bt-052 flhe'way of the cross by st. fttphonsus...

BT-052 flhe'Way of the Cross ByLITHO IN U.S.A. St. fttphonsus Liquori

The illustrations of the Stations of the Cross are repro-duced through the courtesy of St. Mary's Seminary andCollege (-formerly St. Charles College) at Catonsville,Maryland.

INDULGENCES

A Plenary indulgence is granted to the faithful, whomake the pious exercise of the Way of the Cross.

Those who are "impeded" can gain the same in-dulgence, if they spend at least one half an hour in piousreading and meditation on the Passion and Death of ourLord Jesus Christ.

ENCHIRIDION INDULGENTIARUM - No. 63

Nihil ObstatVERY REV. MSGR. CARROLL E. SATTERFIELD, S.T.D.Censor Librorum

Imprimatur® WILLIAM DONALD BORDERS, D.D.

Archbishop of BaltimoreNovember 22, 1977

The Nihil Obstat and Imprimatur are an officialdeclaration that a book or pamphlet is free ofdoctrinal or moral error. No implication is con-tained therein that those who have granted theNihil Obstat and Imprimatur agree with thecontents, opinions or statements expressed.

© Copyright 1977, Barton-Cotton, Inc., Baltimore, MarylandPrinted in U.S.A.

The 'Way of the, Crossas composed by

St. Mphonsus Liguori

Arranged/orCongregational Devotions

Published byBarton-Cotton, Inc.1405 Parker Road

Baltimore, Maryland 21227(410)247-4800

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During the Turkish occupation of the HolyLand in the late Middle Ages, when pilgrims wereprevented from visiting its sacred sites, the customarose of making replicas of those holy places,where the faithful might come to pray. One of themost popular of these devotions was the "Stationsof the Way of the Cross", which were imitationsof the "stations", or stopping places of prayer onthe Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem. By the late six-teenth century the fourteen stations, as we knowthem today, were erected in almost all Catholicchurches.

Among the best known prayers for the Wayof the Cross are those first published in Italian bySt. Alphonsus Liguori in 1761, which are presentedhere in a new, revised translation. In his briefintroduction to this devotion, St. Alphonsus wrote:"The pious exercise of the Way of the Crossrepresents the sorrowful journey that Jesus Christmade with the cross on His shoulders, to die onCalvary for the love of us. We should, therefore,practice this devotion with the greatest possiblefervor, placing ourselves in spirit beside our Savioras He walked this sorrowful way, uniting our tearswith His, and offering to Him both our compas-sion and our gratitude."

J^repctrcttory

(to be said kneeling before the altar)

PRIEST AND PEOPLE — My Lord, Jesus Christ, /You have made this journey to die for me withunspeakable love; / and I have so many times un-gratefully abandoned You. / But now I love Youwith all my heart; / and, because I love You, I amsincerely sorry for ever having offended You. /Pardon me, my God, and permit me to accompanyYou on this journey. / You go to die for love ofme; / I want, my beloved Redeemer, to die forlove of You. / My Jesus, I will live and die alwaysunited to You.

At the cross her station keepingStood the mournful Mother weepingClose to Jesus to the last

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Pilate condemns Jesus to die

PRIEST — We adore You, O Christ, and we praiseYou. (Genuflect)

PEOPLE — Because, by Your holy cross, You haveredeemed the world. (Rise)

PRIEST — Consider how Jesus Christ, after beingscourged and crowned with thorns, was unjustlycondemned by Pilate to die on the cross. (Kneel)

PEOPLE—My adorable Jesus, / it was not Pilate; /no, it was my sins that condemned You to die. /I beseech You, by the merits of this sorrowfuljourney, / to assist my soul on its journey toeternity. / I love You, my beloved Jesus; / I loveYou more than I love myself. / With all myheart I repent of ever having offended You. /Never let me be separated from You again. /Grant that I may love You always; and then dowith me as You will.

(Optional Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory be.)

PILATE CONDEMNS JESUS TO DIEThrough her heart, His sorrow sharingAll His bitter anguish bearingNow at length the sword has passed

o/Ac t^econci t^

Jesus accepts His cross



PRIEST — Consider Jesus as He walked this roadwith the cross on His shoulders, thinking of us,and offering to His Father, in our behalf, thedeath He was about to suffer. (Kneel)

PEOPLE — My most beloved Jesus, / I embraceall the sufferings You have destined for me untildeath. / I beg You, by all You suffered in carryingYour cross, / to help me carry mine with Yourperfect peace and resignation. | I love You, Jesus,my love; | I repent of ever having offended You. /Never let me separate myself from You again. /Grant that I may love You always; and then dowith me as You will.


JESUS ACCEPTS HIS CROSS

O, how sad and sore distressedWas that Mother highly blessedOf the sole Begotten One.

