Franciscan Way of the Cross

Preparatory Prayer

O Jesus, our adorable Savior, we now contemplate Your sacred passion. Help us to understand that the sufferings of

our life are the continuation of Your passion. We ask for strength of our souls to go through our passion, in the spirit

with which You went through Yours. Amen.

The Stations of the Way of the Cross According to the Method of

Saint Francis of Assisi

First Station

Jesus is Condemned To Death

Conclusion

Almighty and eternal God, merciful Father, Who has given to the human race Your beloved Son as an example of humility, obedience, and patience to precede us on the way of life by bearing the Cross; graciously grant us that we, inflamed by His infinite love, take up the sweet yoke of His Gospel together with the mortification of the Cross, following Him as His true disciples, so that we shall one day gloriously rise with Him, and joyfully hear the final sentence:

"Come, you blessed of My Father, and possess the kingdom which was prepared for you from the beginning," where You reign with the Son and the Holy Spirit, and where we will reign with You, world without end. Amen.

Photo credits: © Fr. Brian Cavanaugh, TOR All Rights Reserved

St. Francis Holding Crucified Christ - Holy Spirit Friary Courtyard, Steubenville OH Stations of the Cross mosaics - St. Francis Friary Chapel, Loretto PA

Text: Original Source Unknown

V. We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You. R. Because by Your holy Cross, You have redeemed the world.

You Jesus most innocent, Who did not sin, was condemned to death and moreover to the most shameful death of the cross.

To remain a friend of Caesar, Pilate delivered You into the hands of His enemies. What a fearful crime – to condemn Innocence to death and to offend God in order not to displease men.

Prayer

O innocent Jesus, I, having sinned, am guilty of eternal death, but You willingly accepted the unjust sentence of death, that I might live. For whom then, shall I now live, if not for You, my Lord? Should I desire to please men I could not be Your servant. Let me therefore, rather displease men and all the world than not please You, O Jesus.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

V. Lord Jesus crucified. R. Have mercy on us.

Second Station

Jesus Carries His Cross

V. We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You. R. Because by Your holy Cross, You have redeemed the world.

Your lifeless body is interred in a stranger’s tomb. You Who,in this world had no place to rest Your head, would not even have a grave of His own. But then what grave could hold You? You are not of this world. May I like You live this same reality with You and in You.

Prayer

O Jesus! You have set me apart from the world: what, then, shall I seek therein? You have created me for heaven: what then, have I to do with this world? Depart from me, deceitful world with your vanities. Henceforth I will follow the way of the cross traced out for me by my Redeemer and journey onward to my heavenly home, to there dwell forever and ever.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

V. Lord Jesus crucified. R. Have mercy on us.

Fourteenth Station

Jesus is Laid in the Tomb

V. We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You. R. Because by Your holy Cross, You have redeemed the world.

When You, our Divine Savior beheld the cross, You most willingly stretched out Your arms receiving it upon Your lacerated back and shoulders. You although exhausted, carried it for us.

Prayer

O my Jesus! I cannot be Your friend and follower, if I refuse to carry the Cross. O dearly beloved Jesus, grant me your grace to embrace You, as You embrace this cross for me. Far be it from me to glory in anything, save in the Cross of my Lord and Redeemer. By it the world shall be crucified to me and I to the world, that I may be Yours forever.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

V. Lord Jesus crucified. R. Have mercy on us.

Third Station

Jesus Falls the First Time

V. We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You. R. Because by Your holy Cross, You have redeemed the world.

You did not descend from the cross but remained on it until You died. And when taken down from it You, in death and as in life, rested in the arms of Your divine Mother.

You Who persevered in Your Way of the cross enable me to do the same.

Prayer

O Lord Jesus! Your lifeless body, mangled and lacerated, found a worthy resting place in the arms of Your Virgin Mother. Have I not often compelled You to dwell in my heart, full of sin and impurity as it was? Create in me a new heart that I may worthily receive Your most sacred body in Holy Communion, and that You may remain in me, and I in You, for all eternity.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

V. Lord Jesus crucified. R. Have mercy on us.

Thirteenth Station

Jesus Is Taken Down From the Cross

V. We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You. R. Because by Your holy Cross, You have redeemed the world.

Our dear Savior, in carrying the cross You were so weakened by its heavy weight that you fell exhausted to the ground. Our sins and misdeeds were the heavy burden which oppressed You; the cross was to You the burden of our sin and our death

Prayer

O my Jesus! You did bear my burden and the heavy weight of my sins. Should I not then, bear in union with You my easy burden of suffering and accept the sweet yoke of Your commandments? Your yoke is sweet and Your burden is light: I therefore willingly accept it. Grant me the grace to take up my cross and follow You.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

V. Lord Jesus crucified. R. Have mercy on us.

Fourth Station

Jesus Meets His Mother

V. We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You. R. Because by Your holy Cross, You have redeemed the world.

Behold Jesus Christ Crucified!

Behold the wounds Your received because of Your love for me! Your whole appearance betokens love: Your head is bent as if to kiss me; Your arms extended so as to embrace me; Your heart is open to receive me. What super-abundance of pure love!

Jesus, the very Son of God, died upon the cross, so that man may live and be delivered from everlasting death.

Prayer

O most loving Jesus! What tender love! What amazing Grace! I will endeavor at least to die to the world. How must I regard the world and its vanities, when I behold You hanging on the cross covered with wounds? O Jesus, receive me into Your wounded heart: I belong entirely to You; for You alone do I desire to live and to die.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

V. Lord Jesus crucified. R. Have mercy on us.

Twelfth Station

Jesus Is Raised Upon the Cross and Dies

V. We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You. R. Because by Your holy Cross, You have redeemed the world.

