St. Alphonsus Liguori's Way of the Cross
A Plenary indulgence is granted to the faithful, who make the pious exercise of the Way of the Cross. If, for some reasonable cause, the Stations are interrupted, a partial indulgence may be gained for each Station.
Prepare for the first station.
Prepare yourself for prayer.
Ask yourself how to make this time in meditation peaceful. For example, you should close your eyes or take a few deep breaths before you begin.
OPENING PRAYER
O Jesus, my adorable savior, I seek Your forgiveness and mercy for myself and for my loved ones, for those hardened by sin, and all the faithful departed. Wash away my sins and those of the whole world through the infinite merits of Your Passion. Give me the grace to enter more deeply into the mystery of Your Cross, so that sharing in your suffering and death, I may experience a deep sorrow for my sins and be ready to embrace willingly, even with joy, all the sufferings and humiliations of this life and pilgrimage.
Make the Sign of the Cross and walk to, look at, or lead your thoughts to the scene of the first station.
Name the station.
THE FIRST STATION: Jesus Is Condemned to Die
Kneel or genuflect before the station.
Then, take a moment to quiet your heart and mind to be present with Christ.
Pray
Celebrant:
We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You. People: Because by Your holy Cross and Resurrection, You have redeemed the world.
Meditation:
Recall how Jesus was scourged and crowned with thorns, and how He was then unjustly condemned by Pilate to die on the Cross.
Prayer:
Adorable Jesus, it was not Pilate; it was my own sins that condemned you to death. I pray you, by the merits of your sorrowful journey to Calvary, to assist my soul on its journey to eternity.
Celebrant:
You, who suffered wounds for us,
People:
Christ Jesus, have mercy on us.
Meditate
Spend some time contemplating this station. You may kneel, look at an image of the station, close your eyes, and imagine being in the moment with Christ.
Repeat
Name the station.
THE SECOND STATION: Jesus Carries His Cross
Kneel or genuflect before the station.
Then, take a moment to quiet your heart and mind to be present with Christ.
Pray
Celebrant:
We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You. People: Because by Your holy Cross and Resurrection, You have redeemed the world.
Meditation:
Recall how the heavy Cross was laid upon Jesus’ bruised shoulders. He accepts it meekly, even joyously, because by that Cross He wills to redeem the world.
Prayer:
O Jesus, by the merit of Your Cross, grant me the grace to accept meekly and cheerfully the difficulties in my life, that, by so doing, I may always be ready to take up my cross and follow You.
Celebrant:
You, who suffered wounds for us,
People:
Christ Jesus, have mercy on us.
Meditate
Spend some time contemplating this station. You may kneel, look at an image of the station, close your eyes, and imagine being in the moment with Christ.
Pray
Close your time before each station with a prayer, such as the Lord’s Prayer. Focus on speaking honestly with God.
Repeat
Name the station.
THE THIRD STATION: Jesus Falls the First Time
Kneel or genuflect before the station.
Then, take a moment to quiet your heart and mind to be present with Christ.
Pray
Celebrant:
We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You.
People:
Because by Your holy Cross and Resurrection, You have redeemed the world.
Meditation:
Laboring under the weight of the Cross, Jesus slowly sets forth on the way to Calvary. His agony in the garden has exhausted His Body; He is sore with blows and wounds; His strength fails Him; He falls to the ground under the Cross.
Prayer:
It was for my sins, my Jesus, that You bore the heavy burden of Your Cross and fell under its weight. Let my remembrance of these sufferings make me careful, lest I fall into mortal sin.
Celebrant:
You, who suffered wounds for us,
People:
Christ Jesus, have mercy on us.
Meditate
Spend some time contemplating this station. You may kneel, look at an image of the station, close your eyes, and imagine being in the moment with Christ.
Pray
Close your time before each station with a prayer, such as the Lord’s Prayer. Focus on speaking honestly with God.
Repeat
Name the station.
THE FOURTH STATION: Jesus Meets His Sorrowful Mother
Kneel or genuflect before the station.
Then, take a moment to quiet your heart and mind to be present with Christ.
Pray
Celebrant:
We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You.
People:
Because by Your holy Cross and Resurrection, You have redeemed the world.
Meditation:
Recall the meeting between Son and Mother on the way to Calvary. How oppressive that experience must have been for both of them! What a sword of anguish must have pierced Mary’s maternal heart!
Prayer:
My Jesus, by the compassion which You felt for Your Mother, have compassion on me, and permit me to share in her intercession with You. O Mary, afflicted Mother, intercede for me with your Son, that by His sufferings I may be saved from the wrath which is to come.
Celebrant:
You, who suffered wounds for us,
People:
Christ Jesus, have mercy on us.
