The Stations of the Cross are a fourteen-step Catholic devotion that commemorates Jesus Christ's last day on Earth as a man. The fourteen devotions, or stations, focus on specific events of His last day, beginning with His condemnation. The stations are commonly used as a mini pilgrimage as the individual moves from station to station. At each station, the individual recalls and meditates on a specific event from Christ's last day. Specific prayers are recited, then the individual moves to the next station until all fourteen are complete.
The Stations of the Cross are commonly found in churches as a series of fourteen small icons or images. They can also appear in church yards arranged along paths. The stations are most commonly prayed during Lent on Wednesdays and Fridays, and especially on Good Friday, the day of the year upon which the events actually occurred.
Kneeling, make an Act of Contrition, and form the intention of gaining the indulgences, whether for yourself or for the souls in purgatory.
My God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, and I detest all my sins because of Thy just punishments, but most of all because they offend Thee, my God, Who art all-good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace, to sin no more and to avoid the near occasions of sin.
Amen.
Following the act of contrition say:
My Lord, Jesus Christ, You have made this journey to die for me with unspeakable love; and I have so many times ungratefully abandoned You. But now I love You with all my heart; and, because I love You, I am sincerely sorry for ever having offended You. Pardon me, my God, and permit me to accompany You on this journey. You go to die for love of me; I want, my beloved Redeemer, to die for love of You. My Jesus, I will live and die always united to You.
At the cross her station keeping
Stood the mournful Mother weeping
Close to Jesus to the last.
V. We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You. (Genuflect)
R. Because, by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.
V. We adore you, O Christ, and we praise You. (Genuflect)
R. Because, by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.
V. We adore you, O Christ, and we praise You. (Genuflect)
R. Because, by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.
V. We adore you, O Christ, and we praise You. (Genuflect)
R. Because, by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.
V. We adore you, O Christ, and we praise You. (Genuflect)
R. Because, by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.
V. We adore you, O Christ, and we praise You. (Genuflect)
R. Because, by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.
V. We adore you, O Christ, and we praise You. (Genuflect)
R. Because, by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.
V. We adore you, O Christ, and we praise You. (Genuflect)
R. Because, by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.
V. We adore you, O Christ, and we praise You. (Genuflect)
R. Because, by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.
V. We adore you, O Christ, and we praise You. (Genuflect)
R. Because, by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.
V. We adore you, O Christ, and we praise You. (Genuflect)
R. Because, by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.
V. We adore you, O Christ, and we praise You. (Genuflect)
R. Because, by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.
V. We adore you, O Christ, and we praise You. (Genuflect)
R. Because, by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.
V. We adore you, O Christ, and we praise You. (Genuflect)
R. Because, by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.
After the stations say the “Our Father”, the “Hail Mary,” and the “Glory be to the Father,” five times, in honour of the Passion of Jesus Christ, and once for the intention of the Holy Father.
My good and dear Jesus, I kneel before You, asking You most earnestly to engrave upon my heart a deep and lively faith, hope, and charity, with true repentance for my sins, and a firm resolve to make amends. As I reflect upon Your five wounds, and dwell upon them with deep compassion and grief, I recall, good Jesus, the words the Prophet David spoke long ago concerning Yourself: “They pierced My hands and My feet; they have numbered all My bones."