How sorrowful and pain filled it must have been for Your Mother, Mary, to behold her beloved Son laden with the burden of the cross, tortured by cruel and uncaring soldiers! What unspeakable piercing pangs her most tender heart experienced! If she could have, how earnestly did she desire to die in Your place or at least with You! But she assisted You as she could in the hour of your death. May I, also companion with You along the Way of the Cross.

Prayer

O Jesus! O Mary! I am the cause of the great and manifold pains which pierced your loving hearts. O that also my heart would experience and feel at least some of your sufferings. Let me participate in the sufferings which You endured for me, and let me experience Your sorrow, that, afflicted with You, I may enjoy Your assistance for all eternity.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

V. Lord Jesus crucified. R. Have mercy on us.

Fifth Station

Simon of Cyrene Helps Jesus To Carry The Cross

V. We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You. R. Because by Your holy Cross, You have redeemed the world.

Being stripped of Your garments they threw You violently upon the cross, nailing Your hands and Your feet nailed to the wood with bone-crushing iron spikes. In such excruciating pain You remained silent. You suffered patiently as You suffered for me. How do I act in sufferings and in troubles? How fretful and impatient do I become; how full of complaints l am!

Prayer

O Jesus, gracious Lamb of God, I renounce my impatience. I yield, O Lord, my flesh and its lustful yearnings. I commit my destiny to You, resigning myself to Your holy will: may it be done in all things.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

V. Lord Jesus crucified. R. Have mercy on us.

Eleventh Station

Jesus Is Nailed to the Cross

V. We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You. R. Because by Your holy Cross, You have redeemed the world

Simon of Cyrene was compelled to help You Jesus, carry the cross; help which you accepted. May we, as Your companions know that You need and accept our help as well.

Prayer O Jesus! Whosoever does not take up his cross and follow You is not worthy of You. Behold, I join You in the Way of Your Cross; grant me the grace to companion You, following Your bloody footsteps, that I may bring comfort to You in Your last hours.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

V. Lord Jesus crucified. R. Have mercy on us.

Sixth Station

Veronica Wipes the Face of Jesus

V. We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You. R. Because by Your holy Cross, You have redeemed the world.

When You arrived at Calvary You were cruelly stripped of Your clothing. How painful this must have been because they had adhered to Your torn body and shredded back. As Your clothing was stripped, parts of Your bloody skin were removed. In stripping You the soldiers were also trying to strip You of your dignity. You died possessing nothing. Might I be happy when I too die laying aside my former self with all evil desires and sinful inclinations!

Prayer

Induce me, O Jesus! To lay aside my former self and to be renewed according to Your grace and will, desire and love. I will not spare myself, however painful this should be for me: stripped of things temporal, even of my own will I desire to die in order to live in You forever.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

V. Lord Jesus crucified. R. Have mercy on us.

Tenth Station

Jesus Is Stripped of His Garments

V. We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You. R. Because by Your holy Cross, You have redeemed the word.

Veronica impelled by devotion and compassion, presents her veil to wipe Your face. The imprints of Your holy countenance remained What a tender recompense for so small a service. What service might I make to You, my Savior for Your great love and manifold grace?

Prayer

Most merciful Jesus! What service shall I make for all the benefits You bestow upon me? Behold, I consecrate myself entirely to Your service. I offer and consecrate to You my heart; imprint on it Your sacred image, never again to be effaced by sin.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

V. Lord Jesus crucified. R. Have mercy on us.

Seventh Station

Jesus Falls the Second Time

V. We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You. R. Because by Your holy Cross, You have redeemed the world. Jesus, You, arrived exhausted and nearly dead at the foot of Calvary and fell to the ground for the third time. Your love for us however, is not diminished not extinguished. What an unfathomable love drove You to carry our burden, our sins. Grant me the grace to live this kind of love in the midst our needy world.

Prayer

Most merciful Jesus! I return You infinite thanks for not permitting me to continue in sin. Enkindle in me an earnest desire of freedom and transformation; vouchsafe me the grace to persevere to the end of my life. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

V. Lord Jesus crucified. R. Have mercy on us.

Ninth Station

Jesus Falls the Third Time

V. We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You. R. Because by Your holy Cross, You have redeemed the world. You, suffering Jesus, under the weight of the cross, again fall to the ground; but the cruel executioners do not permit You to rest. Pushing, kicking, and striking You, they compel You onward. Their cruelty and indifference resembles my disregard for You at times. Witnessing this how can I continue?

Prayer

O Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me! Offer me Your helping hand, and aid me, that I may not fall again into my former sins. From this very moment I will earnestly seek to be transformed! You, O sole support of the weak, by Your grace, without which I can do nothing, strengthen me to carry out faithfully this my resolution.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

V. Lord Jesus crucified. R. Have mercy on us.

Eighth Station

The Weeping Daughters of Jerusalem

V. We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You. R. Because by Your holy Cross, You have redeemed the world. These devoted women moved by compassion weep over You, our suffering Savior. But You turn to them saying: "Weep not for Me, who am innocent; but weep for yourselves and for your children."

I weep also, for there is nothing more pleasing to You than a humble and contrite heart filled with tears shed in contrition for my sins.

Prayer

O Jesus! Who shall give to my eyes a torrent of tears, that day and night I may weep for my sins? I beseech You, through Your bitter tears, to move my heart by Your divine grace, so that from my eyes tears may flow abundantly, and that I may weep all my days over Your sufferings, and still more over their cause, my sins. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

V. Lord Jesus crucified. R. Have mercy on us.