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Stations of the Cross
The following stations of the cross are based on those
celebrated by Pope John Paul II on Good Friday 1991. They are
presented here as an alternative to the traditional stations1
and as a way of reflecting more deeply on the Scriptural
accounts of Christ's passion.
The presiding minister may be a priest, deacon, or layperson.
This minister prays the opening and closing prayers, leads the
acclamation, announces the stations, and says the prayer that
concludes each station. One or more readers may read the
Scriptural reflections. A period of silence should be observed
between the Scripture reading and the prayer. A crossbearer
accompanied by two candlebearers may stand in front of each
station as it is announced. As the cross- and candlebearers move
between the stations, all may sing a verse of the Stabat
Mater (At the Cross Her Station Keeping - traditional) or an
appropriate antiphon, such as Parce Domine (traditional,
various settings) or Crucem Tuam (Berthier, GIA),
Before each station:
Minister:
We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you.
All:
Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
After each station:
All:
Lord Jesus, help us walk in your steps.
Opening Prayer:
Minister:
God of power and mercy,
in love your sent your Son
that we might be cleansed of sin
and live with you forever.
Bless us as we gather to reflect
on his suffering and death
that we may learn from his example
the way we should go.
We ask this through that same Christ, our Lord.
All:
Amen.
First Station: Jesus in the
Garden of Gethsemane
Reader:
Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he
said to his disciples, "Sit here while I go over there and
pray." He took along Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and
began to feel sorrow and distress. Then he said to them, "My
soul is sorrowful even to death. Remain here and keep watch with
me." He advanced a little and fell prostrate in prayer, saying,
"My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet,
not as I will, but as you will." When he returned to his
disciples he found them asleep. He said to Peter, "So you could
not keep watch with me for one hour? Watch and pray that you may
not undergo the test. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is
weak."
Matthew 25:36-41
Minister:
Lord,
grant us your strength and wisdom,
that we may seek to follow your will in all things
Second Station: Jesus, Betrayed
by Judas, is Arrested
Reader: Then, while [Jesus] was still speaking, Judas,
one of the Twelve, arrived, accompanied by a crowd with swords
and clubs, who had come from the chief priests, the scribes, and
the elders. His betrayer had arranged a signal with them,
saying, "the man I shall kiss is the one; arrest him and lead
him away securely." He came and immediately went over to him and
said, "Rabbi." And he kissed him. At this they laid hands on him
and arrested him.
Mark 14: 43-46
Minister:
Lord,
grant us the courage of our convictions
that our lives may faithfully reflect the good news you bring.
Third Station: Jesus is
Condemned by the Sanhedrin
Reader: When day came the council of elders of the people
met, both chief priests and scribes, and they brought him before
their Sanhedrin. They said, "If you are the Messiah, tell us,"
but he replied to them, "If I tell you, you will not believe,
and if I question, you will not respond. But from this time on
the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of
God." They all asked, "Are you then the Son of God?" He replied
to them, "You say that I am." Then they said, "What further need
have we for testimony? We have heard it from his own mouth."
Luke 22: 66-71
Minister:
Lord,
grant us your sense of righteousness
that we may never cease to work
to bring about the justice of the kingdom that you promised.
Fourth Station: Jesus is Denied
by Peter
Reader: Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard.
One of the maids came over to him and said, "You too were with
Jesus the Galilean." But he denied it in front of everyone,
saying, "I do not know what you are talking about!" As he went
out to the gate, another girl saw him and said to those who were
there, "This man was with Jesus the Nazorean." Again he denied
it with an oath, "I do not know the man!" A little later the
bystanders came over and said to Peter, "Surely you too are one
of them; even your speech gives you away." At that he began to
curse and to swear, "I do not know the man." And immediately a
cock crowed. Then Peter remembered the word that Jesus had
spoken: "Before the cock crows you will deny me three times." He
went out and began to weep bitterly.
Matthew 26: 69-75
Minister:
Lord,
grant us the gift of honesty
that we may not fear to speak the truth even when difficult.
Fifth Station: Jesus is Judged
by Pilate
Reader: The chief priests with the elders and the
scribes, that is, the whole Sanhedrin, held a council. They
bound Jesus, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate. Pilate
questioned him, "Are you the king of the Jews?" He said to him
in reply, "You say so." The chief priests accused him of many
things. Again Pilate questioned him, "Have you no answer? See
how many things they accuse you of." Jesus gave him no further
answer, so that Pilate was amazed.... Pilate, wishing to satisfy
the crowd, released Barrabas... [and] handed [Jesus] over to be
crucified.
Mark 15: 1-5, 15
Minister:
Lord,
grant us discernment
that we may see as you see, not as the world sees.
