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Prière Introductive
Preparatory Prayer
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 art going to die for love of me; I desire also, my beloved Redeemer, to die for love of Thee. My Jesus, I will live and die always united to Thee.
Act of Contrition
O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, and I detest all my sins, because I dread the loss of heaven and the pains of hell, but most of all because they offend Thee, my God, who art all-good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace, to confess my sins, to do penance, and to amend my life. Amen.
Jour 1 : First Station: Jesus is condemned to death
Méditation
Behold, my soul, thy Saviour, the innocent Lamb of God, delivered into the hands of wicked men. Pilate, fearing the multitude, condemns Him to the cruel death of the cross. Jesus, with infinite meekness, accepts the unjust sentence. He is to die for thy sins, and for the sins of the whole world.
Consider the silence of our Lord in the face of false accusation, and His perfect submission to the will of His Father. How often have I, by excusing my faults and murmuring in my trials, refused to follow His example?
Prière du jour
V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee.
R. Because by Thy holy Cross Thou hast redeemed the world.
O adorable Jesus, who for my sake didst submit to be condemned to death, grant that I may never condemn my neighbour, nor consent to any unjust judgment. Let the remembrance of Thy patience in this hour give me strength to bear all wrongs with meekness and to forgive all who have offended me. Amen.
Our Father… Hail Mary… Glory Be…
Jour 2 : Second Station: Jesus carries His Cross
Méditation
As soon as the unjust sentence is pronounced, the heavy wood of the Cross is laid upon the bruised and bleeding shoulders of our Redeemer. He embraces it with love, for it is the instrument of our salvation. He carries this heavy burden, not for Himself, but for thee, my soul, and for thy many iniquities.
Consider the love with which Jesus takes up His Cross. And I, how often have I complained of the light crosses which God has sent me for my own good? How have I fled from mortification and penance?
Prière du jour
V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee.
R. Because by Thy holy Cross Thou hast redeemed the world.
O my beloved Jesus, I embrace all the trials and tribulations which Thou hast destined for me. I unite my petty sufferings with Thine, and I beg Thee for the grace to carry my cross with patience and resignation to Thy holy will. Help me to follow Thee on this sorrowful way. Amen.
Our Father… Hail Mary… Glory Be…
Jour 3 : Third Station: Jesus falls the first time
Méditation
Our dear Saviour, weakened by the loss of blood from the scourging and crowning with thorns, and weighed down by the heavy Cross, falls to the ground. The soldiers, with curses and blows, force Him to rise. His strength fails, but His love does not.
Consider that it is the weight of my sins, especially my repeated falls into mortal sin, which has crushed my Lord to the earth. O, what sorrow should I feel for having thus afflicted Him!
Prière du jour
V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee.
R. Because by Thy holy Cross Thou hast redeemed the world.
O Jesus, who didst fall beneath the Cross, I confess my many sins and my weakness. Forgive me for having so often offended Thee. Stretch forth Thy holy hand to lift me up from my falls, and grant me the grace to persevere in Thy love unto the end. Amen.
Our Father… Hail Mary… Glory Be…
Jour 4 : Fourth Station: Jesus meets His afflicted Mother
Méditation
Upon this path of sorrow, Jesus meets His most holy Mother. What grief must have filled their hearts! No words can describe the pain of this meeting. Their eyes meet, and in that glance, their souls, pierced by the same sword of sorrow, speak to one another of a love stronger than death.
Consider the immense sorrow of the Blessed Virgin Mary. O my soul, let us compassionate her grief, and beg her to obtain for us the grace of true sorrow for our sins.
Prière du jour
V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee.
R. Because by Thy holy Cross Thou hast redeemed the world.
O most afflicted Mother, Queen of Martyrs, obtain for me a share in thy deep compassion. Let my heart be ever mindful of the Passion of thy Son, so that I may bear my own sorrows with patience and find in them a means of union with Him. O Jesus, by the grief of Thy holy Mother, have mercy on me. Amen.
Our Father… Hail Mary… Glory Be…
Jour 5 : Fifth Station: Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus to carry the Cross
Méditation
The Jews, seeing that Jesus is near to expiring from faintness, and fearing He might die on the way, compel a man from the country, Simon of Cyrene, to help carry the Cross. Simon at first refuses, but is forced to obey. How blessed was he to share, even unwillingly, in this sacred burden!
Consider that Jesus invites me also to carry His Cross. In the sufferings of my brethren, in the duties of my state, I can be a Simon to my Lord. Shall I refuse?
Prière du jour
V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee.
R. Because by Thy holy Cross Thou hast redeemed the world.
O sweet Jesus, I will not refuse the cross as Simon did. I accept it, I embrace it. I accept in particular the death that is to come, with all its pains. I unite it to Thy death, I offer it to Thee. Thou hast died for love of me; I will die for love of Thee and to please Thee. Help me by Thy grace. Amen.
