"Christ Jesus, Who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross." (Philippians 2: 6-8)
FIRST STATION - JESUS IS CONDEMNED TO DEATH
-We adore You, Oh Christ, and we praise You.
-Because, by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.
BECAUSE HE CLINGS TO ME I WILL DELIVER HIM; BECAUSE HE KNOWS MY NAME I WILL SET HIM ON HIGH. HE WILL CALL UPON ME AND I WILL ANSWER. I WILL BE WITH HIM IN DISTRESS; I WILL DELIVER HIM AND GIVE HIM HONOR. WITH LENGTH OF DAYS I WILL SATISFY HIM, AND FILL HIM WITH MY SAVING POWER. (Psalm 91: 14-16)
SECOND STATION - JESUS TAKES UP HIS CROSS
- We adore you, Oh Christ, ...
I AM THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE; WHOEVER BELIEVES IN ME, EVEN IF HE DIES, WILL LIVE. AND EVERYONE WHO LIVES AND BELIEVES IN ME WILL NEVER DIE. (John 11: 25-26).
THIRD STATION - JESUS FALLS FOR THE FIRST TIME
- We adore you, Oh Christ, ...
THIS IS WHY THE FATHER LOVES ME, BECAUSE I LAY DOWN MY LIFE IN ORDER TO TAKE IT UP AGAIN. NO ONE TAKES IT FROM ME, BUT I LAY IT DOWN ON MY OWN. I HAVE POWER TO LAY IT DOWN, AND POWER TO TAKE IT UP AGAIN. THIS COMMAND I HAVE RECEIVED FROM MY FATHER. (John 10: 17-18).
FOURTH STATION - JESUS MEETS HIS MOTHER
- We adore you, Oh Christ, ...
"MY SOUL PROCLAIMS THE GREATNESS OF THE LORD; MY SPIRIT REJOICES IN GOD MY SAVIOR, FOR HE HAS LOOKED UPON HIS HANDMAID´S LOWLINESS." (Luke 1: 46- 48a).
FIFTH STATION - SIMON OF CYRENE HELPS JESUS CARRY HIS CROSS
- We adore you, Oh Christ, ...
AS THEY LED HIM AWAY THEY TOOK HOLD OF A CERTAIN SIMON, A CYRENIAN, WHO WAS COMING IN FROM THE COUNTRY; AND AFTER LAYING THE CROSS ON HIM, THEY MADE HIM CARRY IT BEHIND JESUS. (Luke 23: 26).
SIXTH STATION - VERONICA WIPES THE FACE OF JESUS
- We adore you, Oh Christ, ...
"I AM TROUBLED NOW. YET WHAT SHOULD I SAY? FATHER, SAVE ME FROM THIS HOUR? BUT IT WAS FOR THIS PURPOSE THAT I CAME TO THIS HOUR. FATHER, GLORIFY YOUR NAME.” (John 12: 27-28a).
SEVENTH STATION - JESUS FALLS A SECOND TIME
- We adore you, Oh Christ, ...
NOW THIS IS ETERNAL LIFE, THAT THEY SHOULD KNOW YOU, THE ONLY TRUE GOD, AND THE ONE WHOM YOU SENT, JESUS CHRIST. I GLORIFIED YOU ON EARTH BY ACCOMPLISHING THE WORK THAT YOU GAVE ME TO DO. NOW GLORIFY ME, FATHER, WITH YOU, WITH THE GLORY THAT I HAD WITH YOU BEFORE THE WORLD BEGAN. (John 17: 3-5).
EIGHTH STATION - JESUS MEETS THE WOMEN OF JERUSALEM
- We adore you, Oh Christ, ...
AMEN, AMEN, I SAY TO YOU, YOU WILL WEEP AND MOURN, WHILE THE WORLD REJOICES; YOU WILL GRIEVE, BUT YOUR GRIEF WILL BECOME JOY. (John 16: 20).
NINTH STATION - JESUS FALLS THE THIRD TIME
- We adore you, Oh Christ, ...
STRENGTHEN THE HANDS THAT ARE FEEBLE, MAKE FIRM THE KNEES THAT ARE WEAK, SAY TO THOSE WHOSE HEARTS ARE FRIGHTENED: BE STRONG, FEAR NOT! HERE IS YOUR GOD, HE COMES WITH VINDICATION WITH DIVINE RECOMPENSE HE COMES TO SAVE YOU. (Isaiah 35: 3-4).
TENTH STATION - JESUS IS STRIPPED OF HIS GARMENTS
- We adore you, Oh Christ, ...
IF YOU WISH TO BE PERFECT, GO, SELL WHAT YOU HAVE AND GIVE TO THE POOR, AND YOU WILL HAVE TREASURE IN HEAVEN. (Matthew 19: 21).
ELEVENTH STATION - JESUS IS NAILED TO THE CROSS
- We adore you, Oh Christ, ...
LIKE WATER MY LIFE DRAINS AWAY; ALL MY BONES ARE DISJOINTED. MY HEART BECOMES LIKE WAX, IT MELTS AWAY WITHIN ME. AS DRY AS A POTSHERD IS MY THROAT; MY TONGUE CLEAVES TO MY PALATE. (Psalm 21: 15).
TWELFTH STATION - JESUS DIES ON THE CROSS
- We adore you, Oh Christ, ...
FROM NOON ONWARDS, DARKNESS CAME OVER THE WHOLE LAND UNTIL THREE IN THE AFTERNOON. AND ABOUT THREE O’CLOCK JESUS CRIED OUT IN A LOUD VOICE, “ELI, ELI, LEMA SABACHTHANI?, WHICH MEANS, “MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME? SOME OF THE BYSTANDERS WHO HEARD IT SAID “THIS ONE IS CALLING ELIJAH”. IMMEDIATELY ONE OF THEM RAN TO GET A SPONGE; HE SOAKED IT IN WINE AND PUTTING IT ON A REED, GAVE IT TO HIM TO DRINK. BUT JESUS CRIED OUT AGAIN IN A LOUD VOICE, AND GAVE UP HIS SPIRIT. (Matthew 27: 45-48.50).
THIRTEENTH STATION - JESUS IS TAKEN DOWN THE CROSS
- We adore you, Oh Christ, ...
BUT THIS IS THE COVENANT WHICH I WILL MAKE WITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL AFTER THOSE DAYS, SAYS THE LORD. I WILL PLACE MY LAW WITHIN THEM, AND WRITE IT UPON THEIR HEARTS: I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE. (Jeremiah 31: 33).
FOURTEENTH STATION - JESUS IS LAID IN THE SEPULCHER
- We adore you, Oh Christ, ...
THEY TOOK THE BODY OF JESUS AND BOUND IT WITH BURIAL CLOTHS ALONG WITH SPICES, ACCORDING TO THE JEWISH BURIAL CUSTOM. NOW IN THE PLACE WHERE HE HAD BEEN CRUCIFIED THERE WAS A GARDEN, AND IN THE GARDEN A NEW TOMB, IN WHICH NO ONE HAD YET BEEN BURIED. SO THEY LAID JESUS THERE BECAUSE OF THE JEWISH PREPARATION DAY; FOR THE TOMB WAS CLOSE BY. (John 19: 40-42).
BRIEF FINAL REFLECTION
Accompanying Jesus on his painful path to Calvary and contemplating how he is crucified and dies for us is part of our itinerary towards eternal life. Salvation has taken place, Jesus has saved us and has sent us the Holy Spirit so that we can receive his love by opening ourselves to his grace.
