O Jesus Christ my Lord, with what great love you passed over the painful road which led you to death; and I, how often have I abandoned you. I am sincerely sorry for having offended you. Dear Jesus, pardon me, permit me to accompany you in this journey. You are going to die because of your love of me, and it is my wish also, to die to self, because of my love of you. I re-commit myself tonight to furthering your work in this community where I live.

First Station Consider how Jesus, after having been scourged and crowned with thorns, was unjustly condemned by Pilate to die on the Cross

First Station Priest: We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you. All: Because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.

First Station All: I love you Jesus, 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.

Second Station Consider how Jesus, in making this journey with the Cross on his shoulders, thought of us, and offered for us to his Father the death he was about to undergo.

Second Station Priest: We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you. All: Because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.

Second Station All: I love you Jesus, 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.

Third Station Consider this first fall of Jesus under his Cross. His flesh was torn by the scourges, his head was crowned with thorns; he had lost a great quantity of blood. So weakened he could scarcely walk, he yet had to carry this great load upon his shoulders. The guards struck him violently and he fell several times.

Third Station Priest: We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you. All: Because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.

Third Station All: I love you Jesus, 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.

Fourth Station Consider the meeting of the Son and his Mother, which took place on his journey. Their looks became such that they showed the wounds in those hearts which loved each other so tenderly.

Fourth Station Priest: We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you. All: Because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.

Fourth Station All: I love you Jesus, 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.

Fifth Station Consider how his cruel tormentors, seeing Jesus was at the point of dying, and fearing he would die on the way, whereas they wished him to die the shameful death of the cross, constrained Simon of Cyrene to carry the Cross behind our Lord.

Fifth Station Priest: We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you. All: Because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.

Fifth Station All: I love you Jesus, 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.

Sixth Station Consider how the holy woman named Veronica, seeing Jesus so abused, and bathed in sweat and blood, wiped his face with a towel, on which was left the impression of his holy presence.

Sixth Station Priest: We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you. All: Because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.

Sixth Station All: I love you Jesus, 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.

Seventh Station Consider the second fall of Jesus under the Cross: a fall which renews the pain of all the wounds in his head and body.

Seventh Station Priest: We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you. All: Because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.

Seventh Station All: I love you Jesus, 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.

Eighth Station Consider how these women wept with compassion at seeing Jesus in such a pitiable state, streaming with blood as he walked along. “Daughters of Jerusalem,” he said “Weep not for me, but for yourselves and for your children.”

Eighth Station Priest: We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you. All: Because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.

Eighth Station All: I love you Jesus, 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.

Ninth Station Consider the third fall of Jesus Christ. His weakness was extreme, and the cruelty of his executioners excessive, who tried to hasten his steps when he could scarcely move.

Ninth Station Priest: We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you. All: Because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.

Ninth Station All: I love you Jesus, 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.

Tenth Station Consider the violence with which Jesus was stripped by the executioners. His inner garments adhered to his flesh, and they dragged them off so roughly that the skin came with them. Pity your Saviour so cruelly treated.

Tenth Station Priest: We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you. All: Because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.

Tenth Station All: I love you Jesus, 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.

Eleventh Station Consider how Jesus, having been placed on the Cross, extended his hands, and offered to his Eternal Father the sacrifice of his life for our salvation.

Eleventh Station Priest: We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you. All: Because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.

Eleventh Station All: I love you Jesus, 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.

Twelfth Station Consider how Jesus, being consumed with anguish after three hours agony on the Cross, abandoned himself to the weight of his body, bowed his head and died.

Twelfth Station Priest: We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you. All: Because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.

Twelfth Station All: I love you Jesus, 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.

Thirteenth Station Consider how, after our Lord had died, two of his disciples, Joseph and Nicodemus, took him down from the Cross, and placed him in the arms of his sorrowful Mother.

Thirteenth Station Priest: We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you. All: Because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.

Thirteenth Station All: I love you Jesus, 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.

Fourteenth Station Consider how the disciples, accompanied by his Mother, carried the body of Jesus to bury it. They closed the tomb, and all came sorrowfully away.

Fourteenth Station Priest: We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you. All: Because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.

Fourteenth Station All: I love you Jesus, 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.

Stations of the Cross We now come forward and light a candle on the altar, after which we return to our seats

Stations of the Cross Let us consider how we can be a more effective light to Jesus in this parish and beyond!

Stations of the Cross May God bless you through this week as you look again at what cost is involved in being a follower of Jesus.