Digitized by the Internet Archive

'

in 2016

https://archive.org/details/stationsofcrossbligu



The

STATIONS

CROSS
By St. Alphonsus

Imprimatur:

^ Francis Cardinal Spellman
Archbishop of New York

November 3, 1954

Copyright 1955 by Catechetical Guild Educational Society.

All rights reserved. Printed in the U.S.A. by

Western Printing and Lithographing Company.

Illustrations by Steele Savage

CATECHETICAL GUILD EDUCATIONAL SOCIETY

St. Paul, Minn.



T
he devout exercise of the Stations of the

Cross commemorates the Passion of our

Blessed Saviour Jesus Christ and His journey from

the Praetorium to Calvary. This devotion, prac-

ticed everywhere in the Church from the early cen-

turies, has been enriched by the Supreme Pontiffs

with many indulgences. But, in the course of time,

the documentary authentication of these indul-

gences has been lost and their exact nature and

extent cannot be determined with certainty. In

order to remove all doubt for the future, Pope

Pius XI abrogated by his supreme authority each

and every indulgence granted in the past. He then
decreed that all the faithful who, either singly or

in groups, shall perform with a contrite heart the

devout exercise of the STATIONS OF THE
CROSS, lawfully erected, according to the require-

ments of the Holy See, may gain: (a) a plenary

indulgence as often as they complete the devout

exercise; (b) a further plenary indulgence if they

receive Holy Communion on the day the exercise
was performed or if they communicate within a

month after completing the Stations ten times; (c)

an indulgence of ten years for each single station

if they are unable for some reasonable cause to

complete the exercise. (Preces et Pia Opera Indul-

gentiis ditata 1938).

These indulgences are extended to sick persons

-2



and others who are prevented from visiting the

Stations erected in a church, provided they use

a Crucifix specially blessed for this purpose and

recite twenty times the OUR FATHER, HAIL
MARY, AND GLORY BE. If the sick are unable
to recite these prayers, a short prayer or ejacula-

tion in memory of Christ’s passion and death

suffices. If they are unable to recite a prayer, it

suffices to kiss or look upon this Crucifix.

PRAYER BEFORE THE STATIONS

O
Jesus Christ, my

Lord, with what

great love didst Thou

pass over the painful

road which led Thee to

death; and I, how often

have I abandoned Thee!

But now I love Thee

With my whole soul, and

because I love Thee I

am sincerely sorry for

having offended Thee.

My Jesus, pardon me,
and permit me to ac-

company Thee in this

journey. Thou art going

to die for love of me,

and it is my wish also,

O my dearest Redeem-
er, to die for love of

Thee. Oh, yes, my

Jesus, in Thy love I

wish to live. In Thy

love I wish to die.

O Jesus, who for love of me
Didst bear Thy Cross to Calvary,

In Thy sweet mercy grant to me

To suffer and to die with Thee.

-3



FIRST STATION

Jesus is condemned to Death

- 4 -



y. We adore Thee, O Christ, and praise Thee.

IJT. Because by Thy holy Cross Thou hast

redeemed the world.

C
onsider how Jesus,

after having been

scourged and crowned

with thorns, was unjust-

ly condemned by Pilate

to die on the Cross.

My loving Jesus, it
was not Pilate; no, it

was my sins that con-

demned Thee to die. I

beseech Thee, by the

merits of this sorrowful

journey, to assist my

soul in its journey to-

wards eternity. I love

Thee, Jesus, my love,

above all things; I re-

pent with my whole

heart of having offended

Thee. Never permit me

to separate myself from

Thee again. Grant that

I may love Thee always;

and then do with me

what Thou wilt.

Our Father. Hail

Mary. Glory be, etc .

Stabat Mater

At the Cross her station keeping,

Stood the mournful Mother weeping,

Close to Jesus to the last.



SECOND STATION

Jesus receives the Cross

6 -



y. We adore Thee, O Christ, and praise Thee.

1^. Because by Thy holy Cross Thou hast

redeemed the world.

C
onsider how Jesus,

in making this

journey with the Cross

on His shoulders,

thought of us, and of-

fered for us to His

Father the death He

was about to undergo.

My most beloved
Jesus! I embrace all the

tribulations Thou hast

destined for me until

death. I beseech Thee,

by the merit of the pain

Thou didst suffer in

carrying Thy Cross, to

give me the necessary

help to carry mine with

perfect patience and

resignation. I love Thee,

Jesus, my love, above

all things; I repent with

my whole heart of hav-

ing offended Thee. Nev-

er permit me to sep-

arate myself from Thee

again. Grant that I may

love Thee always; and

then do with me what

Thou wilt.