Meditate
Spend some time contemplating this station. You may kneel, look at an image of the station, close your eyes, and imagine being in the moment with Christ.
Pray
Close your time before each station with a prayer, such as the Lord’s Prayer. Focus on speaking honestly with God.
Repeat
Name the station.
THE FIFTH STATION: Simon Helps Jesus Carry His Cross
Kneel or genuflect before the station.
Then, take a moment to quiet your heart and mind to be present with Christ.
Pray
Celebrant:
We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You.
People:
Because by Your holy Cross and Resurrection, You have redeemed the world.
Meditation:
Recall how, as Jesus’ strength continued to fail, He became unable to go on; and how the soldiers then seized Simon of Cyrene and forced him to help Jesus carry His Cross.
Prayer:
O Lord Jesus, let me also bear Your Cross; let me glory in nothing else. Let the temptations of this world be crucified to me, and I to them. Let me not shrink from suffering; let me rather rejoice to be counted worthy of suffering for Your Name’s sake.
Celebrant:
You, who suffered wounds for us,
People:
Christ Jesus, have mercy on us.
Meditate
Spend some time contemplating this station. You may kneel, look at an image of the station, close your eyes, and imagine being in the moment with Christ.
Pray
Close your time before each station with a prayer, such as the Lord’s Prayer. Focus on speaking honestly with God.
Repeat
Name the station.
THE SIXTH STATION: Veronica Wipes the Face of Jesus
Kneel or genuflect before the station.
Then, take a moment to quiet your heart and mind to be present with Christ.
Pray
Celebrant:
We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You.
People:
Because by Your holy Cross and Resurrection, You have redeemed the world.
Meditation:
Recall how Veronica, seeing Jesus so afflicted, His face soiled with sweat and blood, offered Him her veil. Jesus took the veil, wiped His face, and left imprinted on the cloth the image of His Divine Countenance. Prayer:
O Jesus, may the remembrance of Your suffering move me to hatred for my sins; may it stir up in me a more fervent love for You. Let the image of Your Countenance be impressed upon my mind, until I am made over in Your likeness.
Celebrant:
You, who suffered wounds for us,
People:
Christ Jesus, have mercy on us.
Meditate
Spend some time contemplating this station. You may kneel, look at an image of the station, close your eyes, and imagine being in the moment with Christ.
Pray
Close your time before each station with a prayer, such as the Lord’s Prayer. Focus on speaking honestly with God.
Repeat
Name the station.
THE SEVENTH STATION: Jesus Falls the Second Time
Kneel or genuflect before the station.
Then, take a moment to quiet your heart and mind to be present with Christ.
Pray
Celebrant:
We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You.
People:
Because by Your holy Cross and Resurrection, You have redeemed the world.
Meditation:
Recall how Jesus’ struggle to go on increased His pain and cost Him a constantly greater loss of blood, until His strength failed a second time, and He fell upon the ground again.
Prayer:
O Jesus, lying prostrate again under the burden of my sins, how often have I offended You in the past? Let me for the future rather die than ever offend You again.
Celebrant:
You, who suffered wounds for us,
People:
Christ Jesus, have mercy on us.
Meditate
Spend some time contemplating this station. You may kneel, look at an image of the station, close your eyes, and imagine being in the moment with Christ.
Pray
Close your time before each station with a prayer, such as the Lord’s Prayer. Focus on speaking honestly with God.
Repeat
Name the station.
THE EIGHTH STATION: Jesus Meets the Women of Jerusalem
Kneel or genuflect before the station.
Then, take a moment to quiet your heart and mind to be present with Christ.
Pray
Celebrant:
We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You.
People:
Because by Your holy Cross and Resurrection, You have redeemed the world.
Meditation:
Recall how some holy women of Jerusalem, upon seeing Jesus stumbling along and bathed in His own blood, wept with compassion. To them Jesus said: “Do not weep for Me; weep for your children.”
Prayer:
O Lord Jesus, I grieve for Your sufferings, too, and for my sins which caused You to suffer. Let me mourn that I may be comforted. Let me escape the awful judgment that awaits those who reject or neglect You in this earthly life.
Celebrant:
You, who suffered wounds for us,
People:
Christ Jesus, have mercy on us.
Meditate
Spend some time contemplating this station. You may kneel, look at an image of the station, close your eyes, and imagine being in the moment with Christ.
Pray
Close your time before each station with a prayer, such as the Lord’s Prayer. Focus on speaking honestly with God.
Repeat
Name the station.
THE NINTH STATION: Jesus Falls the Third Time
Kneel or genuflect before the station.
Then, take a moment to quiet your heart and mind to be present with Christ.
Pray
Celebrant:
We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You.
