We adore you O Christ and we bless You, because by Your Holy Cross
You have redeemed the world
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1st Station: Jesus is condemned
to death
Jesus, you stand all alone before Pilate. Nobody speaks up for you.
Nobody helps defend you. You devoted your entire life to helping
others, listening to the smallest ones, caring for those who were
ignored by others. They don't seem to remember that as they prepare
to put you to death.
Help me be grateful for what you did for me. Help me to accept criticism
and unfairness as you did, and not complain. Help me pray for those
who have hurt me.
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2nd Station: Jesus carries
His cross
Jesus, as you accepted your cross, you knew you would carry it to
your death on Calvary. You knew it wouldn't be easy, but you accepted
it and carried it just the same.
My Jesus, Who by Your own will did take on the most heavy cross
I made for You by my sins. O, make me feel their heavy weight, and
weep for them as long as I live.
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We adore you O Christ and we bless You, because by Your Holy Cross
You have redeemed the world
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3rd Station: Jesus falls
the first time
Jesus, the cross you have been carrying is very heavy. You are becoming
weak and almost ready to faint, and you fall down. Nobody seems
to want to help you. The soldiers are interested in getting home,
so they yell at you and try to get you up and moving again.
My Jesus, the heavy burden of my sins is on You, and bears You down
beneath the cross. I loathe them, I detest them; I call on You to
pardon them; may Your grace aid me never more to commit them
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4th Station: Jesus meets
his Mother
Jesus, you feel so alone with
all those people yelling and screaming at you. You don't like the
words they are saying about you, and you look for a friendly face
in the crowd. You see your mother. She can't make the hurting stop,
but it helps to see that she is on your side, that she is suffering
with you. She does understand and care.
Jesus most suffering, Mary Mother most sorrowful, if, by my sins,
I caused you pain and anguish in the past, by God's assisting grace
it shall be so no more; rather be you my love from now until death.
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We adore you O Christ and we bless You, because by Your Holy Cross
You have redeemed the world
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5th Station: Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus carry the cross
Jesus, the soldiers are becoming
impatient. This is taking longer than they wanted it to. They are
afraid you won't make it to the hill where you will be crucified.
As you grow weaker, they grab a man out of the crowd and make him
help carry your cross. He was just watching what was happening,
but all of a sudden he is helping you carry your cross.
My Jesus, blest was he who aided You to bear the cross. Blest too
shall I be if I aid You to bear the cross, by patiently bowing my
neck to the crosses You shall send me during life.
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6th Station: Veronica wipes
the face of Jesus
Jesus, suddenly a woman comes
out of the crowd. Her name is Veronica. You can see how she cares
for you as she takes a cloth and begins to wipe the blood and sweat
from your face. She can't do much, but she offers what little help
she can.
My tender Jesus, Who did deign to print Your sacred face upon the
cloth with which Veronica wiped the sweat from off Your brow, print
in my soul deep, I pray You, the lasting memory of Your bitter pains.
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We adore you O Christ and we bless You, because by Your Holy Cross
You have redeemed the world
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7th Station: Jesus falls
the second time
This is the second time you have fallen on the road. As the cross
grows heavier and heavier it becomes more difficult to get up. But
you continue to struggle and try until you're up and walking again.
You don't give up.
Help me when things seem difficult for me. Even when it's hard, help
me get up and keep trying as you did. Help me do my best without comparing
myself with others. |
8th Station: Jesus meets
the women of Jerusalem
Jesus, as you carry your cross you see a group of women along the
road. As you pass by you see they are sad. You stop to spend a moment
with them, to offer them some encouragement. Although you have been
abandoned by your friends and are in pain, you stop and try to help
them.
My Jesus, You did comfort the pious women of Jerusalem who wept
to see You bruised and torn, comfort my soul with Your tender pity,
for in Your pity lies my trust. May my heart ever answer Yours.
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We adore you O Christ and we bless You, because by Your Holy Cross
You have redeemed the world
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9th Station: Jesus falls
a third time
Jesus, your journey has been long. You fall again, beneath your
cross. You know your journey is coming to an end. You struggle and
struggle. You get up and keep going.
Help me think of the cross you carried.
Help me continue to hope that I can make the changes in my life
I need to. You didn't give up. I can have the strength to get up
again too.
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10th Station: Jesus' clothes are taken away
The soldiers notice you have
something of value. They remove your cloak and throw dice for it.
Your wounds are torn open once again. Some of the people in the
crowd make fun of you. They tease you and challenge you to perform
a miracle for them to see. They're not aware that you'll perform
the greatest miracle of all!
Help me to keep myself pure and clean. Help me say things that build
up the people around me. Help me overcome worldly desires that I
may become more like Jesus. Help me set a good example for others
to follow.
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We adore you O Christ and we bless You, because by Your Holy Cross
You have redeemed the world
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11th Station: Jesus is nailed
to the Cross
You are stretched out on the cross you have carried so far. The
soldiers take big nails and drive them into your hands and feet.
You feel abandoned by the people you loved so much. People seem
to have gone mad. You have done nothing but good, yet they drive
nails through your hands and feet.
Help me look again at people around me. Help me see the hurt and
pain I have caused others. Be with me,help me make amends for the
harm I have done.
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12th Station: Jesus dies
on the cross
As Jesus hung on the cross, he forgave the soldiers who had crucified
him, and prayed for his mother and friends. Jesus wanted all of
us to be able to live forever with God, so he gave all he had for
us.
My Jesus, three hours did You hang in agony, and then die for me;
let me die before I sin, and if I live, live for Your love and faithful
service.
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We adore you O Christ and we bless You, because by Your Holy Cross
You have redeemed the world
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13th Station: The body of
Jesus is taken down from the Cross
Jesus, how brutally you were
put to death. How gently you are taken from the cross. Your suffering
and pain are ended, and you are put in the lap of your mother. The
dirt and blood are wiped away. You are treated with love.
O Mary, Mother most sorrowful, the sword of grief pierced your soul
when you saw Jesus lying lifeless in your arms. Obtain for me a
hatred of sin, because sin killed your Son and wounded your own
heart, and grace to live a Christian life and save my soul.
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14th Station: Jesus is laid
in the tomb
Jesus, your body is prepared for burial. Joseph gave you his own
tomb. He laid your body there and rolled a large stone in front
of it, then went home. What a sad day it has been for so many people.
Help me think of Joseph of Arimathea, who risked his own life as
he accepted Jesus' body for burial.
To think of how Joseph loved Jesus so much that he gave him his
own tomb.
My Jesus, beside Your body in the tomb I, too, would lie dead; but
if I live, let it be for You, so as one day to enjoy with You in
heaven the fruits of Your passion and Your bitter death.
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