Our Father… Hail Mary… Glory Be…
Jour 6 : Sixth Station: Veronica wipes the face of Jesus
Méditation
A holy woman named Veronica, moved with compassion at the sight of Jesus, covered with sweat, dust, and blood, pushes through the crowd and wipes His sacred Face with a veil. As a reward for her piety, the impression of His holy countenance is left upon the cloth.
Consider the courage of this woman. She fears not the soldiers nor the insults of the crowd. She seeks only to comfort her Lord. And I, do I fear to confess my faith, or to perform acts of charity when human respect stands in the way?
Prière du jour
V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee.
R. Because by Thy holy Cross Thou hast redeemed the world.
O my loving Saviour, Thy Face was once beautiful, but in this journey it has become disfigured with wounds for my sake. My soul, too, was made in Thy image; but I have marred it with my sins. O Jesus, print Thy holy image deep within my heart, that I may ever be mindful of Thee and Thy love. Amen.
Our Father… Hail Mary… Glory Be…
Jour 7 : Seventh Station: Jesus falls the second time
Méditation
The pain of His wounds and the loss of blood increasing, and the weight of the Cross ever more crushing, our Lord falls a second time. His weakness is extreme, yet His love is stronger still. He rises again, to continue His journey for the redemption of mankind.
Consider my own relapses into sin. After so many confessions and promises, I have fallen again into the same faults. This second fall of Jesus reproaches me for my inconstancy.
Prière du jour
V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee.
R. Because by Thy holy Cross Thou hast redeemed the world.
O Jesus, who didst fall again upon the path of sorrow, I implore Thy pardon for my many relapses. By the merit of this painful fall, grant me the grace to persevere in holiness. Strengthen my will, that I may never again consent to sin, but rise with new fervour after every fault. Amen.
Our Father… Hail Mary… Glory Be…
Jour 8 : Eighth Station: Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem
Méditation
A great multitude followed Jesus, and among them were women who wept and lamented over Him. But Jesus, turning to them, said: ‘Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but for yourselves and for your children.’ He thinks not of His own sufferings, but of the sins which cause them, and of the punishments which they deserve.
Consider that Jesus exhorts me to weep not so much for His pains, which are past, but for my sins, which are the cause of them and which can lead to my eternal ruin.
Prière du jour
V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee.
R. Because by Thy holy Cross Thou hast redeemed the world.
O Lord Jesus, who didst console the holy women of Jerusalem, grant me the gift of true contrition. Let me weep for my sins, which were the cause of Thy bitter Passion. Engrave in my heart a deep horror of sin and a fervent desire to amend my life, that I may one day be worthy of Thy eternal consolations. Amen.
Our Father… Hail Mary… Glory Be…
Jour 9 : Ninth Station: Jesus falls the third time
Méditation
Our Lord Jesus Christ falls a third time, as He approaches the summit of Calvary. His strength is utterly spent. He lies upon the ground, unable to rise, until He is violently dragged up by the executioners, who are impatient to crucify Him. This fall is the most painful of all.
Consider the depths of humiliation to which my Saviour has descended for my sake. And I, how I fear the least humiliation, how I seek honours and esteem!
Prière du jour
V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee.
R. Because by Thy holy Cross Thou hast redeemed the world.
O my exhausted Saviour, by the merit of this third and most grievous fall, I pray Thee to preserve me from falling into final impenitence. When the hour of my death shall come, and my strength shall fail me, be Thou my support. Let me not despair, but die in Thy grace and in Thy love. Amen.
Our Father… Hail Mary… Glory Be…
Jour 10 : Tenth Station: Jesus is stripped of His garments
Méditation
When they arrive at Calvary, the soldiers violently strip Jesus of His garments. His inner tunic, having adhered to His torn flesh, is ripped away, reopening all His wounds. What shame and confusion, what bitter pain, He endures in this cruel despoilment, exposed to the gaze of the mocking crowd.
Consider the perfect purity of Jesus, and how He suffered this torment to atone for sins of immodesty and impurity. How have I guarded my senses? How have I respected my body, the temple of the Holy Ghost?
Prière du jour
V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee.
R. Because by Thy holy Cross Thou hast redeemed the world.
O innocent Jesus, stripped of Thy garments, strip my heart of all affection for the things of this world. Clothe me with the virtues of humility, purity, and charity. Grant that I may despise the vanities of the world and seek only to be adorned with the merits of Thy grace. Amen.
Our Father… Hail Mary… Glory Be…
Jour 11 : Eleventh Station: Jesus is nailed to the Cross
Méditation
Behold thy Lord, O my soul, stretched upon the Cross while the cruel executioners drive the blunt nails through His sacred hands and feet. The blows of the hammer resound, each one a new torment for Jesus and for His sorrowful Mother. He is raised up between two thieves, a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men.
Consider the infinite love that holds Jesus upon this bed of pain. He could descend from the Cross, but He will not, because He wills to die for thee.
