.
Leader: Have mercy on us, O Lord.
All: Have mercy on us.
13th Station – Jesus is taken down from the Cross.
Leader: We adore you, O Christ and we bless you.
All: Because by your Holy cross, You have redeemed the world.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, give us also the same peaceful resignation that Mary has as she helo you on that Friday afternoon.
Leader: Have mercy on us, O Lord.
All: Have mercy on us.
14th Station – Jesus is laid in the tomb.
Leader: We adore you, O Christ and we bless you.
All: Because by your Holy cross, You have redeemed the world.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, we ask you to strengthen our faith. Help us never to lose faith whatever troubles come our way.
Leader: Have mercy on us, O Lord.
All: Have mercy on us.
Concluding Prayer
Leader: Heavenly Father, we have walked along with your Son Jesus, on His journey to Calvary. May this journey with our suffering Lord help us to remember also that Jesus wi with us always in our journey through this life. let this journey to Calvary cleanse us of all our pride, egoism, and non-acceptance of ourselves and of those around us. Help s to realize that in pain and suffering, you are close to us. You will always be the center of our lives. Only give the strength, and the courage to beal all our sufferings and pains. help us to remain always in your love. We make this prayer through Christ our Lord. Amen.