Home | May Procession | Search | Contacts/Schedules | Photos | Links | Luncheons | Directions | Fr. McNerney | St. Paul's | News/Events | Fast/Abstinence | Stations | Mass Intentions | Email Newsletter | Why the Old Mass? | Information for Newcomers | The Tridentine Mass | Eucharistic Adoration | Calendar | First Fridays

Stations of the Cross
Parish of St. Peter & St. Paul
Station of the Cross at St. Peter's

 

The Way of the Cross

Adapted from The Life of Christ by Lutolph of Saxony

The exercise of the Way of the Cross consists in meditat­ing piously on the fourteen principal scenes of the Passion of our Lord, from his condemnation to death to his burial.

Nothing helps better to inspire us with horror of sin, love of heavenly things and zeal for Christian perfection than the thought of our Lord's sufferings and death; so the So­vereign Pontiffs have attached to this exercise all the in­dulgences, both plenary and partial, which are granted to those who have the privilege of following the original Way of the Cross at Jerusalem. In fact, the Way of the Cross is a miniature pilgrimage to the Holy Land, a substi­tute for the actual visiting of the Holy Places, introduced in very early times, though the present form of the devo­tion is relatively modern. The word Station (Latin Statio) means a halting-place or meeting-place, and has a quasi-liturgical signification. It is the same word that we find in the Roman Missal, where it means the meeting-place for the celebration of the Solemn Mass.

To gain the indulgences, it is sufficient to meditate for a short time on the Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ (Raccolta, p. 126), while proceeding from one Station to an­other, except when the exercise is made in public (July 1757).

No vocal prayer is essential. It is only recommended, when the Way of the Cross is made in common a) to sing between the Stations a verse of the Stabat Mater or some other Hymn; b) to recite a Paler, an Ape, and an Act of Contrition (April 1731).

Preparatory Prayer.

RECEIVE, O Holy Trinity, this service of my bounden duty which I offer, in union with the merits of our Lord Jesus Christ, of the Blessed Virgin and of all the saints, to the glory of thy divine majesty, in testimony of our Redemption, in satisfaction for my sins and to obtain eternal rest for the departed, grace for the living and final glory for all men.

Unto thee be praise, honour and glory, o Blessed Trinity, for ever and ever. Amen.

FIRST STATION
JESUS IS CONDEMNED TO DEATH

Consider how ,Jesus, after having beets scourged and crowned with thorns, was unjustly condemned by Pilate to die upon the Cross.

v. We adore thee, O Christ, and we bless thee

r. Because by thy holy Cross thou hast redeemed the world.

HAIL Jesu! who, though guiltless, didst, will to suffer the sentence of death, even the death (if the Cross grant that I may not deserve the just condemnation of death, and, out of love of thee, may not fear the unjust judgments of man.

Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory he to the Father.

Lord have mercy upon us. Have mercy upon us.

May the souls of the faithful departed through tile mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

SECOND STATION
JESUS RECEIVES HIS CROSS

Consider how Jesus, in taking the Cross upon him, offered for us to his Father the death He was about to undergo.

v. We adore thee, etc.

HAIL Jesus who, most meek Lamb, didst pa­tiently accept the Cross. Who will grant me to die for thee, 0 God, my God? May the wood of thy Cross be as a soft bed to mc, and may I die for thee in whom I take my quiet rest.

Our Father, etc.

THIRD STATION
JESUS FALLS THE FIRST TIME UNDER HIS CROSS

Consider this first fall of Jesus under his Cross. His flesh was torn by the scourges, his head crowned with thorns, and he had lost much blood. He was

so weakened he could scarcely walk, and yet he had to carry this heavy load upon his shoulders. The soldiers struck him roughly, and thus he fell several times.

v.       We adore thee, etc.

RUN now, my soul, and look on thy Lord and thy Love, who bears the Cross for thee, hasting to its torment to pay the p rice of thy sins with his pain. See how neath the weight of the Cross he moves all-bent, how scarce able to fetch his breath he falls. Have pity on him, so much as in thee lies, he being in the continuance of so great anguish and mockery. Of a truth, well wilt thou do if thou hasten to the help of the Lord thy God, crying Give me the Cross, dear Master, and I will bear it.

Our Father, etc.

FOURTH STATION
JESUS MEETS HIS AFFLICTED MOTHER

Consider this meeting of the Son and the Mother. Their looks became like so many arrows to wound those hearts which loved each other so tenderly.

v.       We adore thee, etc.

OH HOW great a grief was thine, most holy Mother, when thine eyes beheld thy Son! Now, looking upon him as never before, wounded, and dying, how wast thou afflicted with sorrow of soul. Thou wast, of a truth, sad above measure, seeing him thus overborne.

Our Father, etc.

FIFTH STATION
SIMON OF CYRENE HELPS JESUS TO CARRY HIS CROSS

Consider how the Jews, seeing that at each step Jesus was at the point of death, and fearing he would die on the way, whereas they wished him to die the ignominious death of the Cross, constrained Simon the Cyrenean to carry the Cross behind our Lord.

v.       We adore thee, etc.

HAIL Jesu! who didst will to be helped in the carrying of the Cross: grant me with Simon to follow thee, and to endure my cross, bearing it everywhere wheresoever my sins do com el, bearing it with a good will and a true devotion, teat through it I may attain unto glory.

Our Father, etc.

SIXTH STATION
VERONICA WIPES THE FACE OF JESUS

Consider how the holy woman named Veronica, seeing Jesus so ill-used, and his face bathed in sweat and blood, offered him her veil, as a handkerchief, with which he wiped his adorable face, leaving on it the impression of this same holy countenance.

v.       We adore thee, etc.

