St. Faustina'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
All:
Merciful Lord, my Master, I want to follow You faithfully. I want to imitate You in my life in an ever more perfect way. That is why I ask that by meditating on Your Passion, you would grant me the grace of a deeper understanding of the mysteries of the spiritual life. Mary, Mother of Mercy, always faithful to Christ, lead me in the footsteps of the sorrowful Passion of your Son and ask for me the necessary graces for a fruitful making of this Way of the Cross.
Sung Verse:
At the cross, her station keeping Stood the mournful Mother weeping Close to Jesus to the last.
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 Death
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.
Celebrant:
The chief priests and the entire Sanhedrin kept trying to obtain false testimony against Jesus in order to put Him to death, but they found none, though many false witnesses came forward (Matthew 26:59-60).
Jesus: (Celebrant)
Do not be surprised that you are sometimes unjustly accused. I Myself first drank this cup of undeserved suffering for love of you (289). When I was before Herod, I obtained a grace for you; namely, that you would be able to rise above human scorn and follow faithfully in My footsteps (1164).
S. Faustina: (People)
We are sensitive to words and quickly want to answer back, without taking any regard as to whether it is God’s will that we should speak. A silent soul is strong; no adversities will harm it if it perseveres in silence. The silent soul is capable of attaining the closest union with God (477).
All:
Merciful Jesus, help me to know how to accept every human judgment and do not allow me ever to render a condemnatory judgment on You in my neighbors.
Celebrant:
You, who suffered wounds for us.
People:
Christ Jesus, have mercy on us.
Sung Verse:
Through her heart, His sorrow sharing All His bitter anguish bearing Now at length the sword has passed.
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.
OUR FATHER
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.
Amen.
Repeat
Name the station.
THE SECOND STATION: Jesus is Made to Bear 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.
Celebrant:
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!” So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple cloak. And Pilate said to them, “Behold, the man!” When the chief priests and the guards saw Him they cried out, “Crucify Him, crucify Him!” (John 19:1-6).
Jesus: (Celebrant)
Do not be afraid of sufferings; I am with you (151). The more you will come to love suffering, the purer your love for Me will be (279).
S. Faustina: (People)
Jesus, I thank You for the little daily crosses, for opposition to my endeavors, for the hardships of communal life, for the misinterpretation of my intentions, for humiliations at the hands of others, for the harsh way in which we are treated, for false suspicions, for poor health and loss of strength, for self-denial, for dying to myself, for lack of recognition in everything, for the upsetting of all my plans (343).
All:
Merciful Jesus, teach me to value life’s toil, sick- nesses, and every suffering, and with love to carry my daily crosses.
Celebrant:
You, who suffered wounds for us.
People:
Christ Jesus, have mercy on us.
Sung Verse:
O, how sad and sore distressed Was that Mother highly blessed of the sole Begotten One.
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.
OUR FATHER
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.
Amen.
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.
Celebrant:
We had all gone astray like sheep, each following his own way; But the Lord laid upon Him the guilt of us all (Isaiah 53:6,12).
Jesus: (Celebrant)
Involuntary offenses of souls do not hinder My love for them or prevent Me from uniting Myself with them. But voluntary offenses, even the smallest, obstruct My graces, and I cannot lavish My gifts on such souls (1641).
S. Faustina: (People)
My Jesus, despite Your graces, I see and feel all my misery ... O my Jesus, how prone I am to evil, and this forces me to be constantly vigilant. But I do not lose heart. I trust God’s grace, which abounds in the worst misery (606).
All:
Merciful Lord, preserve me from every, even the tiniest but voluntary and conscious infidelity.
Celebrant:
You, who suffered wounds for us,
People:
Christ Jesus, have mercy on us.
Sung Verse:
Is there one who would not weep, Whelmed in miseries so deep Christ’s dear Mother to behold?
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.
OUR FATHER
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.
Amen.
Repeat
Name the station.
THE FOURTH STATION: Jesus Meets His Afflicted 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.
Celebrant:
Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed. And you yourself a sword will pierce (Luke 2:34-35).
