The stations of the via crucis or viacrucis
What is the way of the cross?
It is the meditation of the moments and sufferings experienced by Jesus from the time he was taken prisoner until his death on the cross and subsequent resurrection. Literally, via crucis means “way of the cross”. By praying it, we remember with love and gratitude how much Jesus suffered to save us from sin during his passion and death. This path is represented by 15 images of the Passion that are called “stations”. You will be encouraged to carry the crosses every day, if you frequently remember the stations or steps of Jesus to Calvary.
What are the promises of Jesus Christ to the devotees of the via crucis?
At the age of 18, Estanislao, a young Spaniard, entered the novitiate of the “Brothers of the Christian schools” in Bugedo (Burgos, Spain). In religious life, this young man took the religious vows that are: the fulfillment of the regulations, to advance in Christian perfection, and to attain pure love. In the month of October 1926, this brother offered himself to Jesus through the Most Holy Mary. Shortly after having made this heroic donation of himself, the young man religious became ill and months later, he died in March 1927.
According to the novice master, Stanislaus was a chosen soul of God who received messages from heaven. His confessors and theologians recognized these supernatural events as distinguished acts. His spiritual director had ordered him to write down all the promises transmitted by Our Lord, among others those related to the devotees of the via crucis.
Promises for devotees of the Via Crucis
1.- I will grant everything that is asked of me with faith, during the prayer of the Via Crucis.
2.- I promise eternal life to those who, from time to time, pray the Way of the Cross.
3.- During life, I will accompany you everywhere and you will have My special help at the hour of death.
4.- Although they have more sins than the leaves of the grass that grows in the fields, and more than the grains of sand in the sea, they will all be erased through this devotion to the Via Crucis. (Note: This devotion does not remove the obligation to confess mortal sins. They must be confessed before receiving Holy Communion.)
5.- Those who are used to praying the Way of the Cross frequently will enjoy an extraordinary glory in heaven.
6.- After death, if these devotees reach purgatory, I will free them from that place of atonement, the first Tuesday or Friday after they die.
7.- I will bless these souls every time they pray the Via Crucis; and my blessing will accompany you in
all parts of the earth. After death, they will enjoy this blessing in Heaven, for all eternity.
8.- At the time of death, I will not allow them to be subject to the temptation of the devil. I will strip the evil spirit of all power over these souls. So they can rest peacefully in my arms.
9.- If you pray with true love, you will be highly rewarded. That is to say, I will convert each one of these souls into a living Ciborium, where I will be pleased to pour out my grace.
10.- I will fix the look of my eyes on those souls who pray the via crucis frequently and My Hands will always be open to protect them.
11.- Just as I was nailed to the cross, I will also always be very close to those who honor me, with the frequent prayer of the Way of the Cross.
12.- The devotees of the Via Crucis will never separate from me because I will give them the grace to never commit a mortal sin.
13.- At the hour of death, I will console you with my presence, and we will go to heaven together. Death will be sweet for all those who have honored Me during life with the prayer of the Via Crucis
14.- For these devotees of the Stations of the Cross, My soul will be a protection shield that will always help them when they turn to Me.
How is the Via Crucis prayed?
opening sentences
Soul of Christ, sanctify me. Body of Christ, save me. Blood of Christ, intoxicate me. Water from the side of Christ, wash me. Passion of Christ, comfort me. Oh good Jesus, hear me. Within your wounds, hide me. Do not allow me to separate from You. From the evil enemy, defend me. At the hour of my death, call me and tell me to come to You, so that with your saints I may praise you, forever and ever. Amen.
By the sign of the Holy Cross of our enemies deliver us, Lord, our God.
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
act of contrition
My Lord Jesus Christ, God and true man, Creator, Father and my redeemer; because you are who you are, Infinite Kindness, and because I love you above all things, it weighs me with all my heart that I have offended you; it also weighs me down because you can punish me with the pains of hell. Helped by your divine grace, I firmly propose never to sin again, confess, and fulfill the penance that was imposed on me. Amen.
STATION 1: JESUS SENTENCED TO DEATH
We adore you, Lord, and we bless you, because by your holy cross you redeemed the world.
Sentenced and not by a court but by all. Condemned by the same ones who had acclaimed him shortly before. And he is silent…
We fled from being reproached. And we jump immediately…
Give me, Lord, imitate you, joining You by Silence when someone makes me suffer. I deserve it. Help me!
Lord, I sinned, have mercy and mercy on me.
An Our Father is then prayed
2ND STATION: JESUS CARRIED WITH THE CROSS
We adore you, Lord, and we bless you, because by your holy cross you redeemed the world.
May I understand, Lord, the value of the cross, of my little crosses every day, of my ailments, of my ailments, of my loneliness.
Let me turn into a loving offering, in reparation for my life and in an apostolate for my brothers, my daily cross.
Lord, I sinned, have mercy and mercy on me.
