Stations of the Cross

The Way of the Cross is a traditional Catholic devotion. Below find scriptural texts for each Station as well as images of the stations of the Cross in Our Lady of the Assumption church in Fairfield, Connecticut. (click on images to enlarge)

                                   

First Station: Jesus is Condemned to Death

                                               

Again the high priest began to ask him, and said to him, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?” And Jesus said to him, “I am. And you shall see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power and coming with the clouds of heaven.” But the high priest tore his garments and said, “what further need have we of witnesses? You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?” And they all condemned him as liable to death.

 (Mark 14, 61-64)



Second Station: Jesus Carries His Cross

And Pilate said to the Jews, “Behold your king!” But they cried out, “Away with him! Away with him! Crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your king?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.” Then he handed him over to them to be crucified. And so they took Jesus and led him away, bearing the cross for himself. 

(John 19, 14 to 17)




Third Station: Jesus Falls the First Time

If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before you. If you were of the world, the world would love what is its own. Because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I have spoken to you: No servant is greater than his master. If they have persecuted me, they will persecute you also. (John 15, 18-20)

Fourth Station: Jesus Meets His Afflicted Mother

Now there were standing by the cross of Jesus his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus, therefore, saw his mother and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his home. (John 19, 25-27).


Fifth Station: Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus to carry his Cross

And when they had mocked Jesus, they took the purple cloak off and put his own clothes on him, and they led him out to be crucified. Then they forced a certain passer-by, Simon of Cyrene, coming from the country, to take up his cross. They brought Jesus to the place called Golgatha, a name meaning ‘the place of the skull’. (Mk. 15, 20-22)

                                 

Sixth Station: Veronica wipes the face of Jesus

                                               

“Lord, when did we see you hungry, and feed you; or thirsty, and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger, and take you in; or naked, and clothe you? Or when did we see you sick, or in prison, and come to you?” And answering the king will say to them, “Amen, I say to you, as long as you did it for one of these, the least of my brethren, you did it for me.” (Mt. 25, 37-40)

Seventh Station: Jesus falls the second time

                                               

It was our weaknesses that he carried, our sufferings that he endured, while we thought of him as stricken, as one struck by God and afflicted. But he was pierced for our offenses, crushed for our sins; upon him was the punishment hat makes us whole, by his stripes we were healed. We had all gone astray like sheep, each following his own way; but the Lord laid upon him the guilt of us all. (Is. 53, 4-6)

Eighth Station: Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem

                                               

There was following Jesus a great crowd of people, and among them were some women who were bewailing and lamenting him. Jesus turning to them said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.” (Luke 23, 27-28)

Ninth Station: Jesus falls a third time.

                                               

I lie prostrate in the dust; give me life according to your word. I declared my ways, and you answered me; teach me your commands. Make me understand the way of your precepts, and I will meditate on your wondrous deeds. My soul weeps for sorrow; strengthen me with your words. (Ps. 118, 25-28)

Tenth Station: Jesus is stripped of his clothes

                                               

They gave Jesus wine to drink mixed with gall; but when he had tasted it, he would not drink. Then after they had crucified him, they divided his clothes, casting lots, to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet, “They divided my clothes among them, and upon my garments they cast lots.” (Mt. 27, 34-35)

Eleventh Station: Jesus is nailed to the Cross

                                               

When they came to Golgatha, the place called the Skull, they crucified Jesus and the robbers, one on his right and the other on his left. And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” (Lk. 23. 33-34; Jn. 19, 18)

Twelfth Station: Jesus dies on the Cross

                                               

It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. And the sun was darkened, and the curtain of the temple was torn in the middle. Jesus cried out with a loud voice and said, “It is finished. Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” Then, bowing his head, he died. (Lk. 23, 44-46; Jn. 19, 30b)