Stations of the Cross

ADAPTED FOR THE MEMBERS OF THE CONFRATERNITY OF THE PASSION.

THE Devotion of the Way of the Cross, called also the Stations of the Cross, has been enriched by different Popes with all the Indulgences which can be gained by personally visiting the holy places of Jerusalem. These Indulgences are applicable to the holy souls in Purgatory.

The conditions are: 1. While visiting the Via Crucis, to meditate, as well as each one's capacity admits, upon the Passion of our Divine Redeemer; and 2. To pass from one Station to another, so far as the number of people present will allow of it.

The Devotion may be practised, either alone or publicly, wherever the Stations are duly erected.

When it is performed in public, as soon as the priest has recited the Act of Contrition, the people should rise from their places, and coming up the middle of the church, follow him from one Station to another, the men walking before the women.

If the number present should happen to be too great to allow all to do this, those who cannot follow should rise after each Station, and turn round as well as they can towards the place at which the priest is.

The form of the Devotion here followed is taken principally from that of the blessed Leonard of Port-Maurice, as practised in the Coliseum.

Persons who for valid reasons are unable to visit the Stations of the Via Crucis erected in churches or public oratories—such as, for example, the sick, those in prison, or at sea—can gain all the above-mentioned Indulgences by reciting fourteen Paters and Aves, and at the end five more Paters, Aves, and Glorias, followed by another Pater, Ave, and Gloria for the Sovereign Pontiff, provided they hold in their hands a brass Crucifix, blessed for this purpose by one who has received the necessary faculties.—(From the Raccolta).

AN ACT OF CONTRITION,

To be said by the Priest, kneeling before the High Altar, and repeated by all present.

O my Jesus! most merciful Lord! because Thou art infinitely good and full of compassion, I love thee above everything, and I grieve with all my heart for having offended Thee, the Supreme Good. I offer Thee this holy pilgrimage, in honour of that most sorrowful one which Thou didst perform for me, an unworthy sinner; and I make an intention of gaining the holy Indulgences, in the hope to obtain Thy mercy in this life and eternal glory in the next.

Here let each one make his intention for the application of the Indulgences to be gained. The procession then moves to the first Station, singing as follows:

When many persons perform the Via Crucis, one part may either sing or recite a verse of the Stabat Mater, and the other repeat each time the following verse :—

STATION I.

JESUS CONDEMNED TO DEATH.

(All kneeling.)

In this first Station is represented the hall of Pilate, in which Jesus our good Lord received the unjust sentence of death.

Consider, O my soul! the wonderful submission of Jesus, our innocent Lord, in receiving so unjust a sentence; and remember that thy sins were the false witnesses, and thy blasphemies, backbitings, and evil-speaking the reason the impious judge pronounced it. Turn, therefore, to thy loving God, and say to Him with the heart rather than the lips:

Ah, dear Jesus! how tender, beyond all utterance, is Thy love! For the sake of so unworthy a creature as I am, Thou hast suffered imprisonment, chains, and scourges, and to crown all, hast been condemned to so shameful a death! Ah, surely this is enough to touch my heart, and make me detest all those sins of the tongue which have been the cause of it. Yes, I detest and bitterly repent of them; and all along this way of sorrows I will continue to lament and bewail them, while I repeat, My Jesus, mercy! my Jesus, mercy!

Cujus animam gementem,
Contristatem et dolentem,
Pertransivit gladius.

Through her heart, His sorrow sharing,
All His bitter anguish bearing,
Now at length the sword had passed.

STATION II.

JESUS IS LADEN WITH THE CROSS.

This second Station represents the place at which Jesus our most loving Lord was laden with the heavy burden of the Cross.

Consider how Jesus our most gentle Lord embraces the Cross, and see with what meekness He suffers the blows and insults of that vile rabble; whereas thou impatiently shrinkest from the slightest suffering! And yet dost thou not know, poor sinner, that without the Cross thou canst not enter Heaven? Weep for thy blindness, and turning to thy Lord, say to Him with sorrow of heart:

My Jesus! this Cross should be mine, not Thine. Ah, most heavy Cross! prepared by my sins! O dear Saviour! give me fortitude to embrace all the crosses which my most grievous sins deserve! Grant that I may die embracing the holy Cross; and enable me to say again and again, with Thy beloved daughter Saint Teresa, “To suffer or die! to suffer or die!”

O quam tristes et afflicta
Fuit illa benedicta
Mater Unigeniti!

Oh, how sad and sore distress'd
Was that Mother, highly blest,
Of the sole-begotten One!

STATION III.

JESUS FALLS THE FIRST TIME UNDER THE WEIGHT OF THE CROSS.

In this third Station is represented the first fall of Jesus beneath His Cross.