Prière du jour
V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee.
R. Because by Thy holy Cross Thou hast redeemed the world.
O my crucified Lord, nail my heart to the foot of Thy Cross. Let it be fastened there by love, that it may never again be separated from Thee. I renounce my sinful desires and my self-will. Let me live only for Thee, and suffer all for Thee, that I may die in Thee. Amen.
Our Father… Hail Mary… Glory Be…
Jour 12 : Twelfth Station: Jesus dies on the Cross
Méditation
For three hours Jesus hangs upon the Cross in agony. He prays for His murderers: ‘Father, forgive them.’ He promises paradise to the penitent thief. He gives His Mother to be our Mother. At last, crying with a loud voice, ‘It is consummated,’ and ‘Father, into Thy hands I commend my spirit,’ He bows His head and dies.
Consider the sun darkened, the earth trembling, the veil of the temple rent in two. All nature mourns its Creator. And my heart, is it to remain cold and unmoved?
Prière du jour
V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee.
R. Because by Thy holy Cross Thou hast redeemed the world.
O Jesus, who didst die for love of me, I kiss the Cross on which Thou didst accomplish my salvation. I beg Thy pardon for my sins, which were the cause of Thy death. Grant me the grace to live a holy life and to die a holy death, that I may be worthy to praise Thee for ever in heaven. Amen.
Our Father… Hail Mary… Glory Be…
Jour 13 : Thirteenth Station: Jesus is taken down from the Cross
Méditation
The sacrifice is over. Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus, two faithful disciples, take the sacred Body of Jesus down from the Cross and place it in the arms of His most holy Mother. Who can describe the sorrow of Mary as she beholds the mangled body of her divine Son upon her lap? She embraces Him, bathes His wounds with her tears, and adores Him even in death.
Consider the immense grief of the Blessed Mother. Let us join our tears with hers and offer her our heartfelt compassion.
Prière du jour
V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee.
R. Because by Thy holy Cross Thou hast redeemed the world.
O Mother of Sorrows, who didst receive the lifeless body of thy Son, receive also my poor soul into thy compassionate arms. Offer it to thy Son, cleansed by His most Precious Blood. By all thy sorrows, obtain for me a tender devotion to the Passion of Jesus and a sincere contrition for my sins. Amen.
Our Father… Hail Mary… Glory Be…
Jour 14 : Fourteenth Station: Jesus is laid in the tomb
Méditation
The sacred Body of our Lord is wrapped in a clean linen cloth, with spices, and laid in a new tomb hewn out of a rock. The disciples roll a great stone to the door of the sepulchre and depart. All seems lost. Hope itself seems to be buried with Jesus.
Consider the finality of this act. Jesus, the Life of the world, lies in the abode of the dead. But this tomb will not hold Him. He is the grain of wheat that falls into the earth to die, that it may bring forth much fruit.
Prière du jour
V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee.
R. Because by Thy holy Cross Thou hast redeemed the world.
O my buried Jesus, I adore Thee in Thy holy sepulchre. At the close of my life, let me rest in peace in Thy grace. And on the last day, by the merits of Thy burial, grant that I may rise with Thee to a life of glory, there to praise Thee for ever and ever. Amen.
Our Father… Hail Mary… Glory Be…
Jour 15 : Fifteenth Station: The Resurrection of Jesus
Méditation
On the third day, as the sun rises, the earth quakes, and an angel descends from heaven. The guards are struck with terror. Jesus rises, glorious and immortal, from the tomb. He has conquered sin and death. The sorrow of the Passion is ended, and the joy of the Resurrection begins, a joy that shall have no end.
Consider that Christ’s Resurrection is the pledge of our own. As He has risen, so shall we rise. This is our faith and our hope. The Way of the Cross does not end in the tomb, but in the glorious light of eternal life.
Prière du jour
V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee.
R. Because by Thy holy Cross and Resurrection Thou hast redeemed the world.
O glorious Lord Jesus, who by rising from the dead didst give life to the world, grant, we beseech Thee, that we who devoutly commemorate Thy Passion may also be made partakers of Thy glorious Resurrection. Help us to live as children of the light, that, having died to sin, we may rise with Thee to a new life of grace, and reign with Thee for ever in heaven. Amen.
Our Father… Hail Mary… Glory Be…
Prière Conclusive
Concluding Prayer
O Lord Jesus Christ, who by Thy Passion and Death didst sanctify the Cross, and by Thy glorious Resurrection didst conquer death and open unto us the gate of everlasting life; grant that we, who have now devoutly followed Thee on this sorrowful way, may ever carry our cross with patience and love, and finally rise with Thee in glory to live for ever and ever. Amen.
To gain the indulgence, let us pray for the intentions of the Sovereign Pontiff:
Our Father…
Hail Mary…
Glory Be…
Contexte Historique
Neuvaine structurée en 9 jours.