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Prapers for the Stations,

OR THE WAY OF THE CROSS.

PREPARATORY PRAYER.

The priests and acolyths, kneeling before the altar, say as follows:

O Jesus, our adorable Saviour, behold us prostrate at thy feet, imploring thy mercy for ourselves, and for the souls of all the faithful departed. Vouchsafe to apply to us the infinite merits of thy passion, on which we are now about to meditate. Grant that while we trace this path of sighs and tears, our hearts may be so touched with contrition and repentance, that we may be ready to embrace with joy all the crosses and sufferings and humiliations of this our life and pilgrimage.

V. Domine, labia mea aperies.

R. Et os meum annuntia

bit laudem tuam.

V. Deus, in adjutorium meum intende.

R. Domine, ad adjuvan

dum me festina.

V. Gloria Patri, &c.

R. Sicut erat.

V. Thou shalt open my lips, O Lord.

R. And my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.

V. O God, come to my assistance.

R. O Lord, make haste to help me.

V. Glory be, &c.

R. As it was, &c.

Then moving in procession to the first Station, the following versicle and response are said or sung :

V. Adoramus te, Christe,

et benedicimus tibi.

R. Quia per sanctam crucem tuam redemisti mundum.

V. We adore thee, O Christ, and we bless thee.

R. Because by thy Holy Cross thou hast redeemed the world.

This versicle and response are repeated before each

Station.

First Station.

JESUS CHRIST CONDEMNED TO DEATH.

The priest reads:

Leaving the house of Caiaphas, where he had been blasphemed, and the house of Herod, where he had been mocked, Jesus is dragged before Pilate, his back torn with scourges, his head crowned with thorns; and he, who on the last day will judge the living and the dead, is himself condemned to a disgraceful death.

It was for us that thou didst suffer, O blessed Jesus; it was for our sins thou wast condemned to die. O grant that we may detest them from the bottom of our hearts, and by this repentance obtain thy mercy and pardon.

An Act of Contrition.

O God, we love thee with our whole hearts and above all things, and are heartily sorry that we have offended thee. May we never offend thee any more. Oh, may we love thee without ceasing, and make it our delight to do in all things thy most holy will.

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This Act of Contrition to be repeated after each Station.

While passing from one Station to another, a verse of the Stabat Mater is sung or said.

V. Stabat Mater dolorosa,

Juxta crucem lacrymosa,

Dum pendebat Filius.

At the cross her station keeping,
Stood the mournful Mother weeping,
Close to Jesus to the last.

If many persons perform the Via Crucis, the priests, or one

part of the people, may sing the verses in order, and the rest of the people repeat after each verse :

R. Sancta Mater, istud agas,
Crucifixi fige plagas
Cordi meo valide.

Holy Mother! pierce me through;
In my heart each wound renew
Of my Saviour crucified.

Or this verse alone may be sung after each Station.

Second Station.

JESUS RECEIVES THE CROSS.

V. Adoramus te, &c.

V. We adore thee, &c.

R. Quia per sanctam, &c. R. Because, &c.

Priest.

A heavy cross is laid upon the bruised shoulders of Jesus. He receives it with meekness, nay, with a secret joy, for it is the instrument with which he is to redeem the world.

Prayer.

O Jesus! grant us, by virtue of thy cross, to embrace with meekness and cheerful submission the difficulties of our state, and to be ever ready to take up our cross and follow thee.

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Bowed down under the weight of the cross, Jesus slowly sets forth on the

way to Calvary, amidst the

mockeries and insults of the crowd. 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.

O Jesus! who for our sins didst bear the heavy burden of the cross, and fell under its weight, may the thoughts of thy sufferings make us watchful over ourselves, and save us from any grievous fall into sin.

Act of Contrition, &c. as before.

V. O quam tristis et afflicta
Fuit illa benedicta
Mater unigeniti !

R. Sancta Mater, &c.

Oh, how sad and sore distress'd
Was that Mother highly blest
Of the sole-begotten one!
Holy Mother, &c.

Fourth Station.

JESUS IS MET BY HIS BLESSED MOTHER.

V. Adoramus te, &c.

R. Quia per, &c.

V. We adore thee, &c.
R. Because, &c.

Priest.

Still burdened with his cross, and wounded yet more by his fall, Jesus proceeds on his way. He is met by his Mother. What a meeting must that have been! What a sword of anguish must have pierced that Mother's bosom ! What must have been the compassion of that Son for his holy Mother!

Prayer.

O Jesus! by the compassion which thou didst feel for thy Mother, have compassion on us, and give us a share in her intercession. O Mary, most afflicted Mother! intercede for us, that through the sufferings of thy Son we may be delivered from the wrath to come.

Act of Contrition, &c. as before..

Pater, Ave, &c. as before.

V. Quæ mærebat et dolebat;

Pia Mater, cum videbat

Nati pœnas inclyti.

R. Sancta Mater, &c.

Christ above in torment hangs;
She beneath beholds the pangs
Of her dying glorious Son.
Holy Mother, &c.

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As the strength of Jesus fails, and he is unable to proceed, the executioners seize and compel Simon of Cyrene to carry his cross. The virtue of that cross changed his heart, and from a compulsory task it became a privilege and a joy.

Prayer.

O Lord Jesus! may it be our privilege also to bear thy cross; may we glory in nothing else; by it may the world be crucified unto us, and we unto the world; may we never shrink from sufferings, but rather rejoice if we may be counted worthy to suffer for thy name's sake.

Act of Contrition, &c. as before.

Pater noster, &c. as before.

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As Jesus proceeds on the way, covered with the sweat of death, a woman, moved with compassion, makes her way through the crowd, and wipes his face with a handkerchief. As a reward of her piety, the impression of his sacred countenance is miraculously imprinted upon the handkerchief.

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