Consider how Jesus our most afflicted Lord, weakened by the continual shedding of His Blood, fell the first time to the ground. Ah, see how those wretches overwhelm Him with blows, and kicks, and stripes! and yet our most patient Lord opens not His lips, but suffers in silence; whilst thou in thy slightest troubles dost murmur and complain, or perhaps dost even rashly curse or blaspheme. Detest heartily this pride and rebellion, and say to thine afflicted Lord:

Most beloved Redeemer! behold at Thy feet the greatest sinner in the world. Oh, how often have I fallen! how often have I plunged into an abyss of sin! Stretch out Thy sacred hand to raise me. Help me, O my Jesus! help me! Grant that during the remainder of my life I may never fall into mortal sin, so that when I come to die I may secure my eternal salvation.

Quæ mœrebat et dolebat,
Pia mater dum videbat
Nati pænas incliti.

Christ above in torment hangs;
She beneath beholds the pangs
Of her dying glorious Son.

STATION IV.

JESUS MEETS HIS MOST HOLY MOTHER.

In this fourth Station is represented the spot on which Jesus met his most afflicted Mother.

Alas! what sorrow pierced the heart of Jesus! alas, what anguish wounded the heart of Mary in this meeting! Mary, full of affliction, seems to say, “O ungrateful soul! what has my Jesus done to thee?” “What has my poor Mother done to thee?” asks Jesus, in the midst of His sufferings. “Ah! forsake sin, which has caused our pain and sorrow!” What answer dost thou make, my soul? Oh, hardened though thou be, say thus to Him:

O divine Son of Mary! O most holy Mother of my Jesus! behold me at your feet, humbled and filled with compunction. I confess that I am the traitor who made by my sins that sword of sorrow which has pierced your most tender hearts. Ah! I sincerely repent of all my sins, and ask of you both mercy and pardon. Mercy, my Jesus! mercy! Mercy, most holy Mary! mercy! Ah! grant me such a measure of mercy that I may sin no more, but may meditate day and night on your pains and sorrows.

Quis est homo qui non fleret,
Matrem Christi si videret,
In tanto supplicio?

Is there one who would not weep,
'Whelmed in miseries so deep,
Christ's dear Mother to behold?

STATION V.

JESUS IS HELPED BY THE CYRENEAN TO CARRY HIS CROSS.

In this fifth Station is represented the place at which the Cyrenean was compelled to carry the Cross of Jesus.

Consider that thou art the Cyrenean who art helping to carry the Cross of Christ against thy will, because thou art too much attached to the fleeting goods of this world. Rouse thyself once for all, and relieve thy God of so great a burden, accepting with hearty good-will all the troubles which come to thee from the hand of God, protesting thy willingness to receive them not only with patience, but with lively gratitude.

O Jesus, my most beloved Lord! I thank Thee for the many and favourable occasions which Thou givest me of suffering for Thee, and of meriting for myself. Make me, I beseech Thee, O my God! so to suffer patiently that which seems evil in this life, that I may lay up a store of eternal goods in the next; and so to weep with Thee here below, that I may be made worthy to reign with Thee in Paradise.

Quis non posset contristari,
Christi Matrem contemplari,
Dolentum cum Filio?

Can the human heart refrain
From partaking in her pain,—
In that Mother's pain untold?

STATION VI.

VERONICA WIPES THE FACE OF JESUS.

This sixth Station represents the place at which Saint Veronica wiped with a cloth the blessed face of Jesus.

Consider the likeness of Jesus, wan and suffering, imprinted on that cloth; and lovingly strive to form a lively representation of it in thy heart. Oh, happy wilt thou be, if thou livest with Jesus engraven upon thy heart! and oh, blessed above measure, if, with Jesus engraven upon thy heart, thou diest! Pray to thy Lord to be made worthy of so great a happiness.

O my Lord, who art so tormented, I beseech Thee impress deeply on my heart the image of Thy most sacred Countenance, that day and night I may think always of Thee; and with Thy most sorrowful Passion before my eyes, may ever bewail my most grievous sins. Ah! I protest that I desire to eat of this bread of sorrow until I come to die, and ever to detest my sins.

Pro peccatis suæ gentis,
Vidit Jesum in tormentis,
Et flagellis subditum.

Bruis'd, derided, curs'd, defil'd,
She beheld her tender Child
All with bloody scourges rent.

STATION VII.

JESUS FALLS BENEATH HIS CROSS THE SECOND TIME.

In this seventh Station is represented the place at which Jesus fell under the Cross the second time.