People:
Because by Your holy Cross and Resurrection, You have redeemed the world.
Meditation:
Jesus, arriving exhausted at the foot of Calvary, falls for the third time. His weakness was extreme and the cruelty of His executioners was excessive; they tried to hasten His steps when He hardly had strength to move.
Prayer:
O Lord Jesus, I pray You, by the merits of this third painful fall, to forgive my frequent falls into sin and my slowness to rise and return again to You. Let the remembrance of Your sufferings make me hate my sins more and more.
Celebrant:
You, who suffered wounds for us,
People:
Christ Jesus, have mercy on us.
Meditate
Spend some time contemplating this station. You may kneel, look at an image of the station, close your eyes, and imagine being in the moment with Christ.
Pray
Close your time before each station with a prayer, such as the Lord’s Prayer. Focus on speaking honestly with God.
Repeat
Name the station.
THE TENTH STATION: Jesus is Stripped of His Garments
Kneel or genuflect before the station.
Then, take a moment to quiet your heart and mind to be present with Christ.
Pray
Celebrant:
We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You.
People:
Because by Your holy Cross and Resurrection, You have redeemed the world.
Meditation:
Recall now how Jesus arrived at the place of His Crucifixion. The soldiers tore His clothes from His bleeding Body, leaving Him exposed to the cold, rude stare of the scoffing crowd.
Prayer:
Innocent Jesus, by Your torment in being stripped of your clothing, help me to put off every inordinate attachment to the things of earth, so that I may give all my love to You, who are all worthy of my love. Celebrant:
You, who suffered wounds for us,
People:
Christ Jesus, have mercy on us.
Meditate
Spend some time contemplating this station. You may kneel, look at an image of the station, close your eyes, and imagine being in the moment with Christ.
Pray
Close your time before each station with a prayer, such as the Lord’s Prayer. Focus on speaking honestly with God.
Repeat
Name the station.
THE ELEVENTH STATION: Jesus is Nailed to the Cross
Kneel or genuflect before the station.
Then, take a moment to quiet your heart and mind to be present with Christ.
Pray
Celebrant:
We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You.
People:
Because by Your holy Cross and Resurrection, You have redeemed the world.
Meditation:
Recall how Jesus lies down upon His Cross, and how He extends His arms to offer up the sacrifice of His Life for our salvation. The soldiers nail Him, hands and feet, to His gibbet. And then they raise it, leaving Him to die upon it in terrible anguish.
Prayer:
My crucified Jesus, bind my heart to Your Cross, and let it remain there always, never again to forsake You. Celebrant:
You, who suffered wounds for us,
People:
Christ Jesus, have mercy on us.
Meditate
Spend some time contemplating this station. You may kneel, look at an image of the station, close your eyes, and imagine being in the moment with Christ.
Pray
Close your time before each station with a prayer, such as the Lord’s Prayer. Focus on speaking honestly with God.
Repeat
Name the station.
THE TWELFTH STATION: Jesus Dies on the Cross
Kneel or genuflect before the station.
Then, take a moment to quiet your heart and mind to be present with Christ.
Pray
Celebrant:
\We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You.
People:
Because by Your holy Cross and Resurrection, You have redeemed the world.
Meditation:
Recall how Jesus agonized for three hours, dying upon the Cross. Then, overcome at last, His Body sagged limply; His head fell forward upon His chest; and He handed over His Spirit.
Prayer:
O Jesus, I devoutly honor that Holy Cross upon which You loved me even unto death. In Your death is all my hope. From this time forward, let me live only for You; when I come to die, let me die loving You alone. Celebrant:
You, who suffered wounds for us,
People:
Christ Jesus, have mercy on us.
Meditate
Spend some time contemplating this station. You may kneel, look at an image of the station, close your eyes, and imagine being in the moment with Christ.
Pray
Close your time before each station with a prayer, such as the Lord’s Prayer. Focus on speaking honestly with God.
Repeat
Name the station.
THE THIRTEENTH STATION: Jesus is Taken Down from the Cross
Kneel or genuflect before the station.
Then, take a moment to quiet your heart and mind to be present with Christ.
Pray
Celebrant:
We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You.
People:
Because by Your holy Cross and Resurrection, You have redeemed the world.
Meditation:
Recall how two of His disciples, Joseph and Nicodemus, took Jesus’ body down from His Cross, and how they laid Him in the arms of His stricken Mother. She received Him with tenderness, pressing Him close to her afflicted heart.
Prayer:
My crucified Jesus, bind my heart to Your Cross, and let it remain there always, never again to forsake You. Celebrant:
You, who suffered wounds for us,
People:
Christ Jesus, have mercy on us.