Sixth Station: Jesus is Scourged
and Crowned with Thorns
Reader:
Then Pilate took Jesus and had him scourged. And the soldiers
wove a crown out of thorns and placed it on his head, and
clothed him in a purple cloak, and they came to him and
said,"Hail, King of the Jews!" And they struck him repeatedly.
John 19: 1-3
Minister:
Lord,
grant us patience in times of suffering
that we may offer our lives as a sacrifice of praise.
Seventh Station: Jesus Bears the
Cross
Reader: When the chief priests and the guards saw [Jesus]
they cried out, "Crucify him, crucify him!" Pilate said to them,
"Take him yourselves and crucify him. I find no guilt in him."
... They cried out, "Take him away, take him away! Crucify him!"
Pilate said to them, "Shall I crucify your king?" The chief
priests answered, "We have no king but Caesar." Then he handed
him over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus, and
carrying the cross himself he went out to what is called the
Place of the Skull, in Hebrew, Golgotha.
John 19: 6, 15-17
Minister:
Lord,
grant us strength of purpose
that we may faithfully bear our crosses each day.
Eighth Station: Jesus is Helped
by Simon the Cyrenian to Carry the Cross
Reader: They pressed into service a passer-by, Simon, a
Cyrenian, who was coming in from the country, the father of
Alexander and Rufus, to carry his cross.
Mark 15: 21
Minister:
Lord,
grant us willing spirits
that we may be your instruments on earth.
Ninth Station: Jesus Meets the
Women of Jerusalem
Reader: A large crowd of people followed Jesus, including
many women who mourned and lamented him. Jesus turned to them
and said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep
instead for yourselves and for your children, for indeed, the
days are coming when people will say, 'Blessed are the barren,
the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed.' At
that time, people will say to the mountains, 'Fall upon us!' and
to the hills, 'Cover us!' for if these things are done when the
wood is green what will happen when it is dry?"
Luke 23: 27-31
Minister:
Lord,
grant us gentle spirits
that we may comfort those who mourn.
Tenth Station: Jesus is
Crucified
Reader: When they came to the place called the Skull,
they crucified him and the criminals there, one on his right,
the other on his left. [Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them,
they know not what they do."]
Luke 23: 33-34
Minister:
Lord,
grant us merciful hearts
that we may bring your reconciliation and forgiveness to all.
Eleventh Station: Jesus Promises
His Kingdom to the Good Thief
Reader: Now one of the criminals hanging there reviled
Jesus, saying, "Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us."
The other, however, rebuking him, said in reply, "Have you no
fear of God, for you are subject to the same condemnation? And
indeed, we have been condemned justly, for the sentence we
received corresponds to our crimes, but this man has done
nothing criminal." Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you
come into your kingdom." He replied to him, "Amen, I say to you,
today you will be with me in Paradise."
Luke 23: 39-43
Minister:
Lord,
grant us perseverance
that we may never stop seeking you.
Twelfth Station: Jesus Speaks to
His Mother and the Disciple
Reader: Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother
and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of
Magdala. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom
he loved, he said to his mother, "Woman, behold, your son." Then
he said to the disciple, "Behold, your mother." And from that
hour the disciple took her into his home.
John 19: 25-27
Minister:
Lord,
grant us constancy
that we may be willing to stand by those in need.
Thirteenth Station: Jesus Dies
on the Cross
Reader: It was now about noon and darkness came over the
whole land until three in the afternoon because of an eclipse of
the sun. Then the veil of the temple was torn down the middle.
Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I
commend my spirit"; and when he had said this he breathed his
last.
Luke 23: 44-46
Minister:
Lord,
grant us trust in you
that when our time on earth is ended
our spirits may come to you without delay.
Fourteenth Station: Jesus is
Placed in the Tomb
Reader:
When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea named
Joseph, who was himself a disciple of Jesus. He went to Pilate
and asked for the body of Jesus; then Pilate ordered it to be
handed over. Taking the body, Joseph wrapped it [in] clean linen
and laid it in his new tomb that he had hewn in the rock. Then
he rolled a huge stone across the entrance to the tomb and
departed.
Matthew 27: 57-60
Minister:
Lord,
grant us your compassion
that we may always provide for those in need.
Closing Prayer:
Minister:
Lord Jesus Christ,
your passion and death is the sacrifice that unites earth and
heaven
and reconciles all people to you.
May we who have faithfully reflected on these mysteries
follow in your steps and so come to share your glory in heaven
where you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit
one God, for ever and ever.
All:
Amen.
Scripture excerpts are taken from the
New American Bible with Revised New Testament Copyright ©
1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc.,
Washington, DC. Used with permission. All rights reserved.
Permission is hereby granted to reproduce these excerpts in free
distribution of these stations.
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