Consider thy Lord stretched on the earth, weighed down by His sorrows, trampled under foot by His enemies, derided by the multitude; and reflect that it was thy pride which made Him fall, thy self-conceit which thus prostrated Him. Ah! for once bow down thy head, and with bitter contrition for thy past sins, resolve for the future to humble thyself beneath the feet of all, and say to thy sorrowful Lord:

O my most Holy Redeemer, although I see Thee fallen, I acknowledge Thee at the same time to be the Almighty God, and beseech Thee to bring down all my proud thoughts, my ambition, and self-esteem, that I may ever humbly and willingly embrace abjection and contempt; and by that deep and heartfelt humility which is so pleasing to Thee, raise Thee up from this sorrowful fall.

Vidit suum dulcem natum
Moriendo desolatum,
Dum emisit spiritum.

For the sins of His own nation,
Saw Him hang in desolation,
Till His Spirit forth He sent.

STATION VIII.

JESUS CONSOLES THE WOMEN OF JERUSALEM.

This eighth Station shows us the place at which Jesus, our most merciful Lord, consoled the weeping and afflicted women of Jerusalem.

Consider that thou hast a double cause to weep,—both for Jesus who suffers so much for thee, and for thyself, who art so ungrateful that thou canst find no pleasure to thy liking without at the same time offending Him. Canst thou, at the sight of such sufferings, still remain unmoved? Ah! now that thou seest what compassion Jesus shows for these poor women, take courage, and with sorrow and contrition say to Him:

O my dearest Saviour, why is not my heart all steeped in tears of true repentance! I ask tears of Thee, my Jesus,—tears of sorrow and compassion,—that with tears in mine eyes, and sorrow in my heart, I may deserve to obtain that pity which Thou didst show to those poor women. Ah, grant me this, my only consolation, that after being regarded by Thee with eyes of pity in this life, I may behold Thee in peace at the moment of my death.

Eia Mater, fons amoris,
Me sentire vim doloris,
Fac ut tecum lugeam.

O thou Mother! fount of love!
Touch my spirit from above,
Make my heart with thine accord.

STATION IX.

JESUS FALLS BENEATH HIS CROSS THE THIRD TIME.

This ninth Station represents the place at which the good Jesus fell under His Cross the third time.

Alas, how painful was this fall of Jesus! Behold, with what fury the most gentle Lamb is torn to pieces by raging wolves! See how they bruise and strike Him, and drag Him in the mire! Ah, accursed sin, which thus maltreated the Son of God! Surely the sight of a God thus oppressed,—a God thus trampled under foot, deserves thy tears. Oh! turn to Him in sorrow of heart, and say:

O my God! Thou who art Almighty, Thou who with Thy finger alone sustainest heaven and earth; who is it that has made Thee fall thus miserably to the ground? Alas! it is I, by my sins and repeated relapses; and I have added torments to torments, by accumulating sin upon sin. But behold me now, contrite at Thy feet, most fully resolved never more to offend Thee. With tears and sighs I will repeat a hundred and a thousand times, Never more will I sin, O my God! never, never more.

Fac ut ardeat cor meum,
Fac amando Christum Deum,
Ut sibi complaceam.

Make me feel as thou hast felt,
Make my soul to glow and melt
With the love of Christ my Lord.

STATION X.

JESUS IS STRIPPED OF HIS GARMENTS, AND IS GIVEN GALL TO DRINK.

This tenth Station represents to us the place at which Jesus was stripped of His garments, and received the bitter draught of gall.

Consider, O my soul, how Jesus, covered with bruises and wounds outwardly, was now inwardly tormented with a most loathsome draught of gall. See how, by His nakedness, He atones for thy want of modesty and thy vanity in dress; and by the bitterness which He tastes, for thy excesses in eating and drinking! Wilt thou not, then, be moved to pity? Oh, cast thyself at the feet of Jesus, and say to Him:

O my most afflicted Lord, what a horrible contrast is this! Thou all blood, all wounds, all bitterness, and I all comfort, enjoyment, and sweetness. Ah, no! this is not as it should be. I beseech Thee, dearest Lord, make me change my life; and let the sweetness of this world become bitter to me, so that henceforth I may have no relish but for the sweet bitterness of Thy most holy Passion, and so may in the end enjoy with Thee the delights of Paradise.

Sancta Mater! istud agas,
Crucifixi fige plagas
Corde meo valide.

Holy Mother! pierce me through,
In my heart each wound renew
Of my Saviour crucified.

STATION XI.

JESUS IS NAILED TO THE CROSS.

This eleventh Station represents the spot at which Jesus was nailed to the Cross in sight of His most holy Mother.