Our Father, etc., as

before.

Through her heart His sorrow sharing,

All His bitter anguish bearing,

Now at length the sword had passed.



THIRD STATION

Jesus falls the first time

- 8 -



y. We adore Thee, O Christ, and praise Thee.

Because by Thy holy Cross Thou hast

redeemed the world.

C
onsider this first

fall of Jesus under

His Cross. His flesh was

torn by the scourges,

His head crowned with

thorns, and He had lost

a great quantity of

blood. He was so weak-

ened He could scarcely

walk, and yet He had to

carry this great load

upon His shoulders.

The soldiers struck Him

rudely, and thus He fell

several times.

My Jesus, it is the
weight, not of the Cross,

but of my sins, which

has made Thee suffer so

much pain. Ah, by the

merits of this first fall,

deliver me from the

misfortune of falling

into mortal sin. I love

Thee, Jesus, my love,

above all things; I re-

pent with my whole

heart of having offend-

ed Thee. Never permit

me to separate myself

from Thee again. Grant

that I may love Thee al-

ways; and then do with

me what Thou wilt.

Our Father, etc., as

before.

Oh, how sad and sore distressed

Was that Mother highly blessed

Of the sole-begotten One!

-9



FOURTH STATION

Jesus meets His afflicted Mother

10 -



y. We adore Thee, O Christ, and praise Thee.

Jty. Because by Thy holy Cross Thou hast

redeemed the world.

C
onsider the meet-

ing of the Son and

the Mother which took

place on this journey.

Their looks became like

so many arrows to

wound those hearts

which loved each other

so tenderly.

My sweet Jesus, by
the sorrow Thou didst

experience in this meet-

ing, grant me the grace

of a truly devoted love

for Thy most holy

Mother. And thou, my

Queen, who wast over-

whelmed with sorrow,

obtain for me, by thine

intercession, a continual

and tender remem-

brance of the passion of

thy Son. I love Thee,

Jesus, my love, above

all things; I repent with

my whole heart of hav-

ing offended Thee. Nev-

er permit me to sep-

arate myself from Thee

again. Grant that I may

love Thee always; and

then do with me what

Thou wilt.

Our Father, etc., as

before.

Christ above in torments hangs;

She beneath beholds the pangs

Of her dying glorious Son.

- 11 -



FIFTH STATION

The Cross is laid on Simon of Cyrene

- 12 -



y. We adore Thee, O Christ, and praise Thee.

1^. Because by Thy

redeemed the world.

C
onsider how the

Jews, seeing that

at each step Jesus was

on the point of expiring,

and fearing He would

die on the way, whereas

they wished Him to die

the ignominious death

of the Cross, con-

strained Simon the Cy-

renean to carry the

Cross behind Our Lord.

My most beloved
Jesus, by Thy grace I

will not refuse to carry

the Cross; I accept it, I

embrace it. I accept in

particular the death

Thou hast destined for

holy Cross Thou hast

me, with all the pains

which may accompany

it: I unite it to Thy

death, I offer it to Thee.

Thou hast died for love

of me; I will die for love

of Thee. Help me by

Thy grace. I love Thee,

Jesus, my love, above

all things; I repent with

my whole heart of hav-

ing offended Thee. Nev-

er permit me to sep-

arate myself from Thee

again. Grant that I may

love Thee always; and

then do with me what

Thou wilt.

Our Father, etc., as

before.

Is there one who would not weep,

Whelmed in miseries so deep

Christ’s dear Mother to behold?

- 13 -



SIXTH STATION

Veronica wipes the face of Jesus

- 14 -



y. We adore Thee, O Christ, and praise Thee.

1^. Because by Thy holy Cross Thou hast

redeemed the world.

C
onsider how the

holy woman named

Veronica, seeing Jesus

so ill-used, and His face

bathed in sweat and

blood, presented Him

with a towel, with which

He wiped His adorable

face, leaving on it the

impression of His holy

countenance.

My most beloved
Jesus! Thy face was

beautiful before, but in

this journey it has lost

all its beauty, and

wounds and blood have

disfigured it. Alas! my

soul also was once

beautiful, when it re-

ceived Thy grace in

baptism; but I have dis-

figured it by my sins;

Thou alone, my Re-

deemer, canst restore it

to its former beauty. Do

this by Thy passion, O
Jesus! I love Thee,

Jesus, my love, above

all things; I repent with

my whole heart of hav-

ing offended Thee. Nev-

er permit me to sep-

arate myself from Thee

again. Grant that I may

love Thee always; and

then do with me what

Thou wilt.