JESUS FALLS THE FIRST TIME

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Jesus falls the first time



PRIEST — Consider the first fall of Jesus. Loss ofblood from the scourging and crowning withthorns had so weakened Him that He could hardlywalk; and yet He had to carry that great load uponHis shoulders. As the soldiers struck Him cruelly,He fell several times under the heavy cross.(Kneel)

PEOPLE — My beloved Jesus, / it was not theweight of the cross / but the weight of my sinswhich made You suffer so much. / By the meritsof this first fall, / save me from falling into mortalsin. / I love You, O my Jesus, with all my heart; /I am sorry that I have offended You. / May I neveroffend You again. / Grant that I may love Youalways; and then do with me as You will.(Optional Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory be.)

Christ above in torment hangsShe beneath beholds the pangsOf her dying, glorious Son.

JESUS MEETS HIS AFFLICTED MOTHER

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Jesus meets His afflicted Mother



PRIEST — Consider how the Son met His Motheron His way to Calvary. Jesus and Mary gazed ateach other and their looks became as so manyarrows to wound those hearts which loved eachother so tenderly. (Kneel)

PEOPLE — My most loving Jesus, / by the painYou suffered in this meeting / grant me the graceof being truly devoted to Your most holy Mother./ And, you, my Queen, who was overwhelmedwith sorrow, / obtain for me by your prayers /a tender and a lasting remembrance of the passionof your divine Son. / I love You, Jesus, my Love,above all things. / I repent of ever having of-fended You. / Never allow me to offend Youagain. / Grant that I may love You always; andthen do with me as You will.(Optional Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory be.)

Is there one who would not weep,'whelmed in miseries so deepChrist's dear Mother to behold.

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SIMON HELPS CARRY THE CROSS

Simon helps carry the cross



PRIEST — Consider how weak and weary Jesus was.At each step He was at the point of expiring.Fearing that He would die on the way when theywished Him to die the infamous death of the cross,they forced Simon of Cyrene to help carry the crossafter Our Lord. (Kneel)

PEOPLE — My beloved Jesus, / I will not refusethe cross as Simon did: / I accept and embrace it. /I accept in particular the death that is destined forme / with all the pains that may accompany it. /I unite it to Your death / and I offer it to You. /You have died for love of me; / I will die for loveof You and to please You. / Help me by Yourgrace. / I love You, Jesus, my Love; / I repent ofever having offended You. / Never let me offendYou again. / Grant that I may love You always;and then do with me as You will.(Optional Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory be.)

Can the human heart refrainFrom partaking in her painIn that Mother's pain untold?

VERONICA OFFERS HER VEIL TO JESUS

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Veronica offers her veil to Jesus



PRIEST — Consider the compassion of the holywoman, Veronica. Seeing Jesus in such distress, Hisface bathed in sweat and blood, she presented Himwith her veil. Jesus wiped His face, and left uponthe cloth the image of His sacred countenance.(Kneel)

PEOPLE — My beloved Jesus, / Your face wasbeautiful before You began this journey; / but,now, it no longer appears beautiful / and is dis-figured with wounds and blood. / Alas, my soulalso was once beautiful / when it received Yourgrace in Baptism; / but I have since then disfiguredit with my sins. / You alone, my Redeemer, canrestore it to its former beauty. / Do this by themerits of Your passion; and then do with me asYou will.


Bruised, derided, cursed, defiledShe beheld her tender Child,All with bloody scourges rent.

JESUS FALLS THE SECOND TIME

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Jesus jails the second time



PRIEST — Consider how the second fall of Jesusunder His cross renews the pain in all the woundsof the head and members of our afflicted Lord.(Kneel)

PEOPLE — My most gentle Jesus, / how manytimes You have forgiven me; / and how manytimes I have fallen again and begun again tooffend You! / By the merits of this second fall, /give me the grace to persevere in Your love untildeath. / Grant, that in all my temptations, I mayalways have recourse to You. / I love You, Jesus,my Love, with all my heart; / I am sorry that Ihave offended You. / Never let me offend Youagain. / Grant that I may love You always; andthen do with me as You will.(Optional Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory be.)

For the sins of His own nationSaw Him hang in desolationTill His spirit forth He sent.

JESUS SPEAKS TO THE WOMEN

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Jesus speaks to the women



PRIEST — Consider how the women wept withcompassion seeing Jesus so distressed and drippingwith blood as he walked along. Jesus said to them,"Weep not so much for me, but rather for yourchildren." (Kneel)

PEOPLE — My Jesus, laden with sorrows, / I weepfor the sins which I have committed against You /because of the punishment I deserve for them; /and, still more, because of the displeasure theyhave caused You / who have loved me with aninfinite love. / It is Your love, more than the fearof hell, / which makes me weep for my sins. / MyJesus, I love You more than myself; / I am sorrythat I have offended You. / Never allow me tooffend You again. / Grant that I may love Youalways; and then do with me as You will.(Optional Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory be.)

O sweet Mother! Fount of Love,Touch my spirit from aboveMake my heart with yours accord.