JESU, who didst will that the beauty of thy coun­tenance should be defiled by the filthy spittle of the Jews, and being cleansed by Veronica should be imprinted on her veil: make thou thy face to shine upon thine unworthy servant and may thy likeness in me be never darkened nor defiled by unclean deeds, or words, or thoughts.

Our Father, etc.

SEVENTH STATION
JESUS FALLS THE SECOND TIME

Consider the second fall of Jesus under the Cross; a fall which renews the pain of all the wounds of his head and limbs.

v.       We adore thee, etc.

O LORD, into what hands art thou delivered How great is thy patience I This is, of a truth, that hour of darkness into which goeth down the hu­mility which was made obedient to God for me unto death, even to the death of the Cross. Evil desire hath drawn me to the things of evil; thy love most holy hath drawn me to the Cross.

Our Father, etc.

EIGHTH STATION
JESUS SPEAKS TO THE WOMEN OF JERUSALEM

Consider how these women wept with compassion at seeing Jesus in such a pitiable plight, streaming with blood as he struggled along. My children , said he, weep not for me, but for yourselves and for your children.

v.                   We adore thee, etc.

HAIL, Jesu! who didst will to be led unto Gol­gotha; lead me in the way of thy commandments, that, with the holy women, I may follow the path of thy Passion weeping for mine own self and for my unhappy state.

Our Father, etc.

NINTH STATION
JESUS FALLS THE THIRD TIME

Consider the third fall of Jesus Christ. His weakness was extreme, and the cruelty of his execu­tioners very great, trying as they did, to hasten his steps, when he could scarcely move.

v. We adore thee, etc.

ALAS, O my Lord, alas, 0 good Master! now will they bring thee to naught, now will they betray thee unto death. O Lord, what can I, wretched one, do? Oh, what tidings of cruelty and grief! O Lord, how piteous a sight will meet the eyes of thy most sweet mother. What tidings of bitterness will she hear, and with her all those that love thee. O Lord, what can I, wretched one, do? Let but thy head rest upon my shoulder, since I cannot deliver thee.

Our Father, etc.

TENTH STATION
JESUS IS STRIPPED OF HIS GARMENTS

Consider the violence with which Jesus was stripped by the executioners. As his inner garments adhered to his torn flesh, they dragged them off so roughly that the skin came with them. Have pity for your Saviour thus cruelly treated.

v. We adore thee, etc.

JESU, who before thy crucifixion didst will to be stripped naked, and despoiled of thy garments strip me of the things of this world, in so far as they he contrary to my salvation, that so, naked, I may follow thee, naked and crucified, and the nakedness of the Cross.

Our Father, etc.

ELEVENTH STATION
JESUS IS NAILED TO THE CROSS

Consider how Jesus, having been placed upon the Cross, extended his arms and offered to his eternal Father the sacrifice of his life for our salvation. The barbarous soldiers fastened him with nails to the Cross and allowed him to die with anguish on this infamous gibbet.

v.      We adore thee, etc.

JESU, who didst will to be fastened to the Cross with most cruel nails and to be so violently outstretched thereon that all thy bones might he numbered: grant me to stretch to the uttermost every member and power both of body and soul to thy glory, and with ardour to reach after the embrace of thy love.

Our Father, etc.

TWELFTH STATION
JESUS DIES ON THE CROSS

Consider how Jesus, after three hours agony on the Cross, being consumed with anguish, bowed his head and died.

v.      We adore thee, etc.

HAIL Jesu I who, dying on the Cross, didst commend thy soul unto the Father grant me in this life so to die in spirit with thee, that at the hour of my death thou mayest deign to hold my poor soul in commendation. For I, 0 Lord, do commend my soul into thy hands, outstretched and wounded, anti sprinkled with thy sacred Blood. and I entreat thy love that with a clear memory, pure faith and an unshaken hope, I may be enabled in my last hour to commend my soul into those most merciful hands, which, to save me, thou didst outstretch upon the Cross; and may I he worthy to hear those most blessed words Today shalt thou be with me in Paradise.

Our Father, etc.

THIRTEENTH STATION
JESUS IS TAKEN DOWN FROM THE CROSS 

Consider how, after our Lord was dead, two of his disciples, Joseph and Nicodemus, took him down from the Cross, and placed him in the arms of his afflicted mother.

v. We adore thee, etc.

JESU, who didst will to be taken down from the Cross not living but dead, that thou mightest rise again from the grave for the enlightening of thine elect; grant me worthily to take thy true Body from thine altar, as from the altar of the Cross, which thou, in the perfecting of thy servitude, didst accept. Let me not descend from the cross which I have received in the profession of thy service, so long as I live, and save when it shall please thee to recall from this body the soul thou didst give. Then may it be taken down from the cross, and be led at thy bidding into the green pastures of pa­radise.

Our Father, etc.

FOURTEENTH STATION
JESUS IS LAID IN THE SEPULCHRE

Consider how the disciples carried the body of Jesus to bury it, accompanied by his holy mother, who laid it in the sepulchre with her own hands.

v.    We adore thee, etc.

JESU who didst will to be buried in a sepulchre and therein to be guarded and mourned; grant me so to entomb thee in spirit, in my heart, that being buried with thee I may be found worthy to attain to the glory of the resurrection. And do thou, who wast laid away in the grave, resting in peace from the sight of men, hide mc thy servant in thy secret presence, from the provoking of all men, that dead to the world, but alive unto thee, I may rest in thee and sleep in peace.

Our Father, etc.

Station of the Cross at St. Peter's

 
Stations of the Cross
Stations of the Cross are held at St. Paul's Church every Friday evening at 7 PM during the Lenten Season. All are invited to attend.