St. Thomas Church - Stations of the Cross

Preparatory Prayer PRIEST AND PEOPLE - My Lord, Jesus Christ, You have made this journey to die for me with unspeakable love; and I have so many times ungratefully abandoned You. but now I love You with all my heart; and, because I love You, I am sincerely sorry for ever having offended You. Pardon me, my God, and permit me to accompany You on this journey. You go to die for love of me; I want, my beloved Redeemer, to die for love of You. My Jesus, I will live and die always united to You. View the Stations of the Cross music At the cross her station keeping Stood the mournful Mother weeping Close to Jesus to the last
	The First Station - Pilate Condemns Jesus to Die MEDITATION: Jesus has been scourged and crowned with thorns. Now, Pilate unjustly condemns Him to die upon a cross. Through her heart, His sorrow sharing All His bitter anguish bearing Now at length the sword has passed
	The Second Station - Jesus accepts His cross MEDITATION: Jesus is given a cross to carry on His bleeding and bruised shoulders. He takes this cross upon Himself as He takes upone Himself all of our sins. O, how sad and sore distressed Was that Mother highly blessed Of the sole Begotten One
	The Third Station - Jesus falls the first time MEDITATION: Jesus, weakened by all his suffering, stumbles and falls on the way to Calvary. He struggles and rises, despite His pain, to go onward toward His death. Christ above in torment hangs She beneath beholds the pangs Of her dying, glorious Son
	The Fourth Station - Jesus meets his mother MEDITATION: Jesus, on His way to Calvary, sees His Mother. Both are stricken with grief. Her love for Him is surpassed only by His love and concern for her. Is there on who would not weep, 'whelmed in miseries so deep Christ's dear Mother to behold
	The Fifth Station - Simon helps carry the cross MEDITATION: Jesus is growing weaker. Fearing that He may not be able to go on, His executioners force Simon of Cyrene to help Him carry His cross. Can the human heart refrain From partaking in her pain In that Mother's pain untold?
	The Sixth Station - Veronica wipes the face of Jesus MEDITATION: Jesus' face is bathed in sweat and blood. Veronica, moved by pity, wipes His face with her veil and the image of His holy face is imprinted on the cloth. Bruised, derided, cursed, defiled She beheld her tender Child, All with bloody scourges rent.
	The Seventh Station - Jesus falls the second time MEDITATION: Jesus falls again under the weight of the cross. His executioners drag Him to His feel and force Him to go onward to Calvary. For the sins of His own nation Saw Him hang in desolation Till His spirit forth he sent.
	The Eigth Station - Jesus speaks to the women MEDITATION: Jesus is so bruised and bleeding that the women of Jerusalem weep when they see Him. He tells them, "Weep not for me, but rather for your children." O sweet Mother! Fount of Love, Touch my spirit from above Make my heart with yours accord.
	The Ninth Station - Jesus falls the third time MEDITATION: Jesus, weak and exhausted, falls for the third time. Though He hardly has stength to move, they try to make Him walk faster. Make me feel as You have felt Make my soul to glow and melt With the love of Christ, my Lord.
	The Tenth Station - Jesus is stripped of his garments MEDITATION: Jesus has reached the summit of Calvary, the place of His execution. As they strip Him of His garments, they reopen His bleeding wounds. Holy Mother, pierce me through In my heart each wound renew Of my Savior crucified.
	The Eleventh Station - Jesus is nailed to the cross MEDITATION: Jesus is now thrown down upon the cross. His executioners violently stretch His limbs and fasten them with crude nails to the wood. Le me share with you His pain, Who for all our sins was slain, Who for me in torments died.
	The Twelfth Station - Jesus dies upon the cross MEDITATION: Jesus is crucified. After three hours of agony and pain, He commends His spirit to His Father, bows His head and dies. Let me mingle tears with thee Mourning Him who mourned for me, All the days that I may live.
	The Thirteenth Station - Jesus is taken from the cross MEDITATION: Jesus' lifeless body is taken from the cross by His disciples Joseph and Nicodemus. Tenderly, they place Him in the arms of His sorrowing Mother. By the cross with you to stay There with you to weep and pray is all I ask of you to give.
	The Fourteenth Station - Jesus is laid in the tomb MEDITATION: Jesus' body is wrapped in a shroud and placed in a nearby sepulchre of a friend. Then a large stone is rolled against the entrance and they depart. Virgins of all virgins blest! Listen to my fond request: let me share your grief divine.