Jesus: (Celebrant)
Although all the works that come into being by My will are exposed to great sufferings, consider whether any of them has been subject to greater difficulties than that work which is directly Mine — the work of Redemption. You should not worry too much about adversities. (1643).
S. Faustina: (People)
I saw the Blessed Virgin, unspeakably beautiful. She held me close to herself and said to me, I am Mother to you all, thanks to the unfathomable mercy of God. Most pleasing to me is that soul which faithfully carries out the will of God. Be courageous. Do not fear apparent obstacles, but fix your gaze upon the Passion of my Son, and in this way you will be victorious (449).
All:
Mary, Mother of Mercy, be near me always, especially in suffering as you were on your Son’s way of the cross.
Celebrant:
You, who suffered wounds for us,
People:
Christ Jesus, have mercy on us.
Sung Verse:
Can the human heart refrain From partaking in her pain In that Mother’s pain untold?
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.
OUR FATHER
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.
Amen.
Repeat
Name the station.
THE FIFTH STATION: Simon of Cyrene Helps Jesus to 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.
Celebrant:
As they led Him away they took hold of a certain Simon, a Cyrenian, who was coming in from the country; and after laying the cross on him, they made him carry it behind Jesus (Luke 23:26).
Jesus: (Celebrant)
Write that by day and by night My gaze is fixed upon him, and I permit these adversities in order to increase his merit. I do not reward for good results but for the patience and hardship undergone for My sake (86).
S. Faustina: (People)
Jesus, You do not give a reward for the successful performance of a work, but for the good will and the labor undertaken. Therefore, I am completely at peace, even if all my undertakings and efforts should be thwarted or should come to naught. If I do all that is in my power, the rest is not my business (952).
All:
Jesus, my Lord, let my every thought, word, and deed be undertaken exclusively out of love for You. Keep on cleansing my intentions.
Celebrant:
You, who suffered wounds for us,
People:
Christ Jesus, have mercy on us.
Sung Verse:
Let me share with thee His pain Who for all my sins was slain, Who for me in torments died.
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.
OUR FATHER
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.
Amen.
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.
Celebrant:
He grew up like a sapling before him, like a shoot from the parched earth; There was in Him no stately bearing to make us look at Him, no appearance that would attract us to Him. He was spurned and avoided by men, a man of suffering, accustomed to infirmity. One of those from whom men hide their faces spurned, and we held Him in no esteem (Isaiah 53:2-3).
Jesus: (Celebrant)
Know that whatever good you do to any soul, I accept it as if you had done it to Me (1768).
S. Faustina: (People)
I am learning how to be good from Jesus, from Him who is goodness itself, so that I may be called a [child] of the heavenly Father (669). Great love can change small things into great ones, and it is only love which lends value to our actions (303).
All:
Lord Jesus, my Master, grant that my eyes, my hands, my lips and my heart may always be merciful. Transform me into mercy.
Celebrant:
You, who suffered wounds for us,
People:
Christ Jesus, have mercy on us.
Sung Verse:
Let me mingle tears with thee, Mourning Him who mourned for me, All the days that I may live.
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.
OUR FATHER
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.
Amen.
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.
Celebrant:
Yet it was our infirmities that He bore, our sufferings that He endured, while we thought of Him as stricken, as one smitten by God and afflicted (Isaiah 53:4).
Jesus: (Celebrant)
The cause of your falls is that you rely too much upon yourself and too little on Me. But let this not sadden you so much. You are dealing with the God of mercy (1488). Know that of yourself you can do nothing (639). Without special help from Me, you are not even capable of accepting My graces (738).
S. Faustina: (People)
Jesus, do not leave me alone in suffering. You know, Lord, how weak I am. I am an abyss of wretchedness, I am nothingness itself; so what will be so strange if You leave me alone and I fall? (1489). So You, Jesus, must stand by me constantly like a mother by a helpless child — and even more so (264).
All:
May Your grace assist me, Lord, that I may not keep falling continuously into the same faults; and when I fall, help me to rise and glorify Your mercy.
Celebrant:
You, who suffered wounds for us,
People:
Christ Jesus, have mercy on us.
Sung Verse:
Make me feel as thou hast felt; Make my soul glow and melt With the love of Christ my Lord.
