Almost a year ago I went on retreat to Pantasaph Friary.
I have a wonderful time there and I had a lot to think and pray about especially as I was shortly to be received into the Catholic Church.
One of the things which sticks in my mind is the time I spent alone in the church.
There was the most beautiful statue there, I had never seen anything like it. Instead of the usual dipiction of Jesus hanging lifeless on the cross, one hand was free and with it He was embracing St Francis, who was returning that embrace and consoling Jesus in His pain.
It was breathtaking, not just visually, but because of the emotions it evoked in me. I so wanted to be part of that embrace, to feel that same closeness to Jesus as St Francis had.
Jesus says if we draw close to Him He will draw close to us....
I'll try St Francis's meditations on the Way of the Cross as a way of drawing closer to Jesus, it seems to have helped St Francis!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Act of Contrition
O most merciful Jesus, with a contrite heart and penitent spirit, I bow down in profound humility before Your divine majesty. I adore You as my supreme Lord and Master; I believe in You, I hope in You, I love You above all things. I am heartily sorry for having offended You, my Supreme and Only Good. I resolve to amend my life, and although I am unworthy to obtain mercy, yet the sight of Your holy cross, on which You died, inspires me with hope and consolation. I will meditate on Your sufferings, and visit the stations of Your Passion in company with Your sorrowful Mother and my guardian angel, with the intention of promoting Your honour and saving my soul.
I desire to gain all the indulgences granted for this holy exercise for myself and for the Poor Souls in Purgatory. O merciful Redeemer, who has said, “And I, if I be lifted from earth, will draw all things to Myself,” draw my heart and my love to You, that I may perform this devotion as perfectly as possible, and that I may live and die in union with You. Amen.
The First Station
Jesus Is Condemned to Death
We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You, because by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.
Jesus, most innocent, who neither did nor could commit a sin, was condemned to death, and moreover, to the most ignominious death of the cross. To remain a friend of Caesar, Pilate delivered Him into the hands of His enemies. A fearful crime – to condemn Innocence to death, and to offend God in order not to displease men!
O innocent Jesus, having sinned, I am guilty of eternal death, but You willingly accept the unjust sentence of death, that I might live. For whom, then, shall I live, if not for You, my Lord? Should I desire to please men, I could not be Your servant. Let me, therefore, rather displease men and all the world, than not please You, O Jesus.
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 debts as we forgive our debtors. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. Amen.
Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Lord Jesus, crucified, have mercy on us!
The Second Station
Jesus is made to carry His Cross
We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You, because by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.
When our divine Savior beheld the cross, He willingly stretched out His bleeding arms, lovingly embraced it, tenderly kissed it, placed it on His bruised shoulders, and, though nearly exhausted, He joyfully carried it.
O my Jesus, I cannot be Your friend and follower if I refuse to carry the cross. Dearly beloved cross! I embrace You, I kiss You, I joyfully accept You from the hands of my God. Far be it from me to glory in anything save in the cross of my Lord and Redeemer. By it the world shall be crucified to me and I to the world, that I may be Yours forever.
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 debts as we forgive our debtors. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. Amen.
Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Lord Jesus, crucified, have mercy on us!
The Third Station
Jesus falls the First Time
We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You, because by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.
Our dear Saviour, carrying the cross was so weakened by its weight that he fell exhausted to the ground O. Our sins and misdeeds were the heavy burden which oppressed Him: the cross was to Him light and sweet,but our sins were galling and insupportable, my Jesus, You bore my burden and the heavy weight of my sins. Should I, then, not bear in union with You, my easy burden of suffering and accept the sweet yoke of Your commandments? Your yoke is sweet and Your burden is light: I willingly accept it. I will take up my cross and follow You.
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 debts as we forgive our debtors. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. Amen.
Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Lord Jesus, crucified, have mercy on us!
The Fourth Station
Jesus meets His Sorrowful Mother
We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You, because by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.
How painful and how sad it must have been for Mary, the sorrowful Mother, to behold her beloved Son, laden with the burden of the cross! What unspeakable pangs her most tender heart experienced! How earnestly did she desire to die in place of Jesus, or at least with Him! Implore this sorrowful Mother that she assist you in the hour of your death.
