STATIONS OF THE CROSS
LIVE VIA CRUCIS (The Way of The Cross)
We would like to invite parishioners of every age to take part in the living stations of the cross this year on Good Friday, April 7 at 6:00 pm.
VIA CRUCIS EN VIVO PARA EL VIERNES SANTO (El camino de la cruz)
Nos gustaría invitar a los feligreses de todas las edades a participar en la Vía Crucis en vivo (7 de abril)
Adult Faith Formation
The Stations of the Cross composed by St Alphonsus Liquori
Opening prayer: In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
My Lord, Jesus Christ. You have made this journey to die for me with unspeakable love; and I have so many times ungratefully abandoned You. But now I love You with all my heart; and because I love You, I am sincerely sorry for ever having offended you. Pardon me, my God, and permit me to accompany You on this journey. You go to die for love of me; I want my beloved Redeemer, to die for love of You. My Jesus, I will live and die always united to You.
The 1st Station: Jesus is Sentenced to Death
We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You; because by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world
Consider how Jesus Christ, after being scourged and crowned with thorns, was unjustly condemned by Pilate to die on the cross.
Prayer: My adorable Jesus, it was not Pilate; no, it was my sins that condemned You to die. I beseech You, by the merits of this sorrowful journey, to assist my soul on its journey to eternity. I love You, beloved Jesus; I love You more than I love myself. With all my heart I repent of ever having offended You. Grant that I may love You always; and then do with me as You will.
The 2nd Station: Jesus Takes The Cross
We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You; because by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world
Consider Jesus as He walked this road with the cross on His shoulders, thinking of us, and offering to His Father in our behalf, the death He was about to suffer.
Prayer: My most beloved Jesus, I embrace all the sufferings You have destined for me until death. I beg You, by all You suffered in carrying Your cross, to help me carry mine with Your perfect peace and resignation. I love You, Jesus, my love; I repent of ever having offended You. Never let me separate myself from You again. Grant that I may love You always; and then do with me as You will.
The 3rd Station: Jesus Falls the First Time
We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You; because by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world
Consider the first fall of Jesus. Loss of blood from the scourging and crowing with thorns had so weakened Him that He could hardly walk; and yet He had to carry that great load upon His shoulders. As the soldiers struck Him cruelly, He fell several times under the heavy cross.
Prayer: My beloved Jesus, it was not the weight of the cross but the weight of my sins which made You suffer so much. By the merits of this first fall, save me from falling into mortal sin. I love You, O my Jesus, with all my heart; I am sorry that I have offended You. May I never offend You again. Grant that I may love You always; and then do with me as You will.
The 4th Station: Jesus Meets His Blessed Mother
We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You; because by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world
Consider how the Son met his Mother on His way to Calvary. Jesus and Mary gazed at each other and their looks became as so many arrows to wound those hearts which loved each other so tenderly.
Prayer: My most loving Jesus, by the pain You suffered in this meeting grant me the grace of being truly devoted to Your most holy Mother. And You, my Queen, who was overwhelmed with sorrow, obtain for me by Your prayers a tender and a lasting remembrance of the passion of Your divine Son. I love You, Jesus, my Love, above all things. I repent of ever having offended You. Never allow me to offend You again. Grant that I may love You always; and then do with me as You will.
The 5th Station: Simon Helps Jesus Carry His Cross
We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You; because by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world
Consider how weak and weary Jesus was. At each step He was at the point of expiring. Fearing that He would die on the way when they wished Him to die the infamous death of the cross, they forced Simon of Cyrene to help carry the cross after Our Lord.
Prayer: My beloved Jesus I will not refuse the cross as Simon did: I accept it and embrace it. I accept in particular the death that is destined for me with all the pains that may accompany it. I unite it to Your death and I offer it to You. You have died for love of me; I will die for love of You and to please You. Help me by Your grace. I love You, Jesus, my Love; I repent of ever having offended You. Never let me offend You again. Grant that I may love You always; and then do with me as You will.
The 6th Station: Veronica Wipes The Face of Jesus
We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You; because by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world
Consider the compassion of the holy woman, Veronica. Seeing Jesus in such distress, His face bathed in sweat and blood, she presented Him with her veil. Jesus wiped His face, and left upon the cloth the image of his sacred countenance.
