THE STATIONS;
OR,
THE HOLY WAY OF THE CROSS.
THE ANTIPHON.
We beseech Thee, O Lord! to assist and direct our actions by Thy powerful grace, and all our prayers and works may always begin and end with Thee. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
A PREPARATORY ACT OF CONTRITION.
O Jesus, treasure of my soul, infinitely good, infinitely merciful, behold me prostrate at Thy sacred feet! Sinner as I am, I fly to the arms of Thy mercy, and implore that grace which melts and converts — the grace of true compunction. I have offended Thee, adorable Jesus! I repent; let the favor of my love equal the baseness of my ingratitude. This Way of the Cross, grant me to offer devoutly in memory of that painful journey Thou hast travelled for our redemption, to the Cross of Calvary, with the holy design to reform my morals, amend my life and gain these indulgences granted by Thy vicars on earth. I apply one for my miserable soul, the rest in suffrage for the souls in purgatory, particularly N. N. [Here mention the souls for whom you intend to apply them.] I begin this devotion under Thy sacred protection, and in imitation of Thy dolorous Mother. Let then this holy exercise obtain for me mercy in this life, and glory in the next. Amen. Jesus!
Station I.
Christ is sentenced to death by Pilate.
V. We adore Thee, O Lord Jesus Christ, and bless Thee.
R. Because by Thy holy Cross Thou hast redeemed the world.
The Mystery.
UR gracious Redeemer, after suffering blows and blasphemies before Annas
and Caiphas, after the cruel scourging, insulting contempts and bloody
crown of piercing thorns, is unjustly condemned to death. This iniquitous
sentence your Jesus accepted with admirable humility. Innocence embraces
condemnation to free the guilty.
Reflect that your sins were the false witnesses that condemned Him; your stubborn impenitence the tyrant that extorted from Pilate the bloody sentence. Propose now
seriously an amendment of life, and while you reflect on the horrid injustice of Pilate,
who condemns innocence, lest he should not appear a friend of Caesar, arraign yourself
for your many sins of human respect; think how often you have offended God for fear of
displeasing the eye of the world, and turning to your loving Jesus, address Him rather
with tears of the heart than with expressions of the tongue in the following
Prayer.
Mangled victim of my sins! O suffering Jesus! I have deserved those
bloody scourges, that cruel sentence of death; and yet Thou didst die for
me, that I should live for Thee. I am convinced that if I desire to please
men, I cannot be Thy servant. Let me then displease the world and its vain
admirers. I resign myself into Thy hands. Let love take possession of my
heart; let Thy eyes behold with contempt everything that can alienate my affections from
Thee; let my ears be ever attentive to Thy word; let me through this painful journey
accompany Thee, sighing and demanding mercy. Mercy! Jesus! Amen.
Our Father, &c. Hail Mary, &c.
Jesus Christ crucified, have mercy on us!
You pious Christians who do now draw near.
With relenting hearts now lend a tear.
Your Lord behold with great humility.
Sentenced to die on Mount Calvary.
