Stations of the Cross for Personal Devotions

℣:  We adore thee, O Christ, and we praise thee.
℟:  Because by thy Holy Cross thou hast redeemed the world.

Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” And Jesus said, “I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.” And the high priest tore his garments and said, “What further witnesses do we need? You have heard his blasphemy. What is your decision?” And they all condemned him as deserving death. (Mark 14:61-64 ESV)

Prayer.

All-powerful and eternal God, it was for our sins that thy Son, Jesus Christ, wast condemned to death by crucifixion. Grant that we may detest our sins from the bottom of our hearts, and by repentance obtain thy mercy and pardon. Amen.

℣:  We adore thee, O Christ, and we praise thee.
℟:  Because by thy Holy Cross thou hast redeemed the world.

He (Pilate) said to the Jews, “Behold your King!” They cried out, “Away with him, away with him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.” So he delivered him over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus, and he went out, bearing his own cross. (John 19:14-17a ESV)

Prayer.

ALMIGHTY Father, grant that by virtue of thy Son’s holy cross, that we might embrace with meekness and cheerful submission the difficulties in our lives and be ever ready to take up our cross and follow Jesus. Through Him who lives and reigns with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one God now and forever. Amen.

℣:  We adore thee, O Christ, and we praise thee.
℟:  Because by thy Holy Cross thou hast redeemed the world.

Jesus said,”If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you.” (John 15:18-20a ESV)

Prayer.

O Jesus! Who for our sins didst bear the heavy burden of the cross and fall under its weight, may the remembrance of thy sufferings strengthen our baptismal resolve to renounced the world, the flesh, and the devil. Amen.

℣:  We adore thee, O Christ, and we praise thee.
℟:  Because by thy Holy Cross thou hast redeemed the world.

But standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, 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 to his own home.
(John 19:25-27 ESV)

Prayer.

O Lord Jesus, at thy passion a sword of sorrow pierced the loving heart of thy blessed mother as Simeon had foretold. Grant that we who look back on her sorrows with compassion might likewise have our hardened hearts pierced by the recognition of our sins and by thy inestimable love for us through your passion and death on the cross . Amen.

℣:  We adore thee, O Christ, and we praise thee.
℟:  Because by thy Holy Cross thou hast redeemed the world.

And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the purple cloak and put his own clothes on him. And they led him out to crucify him. And they compelled a passerby, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to carry his cross. And they brought him to the place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull). (Mark 15:20-22 ESV)

Prayer.

Lord Jesus Christ, may it be our privilege also to bear thy cross; may we glory in nothing else; and may we rejoice if we are counted worthy to suffer for thy Name’s sake. Amen.

℣:  We adore thee, O Christ, and we praise thee.
℟:  Because by thy Holy Cross thou hast redeemed the world.

‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’ (Matthew 25:37-40 ESV)

Prayer.

Almighty and ever-loving God, may the contemplation of thy Son’s sufferings move us with deepest compassion to hate our sins and kindle fervent love for thee. May the image of thy Son’s life-giving love be engraved on the very fabric of our hearts. Amen.

℣:  We adore thee, O Christ, and we praise thee.
℟:  Because by thy Holy Cross thou hast redeemed the world.

Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53:4-6 ESV)

Prayer.

Lord Jesus Christ, falling once again under the burden of our sins; We are heartily sorry for our repeated fallings into sin. Grant us Lord, through thy mercy and power, the strength to repent, pick up our cross, and follow thee once again. Amen.

℣:  We adore thee, O Christ, and we praise thee.
℟:  Because by thy Holy Cross thou hast redeemed the world.

And there followed him a great multitude of the people and of women who were mourning and lamenting for him. But turning to them Jesus said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.” (Luke 23:27-28 ESV)

Prayer.

Beloved Jesus, with tears of pity these women of Jerusalem responded to Thee, broken, bruised, and beaten, on the road to Calvary. Teach us to mourn for thy sufferings and for our sins which caused them; that through the grace of God we may escape those judgments prepared for those that reject the gift of redemption. Amen.

℣:  We adore thee, O Christ, and we praise thee.
℟:  Because by thy Holy Cross thou hast redeemed the world.

My soul clings to the dust; give me life according to your word! When I told of my ways, you answered me; teach me your statutes! Make me understand the way of your precepts, and I will meditate on your wondrous works. My soul melts away for sorrow; strengthen me according to your word! (Psalms 119:25-28 ESV)

Prayer.

ALMIGHTY and eternal God, who permitted thy Son to take upon himself our flesh, and to be crushed and profaned repeatedly for our sake; Pardon our frequent relapses into sin and help us to recall His sufferings that we may hate our sins more and more; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

℣:  We adore thee, O Christ, and we praise thee.
℟:  Because by thy Holy Cross thou hast redeemed the world.

They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink. And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots. (Matthew 27:34-35 KJV)

Prayer.

O Lord Jesus. Thou didst endure this shame for our most shameful deeds. Strip us we beseech thee, of all false shame, conceit, and pride and make us so to humble ourselves voluntarily in this life, that we may escape everlasting shame in the world to come. Amen.

℣:  We adore thee, O Christ, and we praise thee.
℟:  Because by thy Holy Cross thou hast redeemed the world.

Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:32-34a ESV)

Prayer.

O Heavenly Father, thy dearly beloved Son was nailed to the cross. Fasten we beseech thee,  our hearts there also, that we may be united to  Him until such time as we give up our last breath and return with Jesus into thy loving arms. Amen.

℣:  We adore thee, O Christ, and we praise thee.
℟:  Because by thy Holy Cross thou hast redeemed the world.

It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, while the sun’s light failed. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last. (Luke 23:44-46 ESV)

Prayer.

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. For thine is the kingdom, and the power and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

℣:  We adore thee, O Christ, and we praise thee.
℟:  Because by thy Holy Cross thou hast redeemed the world.

But when they (the soldiers) came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water. After these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took away his body. (John 19:33-34,38. ESV)

Prayer.

Dearest Jesus, in our hour of darkness, make us aware of thy loving presence. By thy grace strengthen us to withstand moments of confusion; and through thy compassion, may we, like thy blessed mother into whose arms thy body was placed, hold fast to thee in sure and certain hope of the resurrection to eternal life, through Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.

℣:  We adore thee, O Christ, and we praise thee.
℟:  Because by thy Holy Cross thou hast redeemed the world.

And Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen shroud and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had cut in the rock. And he rolled a great stone to the entrance of the tomb and went away. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the tomb. (Matthew 27:59-61 ESV)

Prayer.

Almighty God, as thy beloved Son is laid in the tomb, help us, O Lord, to wait on thee. Where shall we go from thy Spirit? Or where shall we flee from your presence? Even in the dark  tomb is not dark to thee; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with thee. For forgiveness is with thee, O Lord. For this we wait for the LORD, our souls doth wait, and in thy Word do we hope. Amen. ( inspired by Psalms 139 and 130).

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℣:  We adore thee, O Christ, and we praise thee.
℟:  Because by thy Holy Cross thou hast redeemed the world.

Prayer.

The Apostles’ Creed.

I believe in God, the Father almighty, Maker of heaven and earth:

And in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord:who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary: suffered under Pontius Pilate, Was crucified, dead and buried: He descended into hell; on the third day he rose again from the dead;  He ascended into heaven, And sitteth at the right hand of God the Father almighty; From there he shall come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Ghost, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting.

Amen.