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JESUS FALLS THE THIRD TIME

Jesus falls the third time



PRIEST — Consider how Jesus Christ fell for thethird time. He was extremely weak and the crueltyof His executioners was excessive; they tried tohasten His steps though He hardly had strength tomove. (Kneel)

PEOPLE — My outraged Jesus, / by the weaknessYou suffered in going to Calvary, / give meenough strength to overcome all human respect /and all my evil passions which have led me todespise Your friendship. / I love You, Jesus myLove, with all my heart; / I am sorry for ever hav-ing offended You. / Never permit me to offendYou again. / Grant that I may love You always;and then do with me as You will.(Optional Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory be.)

Make me feel as You have feltMake my soul to glow and meltWith the love of Christ, my Lord.

JESUS IS STRIPPED OF HIS GARMENTS

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Jesus is stripped of His garments



PRIEST — Consider how Jesus was violentlystripped of His clothes by His executioners. Theinner garments adhered to His lacerated flesh andthe soldiers tore them off so roughly that the skincame with them. Have pity for your Savior socruelly treated and tell Him: (Kneel)

PEOPLE — My innocent Jesus, / by the tormentYou suffered in being stripped of Your garments,/ help me to strip myself of all attachment forthe things of earth / that I may place all my lovein You who are so worthy of my love. / I loveYou, O Jesus, with all my heart; / I am sorry forever having offended You. / Never let me offendYou again. / Grant that I may love You always;and then do with me as You will.(Optional Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory be.)

Holy Mother, pierce me throughIn my heart each wound renewOf my Savior crucified.

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JESUS IS NAILED TO THE CROSS

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Jesus is nailed to the cross



PRIEST — Consider Jesus, thrown down upon thecross, He stretched out His arms and offered toHis eternal Father the sacrifice of His life for oursalvation. They nailed His hands and feet, andthen, raising the cross, left Him to die in anguish.(Kneel)

PEOPLE—My despised Jesus, / nail my heart to thecross / that it may always remain there to love Youand never leave You again. / I love You morethan myself; / I am sorry for ever having offendedYou. / Never permit me to offend You again. /Grant that I may love You always; and then dowith me as You will.


Let me share with you His pain,Who for all our sins was slain,Who for me in torments died.

JESUS DIES UPON THE CROSS

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Jesus dies upon the cross



PRIEST — Consider how your Jesus, after threehours of agony on the cross, is finally overwhelmedwith suffering and, abandoning Himself to theweight of His body, bows His head and dies.(Kneel)

PEOPLE — My dying Jesus, / I devoutly kiss thecross on which You would die for love of me. /I deserve, because of my sins, to die a terribledeath; / but Your death is my hope. / By themerits of Your death, / give me the grace to dieembracing Your feet and burning with love ofYou. / I yield my soul into Your hands. / I loveYou with my whole heart. / I am sorry that I haveoffended You. / Never let me offend You again./ Grant that I may love You always; and then dowith me as You will.


Let me mingle tears with theeMourning Him who mourned for me,All the days that I may live.

JESUS IS TAKEN DOWN FROM THE CROSS

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Jesus is taken down from the cross



PRIEST — Consider how, after Our Lord had died,He was taken down from the cross by two of Hisdisciples, Joseph and Nicodemus, and placed in thearms of His afflicted Mother. She received Himwith unutterable tenderness and pressed Him closeto her bosom. (Kneel)

PEOPLE — O Mother of Sorrows, / for the loveof your Son, / accept me as your servant and prayto Him for me. / And You, my Redeemer, sinceyou have died for me, / allow me to love You, /for I desire only You and nothing more. / I loveYou, Jesus my Love, / and I am sorry that I haveoffended You. / Never let me offend You again. /Grant that I may love You always; and then dowith me as You will.


By the cross with you to stayThere with you to weep and prayIs all I ask of you to give.

JESUS IS PLACED IN THE SEPULCHER

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Jesus is placed in the sepulcher



PRIEST — Consider how the disciples carried thebody of Jesus to its burial, while His holy Motherwent with them and arranged it in the sepulcherwith her own hands. They then closed the tomband all departed. (Kneel)

PEOPLE — Oh, my buried Jesus, / I kiss the stonethat closes You in. / But You gloriously did riseagain on the third day. / I beg You by Your resur-rection that I may be raised gloriously on the lastday, / to be united with You in heaven, to praiseYou and love You forever. / I love You, Jesus, andI repent of ever having offended You. / Grantthat I may love You always; and then do with meas You will.(Optional Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory be.)

Virgin of all virgins blest!Listen to my fond request:Let me share your grief divine.

THE HOLY FACE

An illustration based onthe Holy Shroud of Turin.

/ira-wei* t o /re a

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."

The faithful who, after receiving Communion, recitethis prayer before a picture of Christ Crucified may gaina plenary indulgence on any Friday in Lent and a partialindulgence on other days on the year, with the additionof prayers for the Holy Father's intention.

ENCHIRIDION INDULGENTIARUM - No. 22

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