O Jesus, O Mary, I am the cause of the great and manifold pains which pierce your loving hearts! Oh, that also my heart would feel and experience at least some of your sufferings! O Mother of Sorrows, let me participate in the sufferings which You and Your Son endured for me, and let me experience Your sorrow, that afflicted with You, I may enjoy Your assistance in the hour of my death.
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 debts as we forgive our debtors. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. Amen.
Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Lord Jesus, crucified, have mercy on us!
The Fifth Station
Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus to carry His Cross
We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You, because by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.
Simon of Cyrene was compelled to help Jesus carry His cross, and Jesus accepted his assistance. How willingly would He also permit you to carry the cross: He calls, but you hear Him not; He invites you, but you decline. What a reproach, to bear the cross reluctantly!
O Jesus! Whosoever does not take up his cross and follow You, is not worthy of You. Behold, I join You in the Way of Your Cross; I will be Your assistant, following Your bloody footsteps, that I may come to You in eternal life.
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 debts as we forgive our debtors. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. Amen.
The Sixth Station
Veronica wipes the Face of Jesus
We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You, because by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.
Veronica, impelled by devotion and compassion, presents her veil to Jesus to wipe His disfigured face. And Jesus imprints on it His holy countenance: a great recompense for so small a service. What return to you make to your Savior for His great and manifold benefits?
Most merciful Jesus! What return shall I make for all the benefits You have bestowed upon me? Behold I consecrate myself entirely to Your service. I offer and consecrate to You my heart: imprint on it Your sacred image, never again to be effaced by sin.
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 debts as we forgive our debtors. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. Amen.
Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Lord Jesus, crucified, have mercy on us!
The Seventh Station
Jesus falls the Second Time
We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You, because by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.
The suffering Jesus, under the weight of His cross, again falls to the ground; but the cruel executioners do not permit Him to rest a moment. Pushing and striking Him, they urge Him onward. It is the frequent repetition of our sins which oppress Jesus. Witnessing this, how can I continue to sin?
O Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me! Offer me Your helping hand, and aid me, that I may not fall again into my former sins. From this very moment, I will earnestly strive to reform: nevermore will I sin! Thou, O sole support of the weak, by Your grace, without which I can do nothing, strengthen me to carry out faithfully this my resolution.
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 debts as we forgive our debtors. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. Amen.
Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Lord Jesus, crucified, have mercy on us!
The Eighth Station
The women of Jerusalem weep over Jesus
We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You, because by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.
These devoted women, moved by compassion, weep over the suffering Savior. But He turns to them, saying: “Weep not for Me, Who am innocent, but weep for yourselves and for your children.” Weep You also, for there is nothing more pleasing to Our Lord and nothing more profitable for Yourself, than tears shed from contrition for Your sins.
O Jesus, Who shall give to my eyes a torrent of tears, that day and night I may weep for my sins? I beseech You, through Your bitter and bloody tears, to move my heart by Your divine grace, so that from my eyes tears may flow abundantly, and that I may weep all my days over Your sufferings, and still more over their cause, my sins.
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 debts as we forgive our debtors. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. Amen.
Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Lord Jesus, crucified, have mercy on us!
The Ninth Station
Jesus falls the Third Time
We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You, because by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.
Jesus, arriving exhausted at the foot of Calvary, falls for the third time to the ground. His love for us, however, is not diminished, not extinguished. What a fearfully oppressive burden our sins must be to cause Jesus to fall so often! Had He, however, not taken them upon Himself, they would have plunged us into the abyss of Hell.
Most merciful Jesus, I return You infinite tanks for not permitting me to continue in sin and to fall, as I have so often deserved, into the depths of Hell. Enkindle in me an earnest desire of amendment; let me never again relapse, but vouchsafe me the grace to persevere in penance to the end of my life.
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 debts as we forgive our debtors. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. Amen.
Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Lord Jesus, crucified, have mercy on us!
The Tenth Station
Jesus is stripped of His Garments
We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You, because by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.
