First Station - Jesus Is Condemned to Death

V.  We adore Thee, O Christ, and we praise Thee. 
R.  Because by Thy holy Cross, Thou hast redeemed the world. 

Jesus, the most innocent of beings, is condemned to death, yes, to a shameful death on the Cross.  In order to remain a friend of Caesar, Pilate delivers Jesus into the hands of His enemies.  O fearful crime, to condemn Innocence to death and to displease God in order to please men.

Our Father, ...                              
Hail Mary, ...                                
Glory be to the Father, ...  Amen.

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Second Station - Jesus Carries His Cross

V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we praise Thee. 
R. Because by Thy holy Cross, Thou hast redeemed the world. 

When our divine Redeemer beheld the Cross, He most willingly reached out to it with His bleeding arms.  He embraced it lovingly, kissed it tenderly, took it on His bruised shoulders, and, exhausted as He was, He carried it joyfully.

Our Father, ...                              
Hail Mary, ...                                
Glory be to the Father, ...  Amen.

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Third Station - Jesus Falls the First Time

V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we praise Thee. 
R. Because by Thy holy Cross, Thou hast redeemed the world. 

Carrying the Cross, our dear Saviour was so weakened with its heavy weight that He fell exhausted to the ground.  The Cross was light and sweet to Him, but our sins made it so heavy and hard to carry.

Our Father, ...                              
Hail Mary, ...                                
Glory be to the Father, ...  Amen.

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Fourth Station - Jesus Meets His Blessed Mother

V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we praise Thee. 
R. Because by Thy holy Cross, Thou hast redeemed the world. 

How sad and how painful must it have been for Mary to behold her beloved Son laden with the Cross, covered with wounds and blood, and driven through the streets by savage executioners!  What unspeakable pangs her most tender heart must have experienced!  How earnestly did she desire to die instead of Jesus, or at least die with Him!

Our Father, ...                              
Hail Mary, ...                                
Glory be to the Father, ...  Amen.

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Fifth Station - Simon of Cyrene Helps Jesus
Carry His Cross

V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we praise Thee. 
R. Because by Thy holy Cross, Thou hast redeemed the world. 

Simon of Cyrene was forced to help our exhausted Savior carry His Cross.  How pleased would Jesus have been, had Simon offered his services of his own accord.   However, Simon was not invited by Christ as you are.  He says: "Take up your cross and follow Me."   Nevertheless you recoil, and carry it grudgingly.

Our Father, ...                              
Hail Mary, ...                                
Glory be to the Father, ...  Amen.

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Sixth Station - Veronica Wipes the Face of Jesus

V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we praise Thee. 
R. Because by Thy holy Cross, Thou hast redeemed the world. 

Moved by compassion, Veronica presents her veil to Jesus, to wipe His disfigured face.  He imprints on it His holy countenance, and returns it to her as recompense.  Shall Christ reward you in like manner?  Then you too must do Him a service.  But you do a service to Christ every time you perform a work of mercy towards your neighbor: for He says: "What you have done to the least of My brethren, you have done to Me."

Our Father, ...                              
Hail Mary, ...                                
Glory be to the Father, ...  Amen.

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Seventh Station - Jesus Falls the Second Time

V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we praise Thee. 
R. Because by Thy holy Cross, Thou hast redeemed the world. 

Overwhelmed by the weight of the Cross, Jesus falls again to the ground.  But the cruel executioners do not permit Him to rest a moment.  With thrusts and blows they urge Him onward.  With what cruelty is Jesus in treated and trampled underfoot!  Remember, compassionate soul that your sins caused Jesus this painful fall.

Our Father, ...                              
Hail Mary, ...                                
Glory be to the Father, ...  Amen.

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Eighth Station - Jesus Speaks to the Women
of Jerusalem

V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we praise Thee. 
R. Because by Thy holy Cross, Thou hast redeemed the world. 

Moved by compassion, these devoted women weep over our suffering Savior.  But He turns to them and says: "Weep not for Me, but weep for yourselves and your children.  Weep for your sins and those of your children; for they are the cause of My suffering."  You also must weep over your sins, for there is nothing more pleasing to our Lord and more useful to yourself than the tears you shed out of contrition for your sins.

Our Father, ...                              
Hail Mary, ...                                
Glory be to the Father, ...  Amen.

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Ninth Station - Jesus Falls the Third Time

V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we praise Thee. 
R. Because by Thy holy Cross, Thou hast redeemed the world. 

Exhausted at the foot of Calvary, Jesus falls for the third time to the ground.  How painfully must have been reopened all the wounds of His tender body by these repeated falls.  And how enormous must my sins be, to cause Jesus to fall so painfully.  Had not Jesus taken my sins upon Himself, they would have plunged me into the abyss of Hell.

Our Father, ...                              
Hail Mary, ...                                
Glory be to the Father, ...  Amen.

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Tenth Station - Jesus Is Stripped of His Garments

V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we praise Thee. 
R. Because by Thy holy Cross, Thou hast redeemed the world. 

Arriving on Calvary, Jesus was cruelly deprived of His garments.  How painful the stripping must have been, because the garments adhered to His mangled body, so that in removing them parts of the flesh were torn away.  Jesus is deprived of His garments that He may die possessed of nothing.  How happy shall not I die after laying aside my evil habits and tendencies!

Our Father, ...                              
Hail Mary, ...                                
Glory be to the Father, ...  Amen.

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Eleventh Station - Jesus Is Nailed to the Cross

V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we praise Thee. 
R. Because by Thy holy Cross, Thou hast redeemed the world. 

Stripped of His garments, Jesus is violently thrown down on the Cross.  His hands and His feet are nailed to it in the cruelest way.  Jesus remains silent, because it so pleases His heavenly Father.  He suffers patiently, because He suffers for you.  How do you act in sufferings and trials?  How fretful and impatient, how full of complaints are you!

Our Father, ...                              
Hail Mary, ...                                
Glory be to the Father, ...  Amen.

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Twelfth Station - Jesus Dies on the Cross

V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we praise Thee. 
R. Because by Thy holy Cross, Thou hast 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.  Oh what love!  Jesus dies on the Cross, to preserve you from eternal death.

Our Father, ...                              
Hail Mary, ...                                
Glory be to the Father, ...  Amen.

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Thirteenth Station - Jesus Is Taken Down
From the Cross

V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we praise Thee. 
R. Because by Thy holy Cross, Thou hast redeemed the world. 

Jesus did not descend from the Cross, but remained on it till His death.  When taken down, He rested on the bosom of His beloved Mother as He had so often done in life.  Persevere in your good resolutions, and do not flee from the cross.  For he who perseveres till the end shall be saved.  Consider, moreover, how pure the heart should be that receives the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ in the adorable Sacrament of the Altar.

Our Father, ...                              
Hail Mary, ...                                
Glory be to the Father, ...  Amen.

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Fourteenth Station - Jesus Is Laid in the Tomb

V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we praise Thee. 
R. Because by Thy holy Cross, Thou hast redeemed the world. 

The body of Jesus is laid in a stranger’s tomb.  He Who in this world had no whereon to rest His head, would have no grave of His own after death.  You whose heart is still attached to this world, despise it that you may not perish with it.

Our Father, ...                              
Hail Mary, ...                                
Glory be to the Father, ...  Amen.

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