THE STATIONS OF THE CROSS Surely the pain and the sorrow Christ chose for Himself must be best, Let us follow Him, then, in the way of the Cross, For it will lead unto Heaven's sweet rest. PRAYERS AND DEVOTIONS COMPOSED BY ST. ALPHONSUS LIGUORI, A. D. 1787. Let each one make an Act of Contrition, and form the intention for the application of the Indulgence to be gained. Y My Lord Jesus Christ, Thou hast made this journey to die for me with love unutterable, and I have so many times unworthily abandoned Thee; but now I love Thee with my whole heart, and because I love Thee I repent sincerely for having ever offended Thee. Pardon me, my God, and permit me to accompany Thee on this journey. Thou goest to die for love of me; I wish also, my beloved Redeemer, to die for love of Thee. My Jesus, I will live and die always united to Thee. During this devotion a stanza of the Stabat Mater (page 232) is sung before and after each station. FIRST STATION. JESUS IS CONDEMNED TO DIE. We adore Thee, O Christ, and bless Thee. Because by Thy holy cross Thou hast redeemed the world. Consider how Jesus, after having been scourged and crowned with thorns, was unjustly condemned by Pilate to die on the cross. PRAYER. My adorable Jesus, it was not Pilate; no, it was my sins that condemned Thee to die. I beseech Thee, by the merits of this sorrowful journey, to assist my soul in her journey towards eternity. I love Thee, my beloved Jesus; I love Thee more than myself; 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. Hail Mary. Glory, etc. SECOND STATION. JESUS IS MADE TO BEAR HIS CROSS. Consider how Jesus, in making this journey with the Cross on His shoulders, thought of us, and for us offered to His Father the death He was about to undergo. PRAYER. My most beloved Jesus, I embrace all the tribulations Thou hast destined for me until death. I beseech Thee, by the merits 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; I repent 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, etc. THIRD STATION. JESUS FALLS THE FIRST TIME UNDER HIS CROSS. We adore Thee, O Christ, etc. Consider this first fall of Jesus under His Cross. His flesh was torn by the Scourges, His head was crowned with thorns, and He had lost a great quantity of blood. He was so weakened that 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 during His journey. PRAYER. My Jesus, it is not the weight 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, O my Jesus, with my whole heart; I repent of having offended Thee. Never permit me to offend Thee again. Grant that I may love Thee always, and then do with me what Thou wilt. Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory, etc. FOURTH STATION. JESUS MEETS HIS AFFLICTED MOTHER. We adore Thee, O Christ, etc. Consider the meeting of the Son and the Mother, which took place on this journey.. Jesus and Mary looked at each other, and their looks became as so many arrows to wound those hearts which loved each other so tenderly. PRAYER. My most loving Jesus, by the sorrow that Thou didst experience in this meeting, grant me the grace of a truly devoted love for Thy most holy mother. And thou, my Queen, who wast overwhelmed with sorrow, ob |