A Scriptural Way of the Cross with Meditations by Saint Alphonsus Liguori (Lenten Prayer/Devotional)

A Scriptural Way of the Cross with Meditations by Saint Alphonsus Liguori

The Sign of the Cross

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Act of Contrition

Intention

You should form the intention of gaining the Indulgences, whether for yourself or for the souls in Purgatory.

Prayer

My Lord Jesus Christ, You have made this journey to die for me with love unutterable, and I have so many time unworthily abandoned You; but now I love You with my whole heart, and because I love You, I repent sincerely for having ever offended You. Pardon me, my God, and permit me to accompany You on this journey. You go do die for love of me; I wish also, my beloved Redeemer, to die for love of You. My Jesus, I will live and die always united to You.

Dear Jesus, You go to die for very love of me. Let me bear You company; I wish to die with You.

Station 1: Jesus Is Condemned To Death

We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You, because by Your holy Cross, You have redeemed the world.

Scripture

For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him might not perish but might have eternal life. (John 3.16)

Though He was harshly treated, He submitted and opened not His mouth; like a lamb led to the slaughter or a sheep before the shearers, He was silent and opened not His mouth. (Isaiah 53.7)

No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends. (John 15.13)

Meditation

Consider how Jesus, after having been scourged and crowned with thorns, was unjustly condemned by Pilate to die on the Cross.

Prayer

My Jesus, it was not Pilate, it was my sins that condemned You to die. I beg You, by the merits of this sorrowful journey, to assist my soul in its journey toward eternity. I love You, my beloved Jesus; I love You more than myself; I repent with my whole heart for having offended You. Never permit me to separate myself from You again. Grant that I may love You always; and then do with me what You will.

Our Father
Hail Mary
Glory Be
Station 2: Jesus Carries His Cross

We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You, because by Your holy Cross, You have redeemed the world.

Scripture

It was our infirmities that He bore, our sufferings that He endured. He was pierced for our offenses, crushed for our sins. (Isaiah 53, 4.6)

"If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me." (Luke 9, 23)

"Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For My yoke is easy, and Myburden light." (Matthew 11, 28-29)

Meditation

Consider how Jesus, in making this journey with the Cross on His shoulders, thought of use, and for us offered to His Father the death He was about to undergo.

Prayer

My beloved Jesus, I embrace all the tribulations You have destined for me until death. I beg You, by the merits of the pain You suffered in carrying Your Cross, to give me the necessary help to carry mine with perfect patience and resignation. I love You, Jesus my love; I repent of having offended You. Never permit me to separate myself from You again. Grant that I may love You always; and then do with me what You will.
Our Father
Hail Mary
Glory Be
Station 3: Jesus Falls The First Time

We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You, because by Your holy Cross, You have redeemed the world.

Scripture

He has broken my teeth with gravel, pressed my face in the dust; My soul is deprived of peace, I have forgotten what happiness is. (Lamentations 3, 16-17)

We had all gone astray like sheep, each following his own way; But the Lord laid upon Him the guilt of us all. (Isaiah 53.6)

Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world! (John 1,29)

Meditation

Consider this first fall of Jesus under His Cross. His flesh was torn by the scourges, His head crowed 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 in His journey.

Prayer

My beloved Jesus, it is not the weight of the Cross, but my sins, which have made You suffer so much pain. By the merits of this first fall, deliver me from the misfortune of falling into mortal sin. I love You, O my Jesus, with my whole heart; I repent of having offended You. Never permit me to offend You again. Grant that I may love You always; and then do with me what You will.
Our Father
Hail Mary
Glory Be
Station 4: Jesus Meets His Sorrowful Mother

We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You, because by Your holy Cross, You have redeemed the world.

