The Way Of The Cross. The First Station. The Perfect Undertaking For Lent.

“O, Beloved Wood”.

“O, Blessed Nails”.

“O, Sweet Burden”.

Illustration: PINTEREST

Text is from The Saint Andrew Daily Missal,
unless stated otherwise.

Indulgences: One Plenary Indulgence each time; another Plenary Indulgence if Holy Communion is received on the same day, or ten times within the month following that exercise.

If it remained unfinished, Ten Years and Ten Quarantines for each Station visited.

(20 October 1931).

Conditions:

1. To visit each Station, unless it is impossible owing to the crowd.

[Pictures of the fourteen several Mysteries are very useful, but are not indispensable. Wooden Crosses, indicating the fourteen Stations of The Cross, are sufficient and are absolutely required.]

2. To meditate, as best one can, on The Passion of The Saviour.

No vocal Prayers are required. The Popes recommend the recitation of a Pater, an Ave, and an Act of Contrition, at each Station (April 1731).

When The Way of The Cross is made in public, a Verse of “The Stabat Mater” may be sung between each Station.

The Priest, kneeling before The Altar, says as follows:

O, Jesus, our adorable Saviour, behold us prostrate at Thy feet, imploring Thy mercy for ourselves, and for the Souls of all The Faithful Departed.

Vouchsafe to apply to us the infinite merits of Thy Passion, on which we are now about to meditate.

Grant that while we trace this path of sighs and tears, our hearts may be so touched with contrition and repentance, that we may be ready to embrace with joy all our Crosses, sufferings, and humiliations, of this our life and pilgrimage.

Versicle: Thou shalt open my lips, O, Lord.

Response: And my mouth shall show forth Thy praise.

Versicle: O, God, come to my assistance.

Response: O, Lord, make haste to help me.

Versicle: Glory be to The Father, and to . . .

Response: As it was . . .

The Priest and people move in procession to The First Station.

The First Station.

Jesus Christ Is Condemned To Death.

Versicle: We adore Thee, O, Christ, and we bless Thee.

Response: Because by Thy Holy Cross Thou hast redeemed the world.

Priest.

Leaving the house of Caiphas, where He had been blasphemed and the house of Herod, where he had been mocked, Jesus is dragged before Pilate.

His back torn with scourges, His head crowned with thorns; and He, Who, on The Last Day, will judge the living and the dead, is, Himself, condemned to a disgraceful death.

Prayer.

It was for us that Thou didst suffer, O, Blessed Jesus; it was for our sins Thou wast condemned to die.

O, grant that we may detest them from the bottom of our hearts, and, by this repentance, obtain Thy mercy and pardon.

An Act of Contrition.

O, God, we love Thee with our whole hearts, and above all things, and are heartily sorry that we have offended Thee.

May we never offend Thee any more. O, may we love Thee without ceasing, and make it our delight to do in all things Thy Most Holy Will.

Our Father . . .

Hail Mary . . .

Glory Be To The Father . . .

Have mercy on us, O, Lord. Have mercy on us.

Versicle: May the Souls of the Faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

Response: Amen.

This Act of Contrition is to be repeated after each Station.

While passing from one Station to another, a Verse of the “Stabat Mater” is sung or said.

Versicle:

Stabat Mater dolorósa,
Juxta crucem lacrimósa,
Dum pendébat Fílius.

Response:

Sancta Mater, istud agas,
Crucifíxi fige plagas,
Cordi meo válide.

Proceed to The Second Station.