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.
OUR FATHER
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.
Amen.
Repeat
Name the station.
THE EIGHTH STATION: Jesus Speaks to the daughters 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.
Celebrant:
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 (Luke 23:27-28).
Jesus: (Celebrant)
O how pleasing to Me is living faith! (1420). Tell all, that I demand that they live in the spirit of faith (353).
S. Faustina: (People)
I fervently beg the Lord to strengthen my faith, so that in my drab, everyday life I will not be guided by human dispositions, but by those of the spirit. Oh, how everything drags man towards the earth! But lively faith maintains the soul in the higher regions and assigns self-love its proper place; that is to say, the lowest one (210).
All:
Merciful Lord, I thank You for holy Baptism and the grace of faith. Continuously, I call: Lord, I believe, increase my faith.
Celebrant:
You, who suffered wounds for us.
People:
Christ Jesus, have mercy on us.
Sung Verse:
O thou Mother! Fount of love! Touch my spirit from above, Make my heart with thine accord.
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.
OUR FATHER
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.
Amen.
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.
Celebrant:
Though He was harshly treated, He submitted and opened not His mouth. Like a lamb led to the slaughter or a sheep before the shearers, He was silent and opened not His mouth. Oppressed and condemned, though He had done no wrong nor spoken any falsehood. But the Lord was pleased to crush Him in infirmity. Because of His affliction He shall see the light in fullness of days (Isaiah 53:7-10).
Jesus: (Celebrant)
My child, know that the greatest obstacles to holiness are discouragement and an exaggerated anxiety. These will deprive you of the ability to practice virtue. Do not lose heart in coming for pardon, for I am always ready to forgive you. As often as you beg for it, you glorify My mercy. (1488)
S. Faustina: (People)
My Jesus, despite Your graces, I see and feel all my misery. I begin my day with battle and end it with battle. As soon as I conquer one obstacle, ten more appear to take its place. But I am not worried because I know that this is a time of struggle, not peace (606).
All:
Merciful Lord, I give over to You that which is my exclusive property, that is, my sin and my human weakness. I beg You, may my misery drown in Your unfathomable mercy.
Celebrant:
You, who suffered wounds for us,
People:
Christ Jesus, have mercy on us.
Sung Verse:
Wounded with His every wound Steep my soul till it hath swooned In His very Blood away.
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.
OUR FATHER
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.
Amen.
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.
Celebrant:
When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took His clothes and divided them into four shares, a share for each soldier. They also took His tunic, but the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from the top down. So they said to one another, “Let’s not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it will be,” in order that the passage of scripture might be fulfilled (John 19:23-24).
S.Faustina: (People)
Jesus was suddenly standing before me, stripped of His clothes, His body completely covered with wounds, His eyes flooded with tears and blood, His face disfigured and covered with spittle.
Jesus: (Celebrant)
The bride must resemble her Betrothed.
S. Faustina: (People)
I understood these words to their very depth. There is no room for doubt here. My likeness to Jesus must be through suffering and humility (268).
All:
Jesus, meek and humble of heart, make my heart like unto Your heart.
Celebrant:
You, who suffered wounds for us,
People:
Christ Jesus, have mercy on us.
Sung Verse:
Bruised, derided, cursed, defiled, She beheld her tender Child All with bloody scourges rent
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.
OUR FATHER
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.
Amen.
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.
Celebrant:
Those passing by reviled Him, shaking their heads and saying, “You would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save Yourself, if You are the Son of God, [and] come down from the cross!” Likewise the chief priests with the scribes and elders mocked Him and said, “He saved others; He cannot save Himself. He trusted in God; let Him deliver Him now if he wants Him. For He said, ‘I am the Son of God’” (Matthew 27:39-43).
Jesus: (Celebrant)
My pupil, have great love for those who cause you suffering. Do good to those who hate you (1628).
S. Faustina: (People)
O my Jesus, you know what efforts are needed to live sincerely and unaffectedly with those from whom our nature flees, or with those who, deliberately or not, have made us suffer. Humanly speaking, this is impossible. At such times more than at others, I try to discover the Lord Jesus in such a person and for the same Jesus, I do everything for such people (766).