Scripture

"Did you not know that I must be in My Father's house?" (Luke 2, 49)

Come, all you who pass by the way, look and see whether there is any suffering like My suffering. (Lamentations 1, 12)

"You also are now in anguish. But I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you." (John 16, 22)

Meditation

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 You experienced in this meeting, grant me the grace of a truly devoted love for Your most holy Mother. And you, my Queen, who were overwhelmed with sorrow, obtain for me by your intercession a continual remembrance of the Passion of your Son. I love You, Jesus, my love; I repent of ever having offended You. Never permit me to offend You again. Grant that I may love You always; and then do with me what You will.
Our Father
Hail Mary
Glory Be
Station 5: Simon Helps Jesus To Carry The Cross

We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You, because by Your holy Cross, You have redeemed the world.

Scripture

"Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of Mine, you did for Me." (Matthew 25, 40)

Bear one another's burdens, and so you will fulfill the law of Christ. (Galatians 6, 2)

"Amen, amen, I say to you, no slave is greater than his master nor any messenger greater than the one who sent him. (John 13, 16)

Meditation

Consider how the Jews, seeing that at each step Jesus from weakness was on the point of expiring, and fearing that He would die on the way, when they wished Him to die the ignominious death of the Cross, constrained Simon the Cyrenian to carry the Cross behind our Lord.

Prayer

My beloved Jesus, I will not refuse the Cross, as the Cyrenian did; I accept it, I embrace it. I accept in particular the death You have destined for me; with all the pains that may accompany it; I unite it to Your death, I offer it to You. You have died for love of me; I will die for love of You, and to please You. Help me by Your grace. I love You, Jesus my love; I repent of having offended You. Never permit me to offend You again. Grant that I may love you always; and then do with me what You will.
Our Father
Hail Mary
Glory Be
Station 6: Veronica Wipes The Face Of Jesus

We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You, because by Your holy Cross, You have redeemed the world.

Scripture

His look was marred beyond that of man, and His appearance beyond that of mortals. (Isaiah 52, 14)

"Whoever has seen Me has seen the Father." (John 14, 9)

He spoke to us through a Son, whom He made heir to all things and through Whom He created the universe, Who is the refulgence of His glory, the very imprint of His being. (Hebrews 1.3)

Meditation

Consider how the holy woman named Veronica, seeing Jesus so afflicted, and His face bathed in sweat and blood, presented Him with a towel, with which He wiped His adorable face, leaving on it the impression of His holy countenance.

Prayer

My beloved Jesus, Your face was beautiful before, but in this journey it has lost all its beauty, and wounds and blood have disfigured it. My soul also was once beautiful, when it received Your grace in Baptism; but I have disfigured it since by my sins; You alone, my Redeemer, can restore it to its former beauty. Do this by Your Passion. O Jesus, I repent of having offended You. Never permit me to offend You again. Grant that I may love you always; and then do with me what You will.
Our Father
Hail Mary
Glory Be
Station 7: Jesus Falls The Second Time

We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You, because by Your holy Cross, You have redeemed the world.

Scripture

I was hard pressed and was falling, but the Lord helped Me. (Psalm 118, 13)

We do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has similarly been tested in every way, yet without sin. (Hebrews 4, 15)

"Come to Me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11, 28)

Meditation

Consider the second fall of Jesus under the Cross - a fall which renews the pain of all the wounds of the head and members of our afflicted Lord.

Prayer

My most gentle Jesus, how many times You have pardoned me, and how many times have I fallen again, and begun again to offend You! By the merits of this new fall, give me the necessary help to persevere in Your grace until death. Grant that in all temptations which assault me I may always commend myself to You. I love You, Jesus my love, with my whole heart; I repent of having offended You. Never permit me to offend You again. Grant that I may love You always; and then do with me what You will.
Our Father
Hail Mary
Glory Be
Station 8: The Women Of Jerusalem Weep Over Jesus

We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You, because by Your holy Cross, You have redeemed the world.