An Our Father is then prayed
3rd STATION: JESUS FALLS, FOR THE FIRST TIME, UNDER THE WEIGHT OF THE CROSS
We adore you, Lord, and we bless you, because by your holy cross you redeemed the world.
You fall, Lord, to redeem me. To help me get up in my daily falls, when after having proposed to be faithful, I return to repeat my daily defects.
Help me to always get up and continue on my way to You!
Lord, I sinned, have mercy and mercy on me.
An Our Father is then prayed
4th STATION: ENCOUNTER WITH THE VIRGIN
We adore you, Lord, and we bless you, because by your holy cross you redeemed the world.
Make Lord, that I find myself next to your Mother in all the moments of my life. With her, leaning on her motherly affection, I am sure of reaching You on the last day of my existence.
Help me mother!
Lord, I sinned, have mercy and mercy on me.
An Our Father is then prayed
5TH STATION: THE CYRENEAN HELPS THE LORD CARRY THE CROSS
We adore you, Lord, and we bless you, because by your holy cross you redeemed the world.
Each one of us has our vocation, we have come to the world for something concrete, to fulfill ourselves in a particular way. What is mine and how do I carry it out?
But there is something, Lord, that is my mission and everyone’s: to be Cyrene of others, to help everyone.
How do I carry out the fulfillment of my Cyrenean mission?
Lord, I sinned, have mercy and mercy on me.
An Our Father is then prayed
STATION 6: VERONICA WIPES THE FACE OF JESUS
We adore you, Lord, and we bless you, because by your holy cross you redeemed the world.
She is the brave, determined woman who approaches You when everyone abandons You. I, Lord, abandon you when I let myself be carried away by the “what will they say”, of human respect, when I do not dare to defend the absent neighbor, when I do not dare to replicate a joke that ridicules those who try to approach You. And on many other occasions.
Help me not to get carried away by human respect, by “what will they say”.
Lord, I sinned, have mercy and mercy on me.
An Our Father is then prayed
7TH STATION: SECOND FALL ON THE WAY OF THE CROSS
We adore you, Lord, and we bless you, because by your holy cross you redeemed the world.
You fall, Lord, a second time. The Via Crucis points out three falls in your walk towards Calvary. Maybe there were more.
You fall in front of everyone… When will I learn not to fear losing face in front of others, due to an error, due to a mistake? When will I learn that this too can become an offering?
Lord, I sinned, have mercy and mercy on me.
An Our Father is then prayed
STATION 8: JESUS COMFORT THE DAUGHTERS OF JERUSALEM
We adore you, Lord, and we bless you, because by your holy cross you redeemed the world.
Many times, I would have to analyze the cause of my tears. At least, my sorrows, my worries. Perhaps there is in them a background of pride, misunderstood self-esteem, selfishness, envy.
I should cry for my lack of correspondence to your innumerable benefits every day, which show me, Lord, how much you love me.
Give me deep gratitude and reciprocity to your mercy.
Lord, I sinned, have mercy and mercy on me.
An Our Father is then prayed
STATION 9: JESUS FALLS THE THIRD TIME
We adore you, Lord, and we bless you, because by your holy cross you redeemed the world.
Third drop. Closer to the Cross. More exhausted, more devoid of strength. You faint, Lord.
I say that the years weigh me down, that I am not the same as before, that I feel incapable.
Give me, Lord, imitate you in this third fall and make my fainting beneficial for others, because I give it to You for them.
Lord, I sinned, have mercy and mercy on me.
An Our Father is then prayed
STATION 10: JESUS STRIPPED OF HIS GARMENTS
We adore you, Lord, and we bless you, because by your holy cross you redeemed the world.
They tear off your garments, adhered to you by the blood of your wounds.
At an infinite distance from your pain, I have felt, at times, how something was painfully torn from me by the loss of my loved ones. May I know how to offer you the memory of the separations that tore me apart, joining your passion and making an effort to comfort those who suffer, fleeing from my own selfishness.
Lord, I sinned, have mercy and mercy on me.
An Our Father is then prayed
STATION 11: JESUS NAILED TO THE CROSS
We adore you, Lord, and we bless you, because by your holy cross you redeemed the world.
Lord, may I reduce my limitations with my effort and thus be able to help my brothers. And that when my effort fails to diminish them, I make an effort to offer them to you for them as well.
Lord, I sinned, have mercy and mercy on me.
An Our Father is then prayed.
STATION 12: JESUS DIES ON THE CROSS
We adore you, Lord, and we bless you, because by your holy cross you redeemed the world.
I adore you, my Lord, who died on the Cross for saving me. I adore you and I kiss your wounds, the wounds from the nails, the lance from the side… Thank you, Lord, thank you!
You have died to save me, to save us. Give me to respond to your love with love, fulfill your Will, work for my salvation, helped by your grace. And give me to work hard for the salvation of my brothers.
Lord, I sinned, have mercy and mercy on me.
An Our Father is then prayed
STATION 13: JESUS IN HIS MOTHER’S ARMS
We adore you, Lord, and…