Prayer: My beloved Jesus, Your face was beautiful before You began this journey; but, now, it no longer appears beautiful and is disfigured with wounds and blood. Alas, my soul also was once beautiful when it received Your grace in Baptism; but I have since disfigured it with my sins. You alone, my Redeemer, can restore it to its former beauty. Do this by the merits of Your passion; and then do with me as You will.
Our Father…
The 7th Station: Jesus Falls For The Second Time
We adore you O Christ and we praise you; because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world
Despite this meeting with his mother, the presence of Simon and the kindness of Veronica, Jesus falls for the second time. His flesh was bloody. But despite the pain, suffering and humiliation he knows this journey is for all of us, therefore, he struggles on.
Prayer: At times, we too fall under the weight of depression, the agony of bereavement and separation, in physical and psychological suffering. We hope that someone will come; be there to pick us up, give us back the confidence in ourselves and in life. Will you be there, my brother, my sister?
Hail Mary…
The 8th Station: Jesus Speaks to the Holy Women
We adore you O Christ and we praise you; because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world
The women of Jerusalem see Jesus’ battered and bruised body on his journey and they reach out to him. Their charity and goodwill challenges us to be in solidarity of those who suffer in mind, body and spirit.
Prayer: Jesus, broken and bruised, never let us pass by when my brother or sister needs our help. Help us to awaken hope to all who need our compassion and help.
Glory be….
The 9th Station: Jesus Falls For The Third Time
We adore you O Christ and we praise you; because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world
Jesus, crushed by the violence and the beatings, was once again overcome. He who had taken our sins on himself. Him, the gentle one, who loves each one of us. His heart was torn apart by the blocks of fear and hate that live in us and prevent us from welcoming love. He too sank into the very depths of despair
Prayer: Jesus, your prophet, said: “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you. I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.” Break our hearts of stones, take away our fears, open us up to love and to your presence. You came to live a communion of heart with each one of us and to give us life.
Our Father…
The 10th Station: Jesus Is Stripped Of His Garments
We adore you O Christ and we praise you; because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world
Jesus was stripped, stripped of energy and any movement, stripped of honour and dignity, and finally, stripped of his clothes. He was there, naked, left to the view and mockery of the people.
Prayer: Jesus, give us the courage and strength to clothe those who are naked, stripped of their dignity and help us to cover them with our respect.
Hail Mary…
The 11th Station: Jesus Is Nailed to The Cross
We adore you O Christ and we praise you; because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world
Jesus’ arms and legs were fastened in a way that only bought greater pain and suffering. Still he did not complain. His thoughts were with the two men crucified with him. When one of them asked for mercy, his response was stunning.
Prayer: Jesus, give us your strength to open our hearts to mercy and compassion even for those who are the most hateful to us.
Glory be…
The 12th Station: Jesus Dies On The Cross
We adore you O Christ and we praise you; because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world
Jesus had been seized tortured and crucified by fear and hatred. He who only offered love had been put to death. He cries out “Father into your hands I commend my spirit.”
Pause…………
Prayer: Jesus, by your death, you teach us to embrace love and so to live a full life. May we have solidarity with those who suffer, mercy towards our enemies and generosity to the poor.
Our Father…
The 13th Station: Jesus Is Taken Down From The Cross
We adore you O Christ and we praise you; because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world
Joseph of Arimathea, Nicodemus and John took down the body of Jesus from the cross. Water and blood flowed from his pierced heart. They placed his body, so beautiful, so delicate so wounded, in Mary’s arms. We are called in this holy moment to care for the body of Christ, but that body today takes the form of all those suffering in the world.
Prayer: Mary, we ask that you hold us as you did your dear son, may we show the same tenderness and love that you did to your son to all who need our compassion.
Hail Mary…
The 14th Station: Jesus Is Laid In The Tomb
We adore you O Christ and we praise you; because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world
The stone sealed the tomb. Mary Magdalene cried, Peter and the apostles were distressed and confused. Mary kept the words and promises of Jesus her son in her heart. She began a great silence on Holy Saturday, a day of expectation and a day of trust. When it all seemed to be over, the hope in the promises of Jesus remained.
Prayer: When our hearts are broken and crushed, when despair threatened to overcome us, we pray Jesus, that you will plant the seed of hope in us.
I love You, Jesus, my love 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.
Our Father…
Hail Mary…
Glory Be…
Concluding prayer
Thank you O God of mercy and compassion, for this journey of faith. May this journey move our hearts so we become agents of your mercy, and spirit-filled witnesses of your everlasting love.
Sign of the Cross