Scripture

"Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep instead for yourselves and for your children." (Luke 23, 28)

"Anyone who does not remain in Me will be thrown out like a branch and wither." (John 15, 6)

"I tell you, if you do not repent, you will all perish!" (Luke 13, 3)

Meditation

Consider how those women wept with compassion at seeing Jesus in such a pitiable state, streaming with blood, as He walked along. But Jesus said to them: Weep not for Me, but for your children.

Prayer

My Jesus, laden with sorrows, I weep for the offenses I have committed against You, because of the pains they have deserved, and still more because of the displeasure they have caused You, Who have loved me so much. It is Your love, more than the fear of hell, which causes me to weep for my sins. My Jesus, I love You more than myself; I repent of having offended You. Never permit me to offend You again. Grant that I may love you always; and then do with me what You will.
Our Father
Hail Mary
Glory Be
Station 9: Jesus Falls The Third Time

Adoration

We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You, because by Your Holy Cross, You have redeemed the world.

Scripture

I am like water poured out; all My bones are racked. My heart has become like wax. My throat is dried up like baked clay, My tongue cleaves to My jaws; to the dust of death, you have brought Me down. (Psalm 22.15-16)

Have among yourselves the same attitude that is also yours in Christ Jesus. He emptied Himself, taking the form of a slave. He humbled Himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross. (Philippians 2.5-7)

Everyone who exalts himself shall be humbled, and he who humbles himself shall be exalted. (Luke 14.11)

Meditation

Consider the third fall of Jesus Christ. His weakness was extreme, and the cruelty of His executioners excessive, who tried to hasten His steps when He had scarcely strength to move.

Prayer

My outraged Jesus, by the merits of the weakness You suffered in going to Calvary, give me strength sufficient to conquer all human respect, and all my wicked passions, which have led me to despise Your friendship. I love You, Jesus my love, with my whole heart; I repent of having offended You. Never permit me to offend You again. Grant that I may love you always; and then do with me what You will.
Our Father
Hail Mary
Glory Be
Station 10: Jesus Is Stripped Of His Garments

We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You, because by Your holy Cross, You have redeemed the world.

Scripture

They divide My garments among them, and for My vesture they cast lots. (Psalm 22.19)

Everyone of you who does not renounce all that he possess cannot be My disciple. (Luke 14.33)

Put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and as for the flesh, take no thought for its lust. (Romans 13.14)

Meditation

Consider the violence with which the executioners stripped Jesus. His inner garments adhered to His flesh, and they dragged them off so roughly that the skin came with them. Compassionate your Savior thus cruelly treated, and say to Him:

Prayer

My innocent Jesus, by the merits of the torment You have felt, help me to strip myself of all affection to things of earth, in order that I may place all my love in You, who are so worthy of my love. I love You, O Jesus, with my whole heart; I repent of having offended You. Never permit me to offend You again. Grant that I may love you always; and then do with me what You will.
Our Father
Hail Mary
Glory Be
Station 11: Jesus Is Nailed To The Cross

We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You, because by Your holy Cross, You have redeemed the world.

Scripture

They have pierced My hands and My feet; I can count all My bones. (Psalm 22, 17-18)

"Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." (Luke 23, 34)

"I have come down from heaven, not to do My will, but the will of Him Who sent Me." (John 6, 38)

Meditation

Consider how Jesus, after being thrown on the Cross, extended His hands, and offered to His Eternal Father the sacrifice of His death for our salvation. These barbarians fastened Him with nails, and them, raising the Cross, allowed Him to die with anguish on this infamous gibbet.

Prayer

My Jesus! loaded with contempt, nail my heart to Your feet, that it may ever remain there, to love You, and never leave You again. I love You more than myself; I repent of having offended You. Never permit me to offend You again. Grant that I may love you always; and then do with me what You will.
Our Father
Hail Mary
Glory Be
Station 12: Jesus Is Raised Upon The Cross, and Dies

We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You, because by Your holy Cross, You have redeemed the world.