Our Father, etc., as

before.

Can the human heart refrain

From partaking in her pain,

In that Mother’s pain untold?

15 -



SEVENTH STATION

Jesus falls the second time

- 16 -



y. We adore Thee, O Christ, and praise Thee.

I£r . Because by Thy

redeemed the world.

C
onsider the second

fall of Jesus Christ

under the Cross; a fall

which renews the pain

of all the wounds in His

head and members.

My most sweet Jesus,
how many times hast

Thou pardoned me, and

how many times have I

fallen again, and begun

again to offend Thee.

Oh! by the merits of

this second fall, give me

the necessary helps to

persevere in Thy grace

holy Cross Thou hast

until death. Grant that

in all temptations which

assail me I may always

commend myself to

Thee. I love Thee,

Jesus, my love, above

all things; I repent with

my whole heart of hav-

ing offended Thee. Nev-

er permit me to sep-

arate myself from Thee

again. Grant that I may

love Thee always; and

then do with me what

Thou wilt.

Our Father, etc., as

before.

Bruised, derided, cursed, defiled,

She beheld her tender Child

All with bloody scourges rent.

- 17 -



EIGHTH STATION

Jesus speaks to the women of Jerusalem

- 18 -



y. We adore Thee, O Christ, and praise Thee.

Tty. Because by Thy holy Cross Thou hast

redeemed the world.

C
onsider how these

women wept with

compassion at seeing

Jesus in such a pitiable

state, streaming with

blood as He walked

along. “Daughters of

Jerusalem,” said He,

“weep not over Me, but

weep for yourselves and

for your children.”

My Jesus, laden with
sorrows! I weep for the

offenses I have commit-

ted against Thee, be-

cause of the pains they

have deserved, and still

more because of the dis-

pleasure they have

caused Thee, who hast

loved me so much. It is

Thy love more than the

fear of hell, which

causes me to weep for

my sins. I love Thee,

Jesus, my love, above

all things; I repent with

my whole heart of hav-

ing offended Thee. Nev-

er permit me to separate

myself from Thee again.

Grant that I may love

Thee always; and then

do with me what Thou

wilt.

Our Father, etc., as

before .

For the sins of His own nation

Saw Him hang in desolation,

Till His spirit forth He sent.

- 19 -



NINTH STATION

Jesus falls the third time

20



y. We adore Thee, O Christ, and praise Thee.

IJT. Because by Thy holy Cross Thou hast

redeemed the world.

C
onsider the third

fall of Jesus Christ.

His weakness was ex-

treme, and the cruelty

of His executioners ex-

cessive, who tried to

hasten His steps when

He could scarcely move.

Ah, my outraged

Jesus, by the merits of

the weakness Thou

didst suffer in going to

Calvary, give me

strength sufficient to

conquer all human re-

spect, and all my wicked

passions, which have

led me to despise Thy

friendship. I love Thee,

Jesus, my love, above

all things; I repent with

my whole heart of hav-

ing offended Thee. Nev-

er permit me to sep-

arate myself from Thee

again. Grant that I may

love Thee always; and

then do with me what

Thou wilt.

Our Father, etc., as

before.

O thou Mother! fount of love!
Touch my spirit from above,

Make my heart with thine accord,

-21 -



TENTH STATION

Jesus is stripped of His garment

- 22 -



y. We adore Thee, O Christ, and praise Thee.

Ip. Because by Thy holy Cross Thou hast

redeemed the world.

C
onsider the vio-

lence with which

Jesus was stripped by

the executioners. His in-

ner garments adhered

to His torn flesh, and

they dragged them off

so roughly that the skin

came with them. Com-

passionate your Saviour

thus cruelly treated.

My most innocent
Jesus! by the merits of

the torment Thou hast

felt, help me to strip

myself of all affection

to things of earth, that

I may place all my love

in Thee, who art so wor-

thy of my love. I love

Thee, Jesus, my love,

above all things; I re-

pent with my whole

heart of having offended

Thee. Never permit me

to separate myself from

Thee again. Grant that

I may love Thee always;

and then do with me

what Thou wilt.

Our Father, etc., as

before.

Make me feel as thou has felt;

Make my soul to glow and melt

With the love of Christ my Lord.

-23 -



ELEVENTH STATION

Jesus is nailed to the Cross

24 -



y. We adore Thee, O Christ, and praise Thee.

Tp. Because by Thy holy Cross Thou hast

redeemed the world.

