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Stations of the Cross
Every Friday during Lent, we gather together meditate over the Stations of the Cross. Below are the actual stations that are in our Church. We hope that you join with us in prayer during this Holy time. The prayers that follow the Stations are the ones we pray together.
IntroductionThese fourteen steps
that you are now about to walk
you do not take alone. I walk with you.
Though you are you,
and I am I,
yet we are truly one -
one Christ.
And therefore
my way of the cross
two thousand years ago
and your "way" now
are also one.
But note this difference.
My life was incomplete until I crowned it
by my death.
Your fourteen steps
will only be complete
when you have crowned them
by your life.
-Jesus Christ
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Station 1 - Jesus Is Condemned To Death
My Jesus, Lord,
obedience cost you your life.
For me
it costs an act of will-
no more-
Remove the blinders from my eyes
that I may see that it is you whom I obey
in all who govern me.
Lord, it is you.
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Station 2 - Jesus Receives His Cross
My Jesus, Lord,
I take my daily cross.
I welcome the monotony
that often marks my day,
discomforts of all kinds,
the summer's heat, the winter's cold,
my disappointments, tensions, setbacks, cares.
Remind me often that
in carrying my cross,
I carry yours with you.
And though I bear a sliver only
of your cross,
You carry all of mine, except a sliver,
in return.
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Station 3 - Jesus Falls The First Time
Lord Jesus, how can I refuse?
I willingly accept my weaknesses,
my irritations and my moods,
my headaches and fatigue,
all my defects of body, mind, and soul.
Because they are you will for me,
these "handicaps" of my humanity,
I gladly suffer them.
Make me content
with all my discontents,
but give me strength
to struggle after you.
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Station 4 - Jesus Meets The Blessed Mother
My Jesus, Lord,
I know what you are telling me.
To watch the pain of those we love
is harder than to bear our own.
To carry my cross after you,
I, too, must stand and watch
the sufferings of my dear ones -
the heartaches, sicknesses, and grief
of those I love.
And I must let them watch mine, too.
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Station 5 - Simon Helps Jesus To Carry His Cross
Lord, make me realize
that every time I wipe a dish,
pick up an object off the floor,
assist a child in some small task,
or give another preference
in traffic or the store;
each time I feed the hungry,
clothe the naked,
teach the ignorant,
or lend my hand in any way -
it matters not to whom -
my name is Simon.
And the kindness I extend to them
I really give to you.
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Station 6 - Veronica Wipes The Face of Jesus
Lord, what you ask is hard.
It calls for courage and self-sacrifice,
and I am weak.
Please, give me strength.
Don't let me run away because of fear.
Lord, live in me
and act in me
and love in me.
And not in me alone - in all of us -
so that we may reveal
no more your bloody but your glorious face
on earth.
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Station 7 - Jesus Falls The Second Time
Give me you courage, Lord.
When failure presses heavily on me
and I am desolate,
stretch our your hand
to lift me up.
I know I must not cease,
but persevere in doing good.
But help me, Lord.
Alone there's nothing I can do.
With you, I can do anything you ask.
I will.
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Station 8 - Jesus Consoles The Holy Women
My Jesus,
your compassion
in your passion
is beyond compare.
Lord, teach me,
help me learn.
When I would snap at those who hurt me with their ridicule,
those who misunderstand,
or hinder me with some misguided helpfulness,
those who intrude upon my privacy -
then help me curb my tongue.
May gentleness become my cloak.
Lord, make me kind like you.
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Station 9 - Jesus Falls The Third Time
My Lord,
I see you take a moment's rest
then rise and stagger on.
So I can do
because my will is mine.
When all my strength is gone
and guilt and self-reproach
press me to earth and seem to hold me fast,
protect me from the sin of Judas -
save me from despair!
Lord, never let me feel
that any sin of mine
is greater than your love.
No matter what my past has been
I can begin anew.
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Station 10 - Jesus Is Stripped Of His Garments
My Lord,
I offer you my all -
whatever I possess,
and more, my self.
Detach me from the craving for
prestige, position, wealth.
Root out of me
all trace of envy of my neighbor
who has more than I.
Release me from the vice of pride,
my longing to exalt myself,
and lead me to the lowest place.
May I be poor in spirit, Lord,
so that I can be rich in you.
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Station 11 - Jesus Is Nailed To The Cross
My God,
I look at you and think:
Is my soul worth this much?
What can I give you in return?
I here and now accept
for all my life
whatever sickness, torment, agony my come.
to every cross I touch my lips.
O blessed cross that lets me be -
with you -
a co-redeemer of humanity.
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Station 12 - Jesus Expires On The Cross
My Jesus,
God,
what can I say or do?
I offer you my death
with all its pains,
accepting now
the time and kind of death
in store for me.
Not by a single instant
would I lengthen my life's span.
I offer you my death
for my own sins
and for those of all humanity.
My God! My God! Forsake us not.
We know not what we do.
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Station 13 - Jesus Is Laid In His Mother's Arm
I beg you, Lord,
help me accept the partings that must come -
from friends who go away,
my children leaving home,
and most of all, my dear ones
when you shall call them to yourself.
Then, give me the grace to say:
"As it has pleased you, Lord,
to take them home,
I bow to your most holy will.
And if by just one word
I might restore their lives against your will,
I would not speak."
Grant them eternal joy.
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Station 14 - Jesus Is Laid In The Sepulchre
My Jesus, Lord,
you know my spirit is as willing
as my flesh is weak.
The teaching you could not impart,
the sufferings you could not bear,
the works of love you could not do
in your short life on earth,
let me impart,
and bear,
and do
through you.
But I am nothing, Lord.
Help Me!
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ConclusionI told you at the state, my other self,
my life was not complete
until I crowned it by my death.
Your "way" is not complete.
Accept each moment as it comes to you,
with faith and trust
that all that happens has my mark on it.
a simple fiat, this is all it takes;
a breathing in your heart,
"I will it, Lord."
So seek me not in far-off places.
I am close at hand.
Your workbench, office, kitchen,
these are altars
where you offer love.
And I am with you there.
Go now! Take up your cross
and with your life
complete your way.
- Jesus Christ
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