Scripture

"And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all things to Myself." (John 12, 32)

"Father, into Your hands I commend My spirit." (Luke 23, 46)

He humbled Himself, becoming obedient to death, even to death on a cross. Therefore God also has exalted Him. (Philippians 2, 8-9)

Meditation

Consider how your Jesus, after three house' Agony on the Cross, consumed at length with anguish, abandons Himself to the weight of His body, bows His head, and dies.

Prayer

O my dying Jesus, I kiss devoutly the Cross on which You died for love of me. I have merited by my sins to die a miserable death; but Your death is my hope. By the merits of Your death, give me grace to die, embracing Your feet, and burning with love for You. I yield my soul into Your hands. I love You with my whole heart; I repent of having offended You. Never permit me to offend You again. Grant that I may love you always; and then do with me what You will.
Our Father
Hail Mary
Glory Be
Station 13: Jesus Is Taken Down From The Cross

We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You, because by Your holy Cross, You have redeemed the world.

Scripture

Did not the Christ have to suffer those things before entering into His glory? (Luke 24, 26)

Those who love Your law have great peace. (Psalm 119.165)

In this has the love of God been shown in our case, that God has sent His only-begotten Son into the world as a propitiation from sins. (1st John 4.9-10)

Meditation

Consider how, after the death of our Lord, two of His disciples, Joseph and Nicodemus, took Him down from the Cross, and placed Him in the arms of His afflicted Mother, who received Him with unutterable tenderness, and pressed Him to her bosom.

Prayer

O mother of sorrow, for the love of this Son, accept me for your servant, and pray to Him for me. And You, my Redeemer, since You have died for me, permit me to love You; for I wish only You, and nothing more. I love You, my Jesus, and I repent of ever having offended You. Never permit me to offend You again. Grant that I may love you always; and then do with me what You will.
Our Father
Hail Mary
Glory Be
Station 14: Jesus Is Laid In The Sepulcher

We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You, because by Your holy Cross, You have redeemed the world.

Scripture

"Unless the grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone. But if it dies, it brings forth much fruit." (John 12, 24-25)

The death that Christ died, He died to sin once for all, but the life that He lives, He lives unto God. Thus do you consider yourselves also as dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus. (Romans 6, 10-11)

Christ rose again the third day, according to the Scriptures. (1st Corinthians 15.3-4)

Meditation

Consider how the disciples carried the body of Jesus to bury it, accompanied by His holy Mother, who arranged It in the sepulcher with her own hands. They then closed the tomb, and all withdrew.

Prayer

Oh, my buried Jesus, I kiss the stone that encloses You. But You rose again the third day. I beg You, by Your resurrection, make me rise glorious with You at the last day, to be always united with You in heaven, to praise You and love You forever. I love You, and I repent of ever having offended You. Never permit me to offend You again. Grant that I may love you always; and then do with me what You will.
Our Father
Hail Mary
Glory Be
Prayers in Honor of The Passion

O my Lord Jesus, in honor of Your Passion and death, I offer the following prayers.
Our Father
Hail Mary
Glory Be
Prayer for the Intentions of the Holy Father

O, my lord Jesus, I offer the following prayers as my petition for this month's intentions of our holy father, the Pope.
Our Father
Hail Mary
Glory Be
Closing Prayer to Jesus Christ Crucified

Behold, O kind and most sweet Jesus, I cast myself on my knees in Your sight, and with the most fervent desire of my soul, I pray and beg You to impress upon my heart lively sentiments of faith, hope, and charity, with true repentance for my sins, and a firm desire of amendment, while with deep affection and grief of soul I contemplate Your five most precious Wounds, having before my eyes that which David spoke in prophecy: "They pierced My hands and My feet; they have nmbered all My bones."

God has loved us from all eternity. So He says: Remember I first loved you. You had not come to be, nor did the world yet exist, but I loved you already. From all eternity I have loved you."

Saint Alphonsus Liguori

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A Scriptural Way of the Cross with Meditations by Saint Alphonsus Liguori

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