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 in 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.