C
onsider how Jesus,

having been placed

upon the Cross, ex-

tended His hands, and

offered to His Eternal

Father the sacrifice of

His life for our salva-

tion. Those barbarians

fastened Him with nails,

and then, securing the

Cross, allowed Him to

die with anguish on this

infamous gibbet.

My Jesus, loaded
with contempt, nail my

heart to Thy feet, that

it may ever remain there

to love Thee, and never

quit Thee again. I love

Thee, Jesus, my love,

above all things; I re-

pent with my whole

heart of having offend-

ed Thee. Never permit

me to separate myself

from Thee again. Grant

that I may love Thee

always; and then do

with me what Thou

wilt.

Our Father, etc., as

before.

Holy Mother! pierce me through;

In my heart each wound renew,
Of my Saviour crucified.

25 -



TWELFTH STATION

Jesus dies on the Cross

26



y. We adore Thee, O Christ, and praise Thee.

ty. Because by Thy holy Cross Thou hast

redeemed the world.

C
onsider how Jesus,

after three hours’

agony on the Cross, be-

ing consumed with an-

guish, abandoned Him-

self to the weight of His

body, bowed His head

and died.

O my dying Jesus! I
kiss devoutly the Cross

on which Thou didst die

for love of me. I have

merited by my sins to

die a miserable death,

but Thy death is my

hope. Ah! by the merits

of Thy death, give me

grace to die embracing

Thy feet, and burning

with love for Thee. I

commit my soul into

Thy hands. I love Thee,

Jesus, my love, above

all things; I repent with

my whole heart of hav-

ing offended Thee. Nev-

er permit me to sepa-

rate myself from Thee

again. Grant that I may

love Thee always; and

then do with me what

Thou wilt.

Our Father, etc., as

before .

Let me share with thee His pain,

Who for all my sins was slain,
Who for me in torments died.

-27



THIRTEENTH STATION

Jesus is taken down from the Cross

28



y. We adore Thee, O Christ, and praise Thee.

Ip. Because by Thy holy Cross Thou hast

redeemed the world.

C
onsider how, after

Our Lord had ex-

pired, two of His disci-

ples, Joseph and Nico-

demus, took Him down

from the Cross, and

placed Him in the arms

of His afflicted Mother

who received Him with

unutterable tenderness,

and pressed Him to her

bosom.

O Mother of Sorrow,
for the love of this Son,

accept me for thy serv-

ant, and pray for me.

And Thou, my Redeem-

er, since Thou hast died

for me, permit me to

love Thee: for I wish

but Thee, and nothing

more. I love Thee,

Jesus, my love, above

all things; I repent with

my whole heart of hav-

ing offended Thee. Nev-

er permit me to sepa-

rate myself from Thee

again. Grant that I may

love Thee always; and

then do with me what

Thou wilt.

Our Father, etc., as

before .

Let me mingle tears with thee,

Mourning Him who mourn’d for me,

All the days that I may live;

- 29 -



FOURTEENTH STATION

Jesus is laid in the Sepulchre

-30



y. We adore Thee, O Christ, and praise Thee.

Ip. Because by Thy holy Cross Thou hast

redeemed the world.

C
onsider how the

disciples carried

the body of Jesus to

bury it, accompanied by

His holy Mother, who

arranged it in the sepul-

chre with her Own

hands. They then closed

the tomb, and all with-

drew.

Ah, my buried Jesus!

I kiss the stone that en-

closes Thee. But Thou

didst rise again the

third day. I beseech

Thee, by Thy resurrec-

tion, to make me rise in

glory with Thpe at the

last day, to be always

united with Thee in

heaven, to praise Thee

and love Thee for ever.

I love Thee, Jesus, my

love, above all things; I

repent with my whole

heart of having offended

Thee. Never permit me

to separate myself from

Thee again. Grant that

I may love Thee always;

and then do with me

what Thou wilt.

Our Father, etc., as

before .

By the Cross with thee to stay;

There with thee to weep and pray,

Is all I ask of thee to give.

- 31 -



Virgin of all virgins blest!

Listen to my fond request;

Let me share thy grief divine.

Let me, to my latest breath,

In my body bear the death

Of that dying Son of thine.

Wounded with His every wound,

Steep my soul till it has swoon’d

In His very blood away.

Be to me, O Virgin, nigh,
Lest in flames I burn and die,

In His awful judgment-day.

Christ, when Thou shalt call me hence,

Be Thy Mother my defense,

Be Thy Cross my victory.

While my body here decays,

May my soul Thy goodness praise,

Safe in Paradise with Thee.

Amen.

In conclusion say one Our Father
,
Hail Mary,

and Glory be, for the intention of the Sovereign

Pontiff.

- 32 -



*?

/