PDF: Stations of the Cross
Videos: Stations of the Cross Playlist
About the Stations of the Cross
Millions of people make pilgrimages to the Holy Land, to walk the same path as Jesus, when he carried the Cross. There are 14 locations, also called stations, where major events of his crucifixion took place. Eight of these are found in the Bible and six were passed down through tradition.
Meditating on each Station of the Cross brings us closer to Christ through his Passion. Those who can’t visit the Holy Land are able to make a spiritual pilgrimage through prayer. This can be done at any time, however, some do this on Fridays at 3 pm, the day and hour Jesus died.
About This Version of the Prayer
There are many variations of the Stations of the Cross prayer. Some include verses from the Bible. Others include the spiritual writings of the saints. Some are read. Others are sung. Some take over an hour to pray. Others, like this one, take about 15 minutes.
This version was created from the Stations of the Cross written by St. Alphonsus Liguori in 1761. The leader will read what is in black. Everyone will say what is in red.
Opening Prayer
Let Us Pray: My Lord Jesus Christ, you have made this journey to die, because of your infinite love for me. So many times I have sinned, but I repent sincerely, because I love you. I strive to live my life, always united with you.
The First Station: Jesus Is Condemned to Death
V. We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you.
R. Because by your holy Cross, you have redeemed the world.
Meditation: Jesus, after having been scourged and crowned with thorns, was unjustly condemned to be crucified.
Let Us Pray: Jesus, it is because of my sins that you are going to die. Through the merits of your sorrowful journey, help me in my journey to heaven.
I love you, Jesus. I repent of my sins. Help me to never sin again, to love you always, and to do your will.
Sing Twice: Jesus, remember me, when you come into your kingdom.
The Second Station: Jesus Is Made to Carry the Cross
V. We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you.
R. Because by your holy Cross, you have redeemed the world.
Meditation: Jesus, in making this journey, with the Cross on his shoulders, offered to his Father, the death that he was about to undergo for us.
Let Us Pray: Jesus, through the merits of your pain and suffering, in carrying the Cross, help me to carry my cross, and embrace my own pain and suffering, with patience and resignation.
I love you, Jesus. I repent of my sins. Help me to never sin again, to love you always, and to do your will.
Sing Twice: Jesus, remember me, when you come into your kingdom.
The Third Station: Jesus Falls the First Time
V. We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you.
R. Because by your holy Cross, you have redeemed the world.
Meditation: Jesus fell for the first time, onto the road made of stone. The soldiers hit him, and yelled at him to get up. He was in so much pain, but he got up, and carried that heavy Cross for us.
Let Us Pray: Jesus, the weight of my sins, adds to your pain and suffering. Through the merits of your first fall, deliver me from falling into mortal sin.
I love you, Jesus. I repent of my sins. Help me to never sin again, to love you always, and to do your will.
Sing Twice: Jesus, remember me, when you come into your kingdom.
The Fourth Station: Jesus Meets His Mother
V. We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you.
R. Because by your holy Cross, you have redeemed the world.
Meditation: Jesus met his mother Mary along his journey. They stared at each other, with sorrow and joy, because of their deep love.
Let Us Pray: Jesus, through the sorrow and joy you had, in meeting your mother, help me to behold Mary, as my mother too.
I love you, Jesus. I repent of my sins. Help me to never sin again, to love you always, and to do your will.
Sing Twice: Jesus, remember me, when you come into your kingdom.
The Fifth Station: Simon Helps Jesus Carry the Cross
V. We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you.
R. Because by your holy Cross, you have redeemed the world.
Meditation: When they saw how weak Jesus was, they feared he might die on his journey, so they gave a man named Simon, the Cross to carry behind our Lord.
Let Us Pray: Jesus, I accept the cross you give me, and I will carry my cross, without complaint, to my own death.
I love you, Jesus. I repent of my sins. Help me to never sin again, to love you always, and to do your will.
Sing Twice: Jesus, remember me, when you come into your kingdom.
The Sixth Station: Veronica Wipes the Face of Jesus
V. We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you.
R. Because by your holy Cross, you have redeemed the world.
Meditation: A woman named Veronica, seeing Jesus suffering so much, with sweat and blood running into his eyes, wiped his face. By a miracle, he left an image of his face on the towel.
Let Us Pray: Jesus, your face was once clean, but blood and sweat disfigured it; then Veronica wiped your face clean. My soul was once clean, but sin has disfigured it. Through your suffering, wipe my soul clean.
I love you, Jesus. I repent of my sins. Help me to never sin again, to love you always, and to do your will.
Sing Twice: Jesus, remember me, when you come into your kingdom.