Meditate
Spend some time contemplating this station. You may kneel, look at an image of the station, close your eyes, and imagine being in the moment with Christ.
Pray
Close your time before each station with a prayer, such as the Lord’s Prayer. Focus on speaking honestly with God.
Repeat
Name the station.
THE FOURTEENTH STATION: Jesus Is Placed in the Sepulchre
Kneel or genuflect before the station.
Then, take a moment to quiet your heart and mind to be present with Christ.
Pray
Celebrant:
We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You.
People:
Because by Your holy Cross and Resurrection, You have redeemed the world.
Meditation:
The Body of her dearly beloved Son is taken from His Mother and laid in the tomb. The tomb is closed, and the lifeless Body remains until the hour of its glorious Resurrection.
Prayer:
O Jesus, lying buried in the tomb, I reverently kiss the stone that encloses You. But on the third day, You rose in glory. By the Resurrection, call me too to rise in glory on the last day, to be forever united with You. Celebrant:
You, who suffered wounds for us,
People:
Christ Jesus, have mercy on us.
Meditate
Spend some time contemplating this station. You may kneel, look at an image of the station, close your eyes, and imagine being in the moment with Christ.
Pray
Close your time before each station with a prayer, such as the Lord’s Prayer. Focus on speaking honestly with God.
Complete
St. Faustina's Way of the Cross is a unique devotion inspired by the writings and experiences of St. Faustina Kowalska, a prominent figure in Catholicism known for her devotion to the Divine Mercy.
1. Reflection on Christ's Passion: St. Faustina's Way of the Cross encourages participants to reflect on the Passion of Jesus Christ as they walk through the various Stations of the Cross. This allows for a deep and personal connection with the suffering and sacrifice of Jesus for humanity's redemption.
2. Deepening of Faith: By meditating on each station and contemplating the suffering of Jesus, individuals can experience a deepening of their faith. It helps them understand the immense love and mercy of God in the face of human suffering and sin.
3. Spiritual Growth: Engaging in St. Faustina's Way of the Cross can promote spiritual growth. It encourages participants to examine their lives, seek forgiveness, and strive for holiness, aligning their lives more closely with Christ's example.
4. Encourages Acts of Mercy: St. Faustina's devotion is closely linked to the message of Divine Mercy, which emphasizes the importance of showing mercy and love to others. Participating in this devotion can inspire individuals to perform acts of mercy and kindness in their own lives.
5. Forgiveness and Reconciliation: The devotion encourages participants to seek God's forgiveness and reconciliation. It reinforces the idea that, through Christ's sacrifice, sins can be forgiven and the path to redemption is open to all who repent.
6. Connection with St. Faustina: For those who have a special devotion to St. Faustina, her Way of the Cross can create a strong connection with this beloved saint and her teachings on God's mercy.
7. Strengthening of Prayer Life: Engaging in this devotion can enhance one's prayer life. It provides a structured and meditative way to pray, fostering a deeper and more contemplative relationship with God.
St. Faustina's Way of the Cross is an expression of personal piety and devotion that aligns with the core tenets of the Catholic faith, particularly the themes of redemption, mercy, and reflection on the Passion of Christ. It can lead to spiritual growth, a deeper faith, and a greater understanding of God's mercy and love.
Exercise of the Way of the Cross
(Viae Crucis exercitium)
A plenary indulgence is granted to the faithful, who make the pious exercise of the Way of the Cross.
In the pious exercise of the Way of the Cross we recall anew the sufferings which the divine Redeemer endured while going from the praetorium of Pilate, where he was condemned to death, to the Mount of Calvary, where he died on the cross for our salvation.
The gaining of the plenary indulgence is regulated by the following norms:
1) The pious exercise must be done before stations of the Way of the Cross are legitimately erected.
2) For the erection of the Way of the Cross, fourteen crosses are required, to which it is customary to add fourteen pictures or images that represent the stations of Jerusalem.
3) According to the more common practice, the pious exercise consists of fourteen pious readings, to which some vocal prayers are added. However, nothing more is required than a pious meditation on the Passion and Death of the Lord, which need not be a particular consideration of the individual mysteries of the stations.
4) A movement from one station to the next is required. But if the pious exercise is made publicly and if it is not possible for all taking part to go in an orderly way from station to station, it suffices if at least the one conducting the exercise goes from station to station, the others remaining in their place. Those who are "impeded" can gain the same indulgence if they spend at least one half an hour in pious reading and meditation on the Passion and Death of our Lord Jesus Christ. For those belonging to Oriental rites, amongst whom this pious exercise is not practiced, the respective Patriarchs can determine some other pious exercise in memory of the Passion and Death of our Lord Jesus Christ for the gaining of this indulgence.