Consider the exceeding pain which Jesus, our good Lord, suffered when He felt the nails pierce and tear His veins, bones, nerves, and flesh with unspeakable anguish. Art thou not melted into tenderness at the sight of so much pain, and the recollection of thy many sins? Ah! give vent to thy sorrow, and say:

O Jesus, my most merciful Lord, crucified for my sake, subdue, utterly subdue, my hard heart with Thy holy fear and love; and since my sins were the cruel nails which pierced Thee, grant that now my sorrow may pierce and nail to the Cross all my ill-regulated passions; that so it may be my happy lot to live and die crucified with Thee on earth, that I may come to reign gloriously with Thee in Heaven.

Tui Nati vulnerati,
Tam dignati pro me pati,
Pœnas mecum divide.

Let me share with thee His pain,
Who for all my sins was slain,
Who for me in torments died.

STATION XII.

JESUS IS RAISED ON THE CROSS, AND DIES UPON IT.

In the twelfth Station is represented the place in which the Cross was raised, with Jesus nailed upon it.

Raise thine eyes and see Jesus, thy most dear Lord, hanging on the Cross fastened by three nails! gaze on that divine face of Jesus dying! Mark how He prays for those who offend Him; gives Paradise to him who asks it; leaves His Mother to the care of John; recommends His soul to His Heavenly Father; and, at length, bowing His Head, dies!

Jesus then is dead !—dead on the Cross for thee! And what art thou doing? Ah! take care not to go hence without expressing thy sorrow and compunction; embrace the Cross of Jesus, and say to Him:

My dearest Redeemer, I know and confess that my most grievous sins have been the merciless executioners who have taken away Thy life. I do not deserve to be pardoned, for I am the traitor who has crucified Thee! But oh, what consolation for me to hear Thee praying for those who crucified Thee! What shall I do for Thee, who hast done so much for me? My Lord, I am ready and willing to pardon every one who has offended me. Yes, my God, for love of Thee I pardon all, I embrace all, I wish well to all; and so I hope to hear Thee say to me, in my last moments: “Hodie mecum eris in Paradiso,” “To-day shalt thou be with Me in Paradise.”

Fac me tecum pie flere,
Crucifixo condolere,
Donec ego vixero.

Let me mingle tears with thee,
Mourning Him who mourn'd for me,
All the days that I may live.

STATION XIII.

JESUS TAKEN DOWN FROM THE CROSS.

In this thirteenth Station is represented how Jesus was taken down from the Cross, and laid in the lap of His most afflicted Mother.

Consider what a sword of sorrow pierced the heart of our disconsolate Lady, when she received her dead Son into her arms! Alas! at the sight of His wounds all the anguish of her most tender heart was renewed; but the sharpest sword which pierced her heart was sin—sin which deprived of life her dearest Son. Weep, then, for accursed sin; and mingling thy tears with those of the afflicted Virgin, say to her:

O Queen of Martyrs, when shall I be worthy to understand and sympathize with thy sorrows, by having them ever present in my heart? Ah, mighty Lady, grant that I may weep night and day for my sins, which have caused thee so much suffering; that so, weeping, loving, and hoping, I may die of pure sorrow for thy sake, to live for ever with thee.

Juxta crucem tecum stare,
Et me tibi sociare,
In planctu desidero.

By the Cross with thee to stay,
There with thee to weep and pray,
Is all I ask of thee to give.

STATION XIV.

JESUS LAID IN THE HOLY SEPULCHRE.

In the last Station is represented the Holy Sepulchre in which the most sacred Body of Jesus was laid.

Consider how great were the lamentations of John, Mary Magdalen, the other Marys, and all the immediate followers of Christ, when He was enclosed in this Holy Sepulchre. But more than all, consider the desolation of Mary's afflicted heart, when she was parted altogether from her most loving Son. At the sight of their tears, conceive a just shame that thou hast shown so little sorrow and compassion in the course of this holy pilgrimage. Now at least rouse thyself; kiss the stone of the sacred tomb; try hard to leave thy heart within it; and with bitter sorrow pray thus to thy dead Lord:

O Jesus, my most compassionate Lord! who, solely for love of me, hast chosen to accomplish this sorrowful journey, I adore Thee dead, and enclosed in the Holy Sepulchre; I desire now to enclose Thee within my poor heart, that, united to Thee, I may rise, after this holy exercise, to a new life; and, by the gift of final perseverance, happily die in Thy grace. Oh, grant me, by the merits of Thy most holy Passion on which I have been meditating, that my last food at that last hour may be the most Divine Sacrament, my last words JESUS and MARY, and that my last sigh may be united with that with which Thou didst expire upon the Cross for me; that thus, with lively faith, firm hope, and burning love, I may die with Thee and for Thee, and come to reign with Thee for ever and ever! Amen.

Pater, Ave, and Gloria, according to the intentions of His Holiness.