When Our Savior had arrived on Calvary, He was cruelly despoiled of His garments. How painful this must have been because they adhered to His wounded and torn body, and with them parts of His bloody skin were removed! All the wounds of Jesus were renewed. Jesus was despoiled of His garments that He might die possessed of nothing; how happy will I also die after laying aside my former self with all evil desires and sinful inclinations!
Induce me, O Jesus, to lay aside my former self and to be renewed according to Your will and desire. I will not spare myself, however painful this should be for me: despoiled of things temporal, of my own will, I desire to die, in order to live for You forever.
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 debts as we forgive our debtors. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. Amen.
Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Lord Jesus, crucified, have mercy on us!
The Eleventh Station
Jesus is nailed to the Cross
We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You, because by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.
Jesus, being stripped of His garments, was violently thrown upon the cross and His hands and feet nailed thereto. In such excruciating pains He remained silent, because it pleased His heavenly Father. He suffered patiently, because He suffered for me. How do I act in sufferings and in troubles? How fretful and impatient, how full of complaints I am!
O Jesus, gracious Lamb of God, I renounce forever my impatience. Crucify, O Lord, my flesh and its concupiscences; scourge, scathe, and punish me in this world, do but spare me in the next. I commit my destiny to You, resigning myself to Your holy will: may it be done in all things!
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 debts as we forgive our debtors. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. Amen.
Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Lord Jesus, crucified, have mercy on us!
The Twelfth Station
Jesus is raised upon the Cross and Dies
We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You, because by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.
Behold Jesus crucified! Behold His wounds, received for love of you! His whole appearance betokens love: His head is bent to kiss you; His arms are extended to embrace you; His Heart is open to receive you. O superabundance of love, Jesus, the Son of God, dies upon the cross, that man may live and be delivered from everlasting death!
O most amiable Jesus! Who will grant me that I may die for You! I will at least endeavour to die to the world. How must I regard the world and its vanities, when I behold You hanging on the cross, covered with wounds? O Jesus, receive me into Your wounded Heart: I belong entirely to You; for You alone do I desire to live and to die.
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 debts as we forgive our debtors. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. Amen.
Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Lord Jesus, crucified, have mercy on us!
The Thirteenth Station
Jesus is taken from the Cross and given to His Mother
We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You, because by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.
Jesus did not descend from the cross but remained on it until He died. And when taken down from it, He in death as in life, rested on the bosom of His divine Mother. Persevere in your resolutions of reform and do not part from the cross; he who perseveres to the end shall be saved. Consider, moreover, how pure the heart should be that receives the body and blood of Christ in the Adorable Sacrament of the Altar.
O Lord Jesus, Your lifeless body, mangled and lacerated, found a worthy resting-place on the bosom of Your virgin Mother. Have I not often compelled You to dwell in my heart, full of sin and impurity as it was? Create in me a new heart, that I may worthily receive Your most sacred body in Holy Communion, and that You may remain in me and I in You for all eternity.
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 debts as we forgive our debtors. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. Amen.
Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Lord Jesus, crucified, have mercy on us!
The Fourteenth Station
Jesus is laid in the Sepulcher
We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You, because by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.
O Jesus, You have set me apart from the world; what, then, shall I seek therein? You have created me for Heaven; what, then, have I to do with the world? Depart from me, deceitful world, with Your vanities! Henceforth i will follow the Way of the Cross traced out for me by my Redeemer, and journey onward to my heavenly home, there to dwell forever and ever.
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 debts as we forgive our debtors. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. Amen.
Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Lord Jesus, crucified, have mercy on us!
Closing Prayer
Almighty and eternal God, merciful Father, who have given to the human race Your beloved Son as an example of humility, obedience, and patience, to precede us on the way of life, bearing the cross: Graciously grant us that we, inflamed by His infinite love, may take up the sweet yoke of His Gospel together with the mortification of the cross, following Him as His true disciples, so that we shall one day gloriously rise with Him and joyfully hear the final sentence: “Come, ye blessed of My Father, and possess the kingdom which was prepared for you from the beginning,” where You reign with the Son and the Holy Ghost, and where we hope to reign with You, world without end. Amen.
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