All:
O purest Love, rule in all Your plenitude in my heart and help me to do Your holy will most faithfully (328).
Celebrant:
You, who suffered wounds for us,
People:
Christ Jesus, have mercy on us.
Sung Verse:
Holy Mother! pierce me through; In my heart, each wound renews Of my Savior crucified.
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.
OUR FATHER
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.
Amen.
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.
Celebrant:
But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs, but one soldier thrust his lance into His side, and immediately blood and water flowed out (John 19:33-40).
Jesus: (Celebrant)
All this is for the salvation of souls. Consider well, My daughter, what you are doing for their salvation (1184).
S. Faustina: (People)
Then I saw the Lord Jesus nailed to the cross. When He had hung on it for a while, I saw a multitude of souls crucified like Him. Then I saw a second multitude of souls, and a third. The second multitude were not nailed to [their] crosses, but were holding them firmly in their hands. The third were neither nailed to [their] crosses nor holding them firmly in their hands, but were dragging [their] crosses behind them and were discontent.
Jesus: (Celebrant)
Do you see these souls? Those who are like Me in the pain and contempt they suffer will be like Me also in glory. And those who resemble Me less in pain and contempt will also bear less resemblance to Me in glory (446).
All:
Jesus, my Savior, hide me in the depth of Your heart that, fortified by Your grace, I may be able to resemble You in the love of the Cross and have a share in Your glory.
Celebrant:
You, who suffered wounds for us,
People:
Christ Jesus, have mercy on us.
Sung Verse:
For the sins of His own nation, Saw Him hang in desolation Till His Spirit forth He sent.
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.
OUR FATHER
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.
Amen.
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.
Celebrant:
The centurion who witnessed what had happened glorified God and said, “This man was innocent beyond doubt.” When all the people who had gathered for this spectacle saw what had happened, they returned home beating their breasts; but all His acquaintances stood at a distance, including the women who had followed Him from Galilee, and saw these events (Luke 23:47-49).
Jesus: (Celebrant)
Most dear to Me is the soul that strongly believes in My goodness and has complete trust in Me. I heap My confidence upon it and give it all it asks (453).
S. Faustina: (People)
I fly to Your mercy, Compassionate God, who alone are good. Although my misery is great, and my offenses are many, I trust in Your mercy, because You are the God of mercy; and, from time immemorial, it has never been heard of, nor do heaven or earth remember, that a soul trusting in Your mercy has been disappointed (1730).
All:
Merciful Jesus, daily increase my trust in Your mercy that always and everywhere I may give witness to Your boundless goodness and love.
Celebrant:
You, who suffered wounds for us,
People:
Christ Jesus, have mercy on us.
Sung Verse:
Virgin of all virgins blest! Listen to my fond request: Let me share your grief divine.
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.
OUR FATHER
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.
Amen.
Repeat
Name the station.
THE FOURTEENTH STATION: Jesus is Laid in the Tomb
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.
Celebrant:
They took the body of Jesus and bound It with burial cloths along with the spices, according to the Jewish burial custom. Now in the place where He had been crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had yet been buried. So they laid Jesus there because of the Jewish preparation day; for the tomb was close by (John 19:38-42).
Jesus: (Celebrant)
But child, you are not yet in your homeland; so go, fortified by My grace, and fight for My kingdom in human souls; fight as a king’s child would; and remember that the days of your exile will pass quickly, and with them the possibility of earning merit for heaven. I expect from you, My child, a great number of souls who will glorify My mercy for all eternity (1489).
S. Faustina: (People)
Every soul You have entrusted to me, Jesus, I will try to aid with prayer and sacrifice, so that Your grace can work in them. O great lover of souls, my Jesus, I thank You for this immense confidence with which You have deigned to place souls in our care (245).
All:
Grant, Merciful Lord, that not even one of those souls which You have entrusted to me be lost.
Celebrant:
You, who suffered wounds for us,
People:
Christ Jesus, have mercy on us.
Sung Verse:
Christ, when Thou shalt call me hence, Be Thy Mother my defense, Be Thy Cross my victory.
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.
OUR FATHER
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.
Amen.
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.