The Seventh Station: Jesus Falls a Second Time
V. We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you.
R. Because by your holy Cross, you have redeemed the world.
Meditation: Jesus fell for the second time under the weight of our sins. The fall renews all the pain in his body, and makes his head throb.
Let Us Pray: Jesus, so many times you have forgiven me, and so many times I have sinned again. Through the merits of your second fall, help me to call on you, every time I am tempted to sin.
I love you, Jesus. I repent of my sins. Help me to never sin again, to love you always, and to do your will.
Sing Twice: Jesus, remember me, when you come into your kingdom.
The Eighth Station: Jesus Meets the Women of Jerusalem
V. We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you.
R. Because by your holy Cross, you have redeemed the world.
Meditation: Seeing Jesus walking to his death, the women of Jerusalem wept with compassion. But Jesus said to them, “Weep not for me, but for your children.”
Let Us Pray: Jesus, I am sorry for all my sins, and I weep because of the pain you suffered, to save me from my sins.
I love you, Jesus. I repent of my sins. Help me to never sin again, to love you always, and to do your will.
Sing Twice: Jesus, remember me, when you come into your kingdom.
The Ninth Station: Jesus Falls the Third Time
V. We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you.
R. Because by your holy Cross, you have redeemed the world.
Meditation: Jesus was so weak that he could barely move, but the soldiers pushed him to walk faster. And he fell to the ground, for the third time.
Let Us Pray: Jesus, because I am weak, you are going to Calvary. Give me strength to overcome my weakness, and conquer temptation.
I love you, Jesus. I repent of my sins. Help me to never sin again, to love you always, and to do your will.
Sing Twice: Jesus, remember me, when you come into your kingdom.
The Tenth Station: Jesus Is Stripped of His Garments
V. We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you.
R. Because by your holy Cross, you have redeemed the world.
Meditation: The soldiers grabbed Jesus and stripped off his clothes.
Let Us Pray: Jesus, help me to strip my soul of bad habits, so I can give all my love to you; you who are so worthy, of all my love.
I love you, Jesus. I repent of my sins. Help me to never sin again, to love you always, and to do your will.
Sing Twice: Jesus, remember me, when you come into your kingdom.
The Eleventh Station: Jesus Is Nailed to the Cross
V. We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you.
R. Because by your holy Cross, you have redeemed the world.
Meditation: The soldiers pushed Jesus down, and nailed his hands and feet to the Cross. Then, they raised the Cross, to publicly display, the bloody and naked, body of our Lord.
Let Us Pray: Jesus, you suffered pain and humiliation on the Cross. May I never forget how you were pierced, to save me, and to make me whole.
I love you, Jesus. I repent of my sins. Help me to never sin again, to love you always, and to do your will.
Sing Twice: Jesus, remember me, when you come into your kingdom.
The Twelfth Station: Jesus Dies on the Cross
V. We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you.
R. Because by your holy Cross, you have redeemed the world.
Meditation: After suffering on the Cross for three hours, Jesus gave up his life to the Father, and died.
(pause for a moment of silence)
Let Us Pray: Jesus, through my sins, I deserve to be punished. But your death is my hope. And when I die, by your grace, I will join you in heaven.
I love you, Jesus. I repent of my sins. Help me to never sin again, to love you always, and to do your will.
Sing Twice: Jesus, remember me, when you come into your kingdom.
The Thirteenth Station: Jesus Is Taken Down from the Cross
V. We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you.
R. Because by your holy Cross, you have redeemed the world.
Meditation: Two of his disciples took Jesus down from the Cross, and placed his body in the arms of his mother.
Let Us Pray: Holy Mary, mother of my Lord, so close to the heart of Jesus, hold me in your arms, and pray for me to your Son.
I love you, Jesus. I repent of my sins. Help me to never sin again, to love you always, and to do your will.
Sing Twice: Jesus, remember me, when you come into your kingdom.
The Fourteenth Station: Jesus Is Laid in the Tomb
V. We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you.
R. Because by your holy Cross, you have redeemed the world.
Meditation: The two disciples, with Mary, laid Jesus in the tomb.
Let Us Pray: Jesus, three days later, you rose from the dead. Through your death and resurrection, may I be raised on the last day, to be with you always.
I love you, Jesus. I repent of my sins. Help me to never sin again, to love you always, and to do your will.
Sing Twice: Jesus, remember me, when you come into your kingdom.
Closing Prayer
Let Us Pray: Thank you Jesus, for loving me. Fill my heart with faith, hope, and love, with true repentance for my sins, and a firm desire, to do your will.
Our Father,
who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those
who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
Amen.
Our Family Prayers 