Stations of The Cross for Our Times

“The Cross of Christ invites us to allow ourselves to be smitten by his love, teaching us always to look upon others with mercy and tenderness, especially those who suffer, who are in need of help, who need a word or a concrete action which requires us to step outside ourselves to meet them and to extend a hand to them.” (Pope Francis, World Youth Day) May we draw deeply from the well of these words as we pray the Stations of the Cross together this evening.

Jesus is Condemned to Die Pilate asked them, “Why what evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Crucify him!” So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released Barabbas for them; and after flogging Jesus, he handed him over to be crucified. (Mk 15:14-15)

We pray: Father, grant us the grace not to condemn love, but to live love along the path that you have shown us. Help us to use our authority and power in humility and service to all. Amen.

Jesus Takes up His Cross “ But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that made us whole” Isaiah 53:5

We pray: Father, help me to accept the cross in my life, whatever it may be at this time – suffering, loneliness, bereavement, failure. Give me the grace to know that you are carrying it with me, so that it may become for me a source of new life. Amen.

Jesus Falls for the First Time “I offered my back to those who beat me, I did not hide my face from mocking and spitting. The Lord God helps me; therefore I will not be disgraced. Therefore have I set my face like flint, and I know I will not be put to shame.” Isaiah 50: 6-7

We pray: Father, you save the poor who cry to you and you lift up those who have fallen. Give me a spirit of dependence, rooted in humility, so that I may help and support all who fall under the weight of suffering. Give me the courage to speak out in the face of suffering and thereby help to create a better world for all. Amen.

Jesus Meets His Mother Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is spoken against, (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that thoughts out of many hearts may be revealed.” Luke 2:

We pray: Lord, we thank you for Mary our mother, who walks with us on our journey of faith. Help us to learn from Mary how to love every person as a beloved child, and to be a sign of your loving, supporting care in the world. Amen.

Simon Helps Jesus Carry His Cross As they led him away, they seized a man, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming from the country, and they laid the cross on him, and made him carry it behind Jesus. Luke 23:26

We pray: Make us worthy, Lord, to serve our fellow brothers and sisters throughout the world, who live and die in poverty and hunger. Give them, by our hands, their daily bread. Grant us strength to be like Simon to help others with their crosses, especially when it is unpopular to do what is right. Amen.

Veronica Wipes the Face of Jesus “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’ And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.” Mt. 25:35-36, 40

We pray: Lord, summon in us the strength that Veronica had, to face you at your weakest moment. You who are divine welcomed the comfort of a human touch. Let us bring that same comfort to those in need. Give us eyes to see, so that we may see your face in those who need our help. Amen.

Jesus Falls for the Second Time “He was despised and rejected by all; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom we hid our faces, he was despised, and we esteemed him not”. Isaiah 53:3

We pray: Lord, we know that we fall again and again because of our human frailties, our hardness of heart, or our selfish ways. Give us courage, Lord, to believe in your supporting presence, and to trust that you will stretch out your hand and raise us up, no matter how many times we fall. Amen.

Jesus Meets the Women of Jerusalem And there followed him a great multitude of the people, including women who bewailed and lamented him. But Jesus turning to them said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. Lk 23:27-28

We pray: Lord, help us to follow the selfless way of Jesus, who even in his own personal suffering, took time to console the women of Jerusalem. Help us to realise our responsibility for each other’s pain, and to commit ourselves to changing what needs to be changed in our lives and in our society. Amen.

Jesus Falls for a Third Time “Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for his own sins! Isaiah 53:4

We pray: Lord, help us to be active members of the community of believers - picking up those who are down-trodden, and journeying beside them until they are strong enough to stand again. When I fall, Lord, help me to remember that you are always with me. Amen.

Jesus is Stripped of His Clothing They took his clothes and divided them into four parts, one for each soldier. They also took his tunic; now the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from the top. So they said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see who will get it.” This was to fulfil what the scripture says, “They divided my clothes among themselves, and for my clothing they cast lots.” Jn 19:23-24.

We pray: Lord, Help us to remember those in the world who are stripped of their dignity, their respect and their rights. Show us how to protect the dignity of others always. Give me the grace to let go of any mask or veil that creates a barrier to my relationship with you. Amen.

Jesus is Nailed to The Cross There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, with Jesus between them. Pilate also had an inscription written and put on the cross. It read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” Many of the Jews read this inscription, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, in Latin, and in Greek. Jn 19:18-20

We pray: Father, we remember that in his suffering Jesus shares in the suffering of all humanity. Help us to bring the transforming love of Jesus to all who suffer by sharing with those in need, giving generously of our time, and always being a light of joy and hope for others. Amen.

Jesus Dies on The Cross It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, while the sun’s light failed; and the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” Having said this, he breathed his last. Luke 23:44-46

We pray: Lord, thank you for giving everything, even your life for us. Through your final breath on the cross you brought new life for all. May we always remember that you are not a remote God, but are always with us, bringing a promise of light, even in the darkest places. Amen.

Jesus is Taken Down from The Cross When evening had come, and since it was the day of Preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath, Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the council, who was also himself waiting expectantly for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate wondered if he were already dead; and summoning the centurion, he asked him whether he had been dead for some time. When he learned from the centurion that he was dead, he granted the body to Joseph. Mk 15:42-45

We pray: Father, we thank you for the example of people like Joseph of Arimathea who took the risk of facing Pilate so that he could, with great compassion, care for the mortal body of Jesus. May the Spirit guide us always to show respect for all our brothers and sisters, in life and in death. Amen.

Jesus is Laid in The Tomb Then Joseph bought a linen cloth, and taking down the body, wrapped it in the linen cloth, and laid it in a tomb that had been hewn out of the rock. He then rolled a stone against the door of the tomb. Mk 15:

We pray: Lord of all hope and freedom, like the grain of wheat, you fell into the ground and died to give us life. When all our hopes fail, give us courage. When we feel cut off bring us back to the newness of life. Amen.

Final Prayer Heavenly Father, we gathered this evening with open hearts to draw from the well of love and knowledge that you have given us. We thirst for salvation and a sense of belonging in your Kingdom. Teach us to recognise the same Christ suffering in people across the world, and inspire us to become advocates of truth and justice on their behalf. We ask this prayer through Christ, our Lord. Amen.