LIVING STATIONS OF THE CROSS

Presented by Ragin’ Cajun Catholics Students

Good Friday | 2 PM on the Plaza in front of Wisdom, Proceeding through Girard Park

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Father: Almighty and Eternal Father, accept our prayer of thanksgiving for your beloved Son, our Savior and Lord. As we recall his Sacred Passion, send the Spirit of Christ into our hearts, we beg you, so that whether we pray or work we might do all in union with Christ our Redeemer. Amen. 

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Centurion: Bring out the Accused!

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FIRST STATION 

Jesus is Condemned to Death 

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Father: The First Station: Jesus is condemned to death. 

We adore You, Oh Christ, and we praise You. 

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Crowd: Because by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world. 

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Father: Jesus, the most innocent of humanity, is condemned to death; yes, to the shameful death of the cross. In order to remain a friend of Caesar, Pilate delivers Jesus into the hands of His enemies. Oh fearful crime, to condemn Innocence to death and to displease God in order to please men! 

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Pilate: LOOK! I am bringing him out to you, so that you may know that I find no guilt in him. Behold the man! 

 

Centurion: Bring out Barabbas! 

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Pilate: It is customary for me to release to you a prisoner on the Feast of Passover. Who do you want me to release to you? Barabbas…? 

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Crowd: Barabbas! Barabbas! 

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Pilate: ...or Jesus the Nazarene? 

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Crowd: Crucify Him! Crucify Him! 

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Pilate: You would have me crucify your king? 

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Caiaphas: We have no king but Caesar! Crucify Him! 

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Pilate: I am innocent of this man’s blood. Look to it yourselves.

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SECOND STATION 

Jesus Takes Up His Cross 

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Father: The Second Station: Jesus takes up His cross. We adore You, Oh Christ, and we praise You. 

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Crowd: Because by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world. 

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Father: When our divine Redeemer beheld the cross, He most willingly reached out to it with His bleeding arms. He embraced it lovingly, kissed it tenderly, took it on His bruised shoulders, and, exhausted as He was, carried it joyfully. 

 

THIRD STATION 

Jesus Falls the First Time 

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Father: The Third Station: Jesus falls the first time. We adore You, Oh Christ, and we praise You. 

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Crowd: Because by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world. 

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Father: Carrying the cross, our dear Savior was so weakened with its heavy weight that He fell to the ground, exhausted. The cross was light and sweet to Him, but our sins made it heavy and hard to carry. 

 

FOURTH STATION 

Jesus Meets His Mother 

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Centurion: Control the crowd! 

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Father: The Fourth Station: Jesus meets his afflicted Mother. We adore You, Oh Christ, and we praise You. 

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Crowd: Because by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world. 

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Father: How sad and painful must it have been for Mary to behold her beloved Son laden with the cross, covered with wounds and blood, and driven through the streets by savage executioners! What unspeakable pangs her most tender heart must have experienced! How earnestly did she desire to die instead of Jesus. 

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Centurion: Let’s move! 

 

FIFTH STATION 

Simon of Cyrene Helps Jesus Carry His Cross 

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Guards: Can’t you see that he can’t continue? 

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Centurion: Well, help him! 

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Guard: You, come here! 

 

Simon: Fine, but I have nothing to do with this man’s death! 

 

Father: The Fifth Station: Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus carry His cross. We adore You, Oh Christ, and we praise You. 

 

Crowd: Because by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world. 

 

Father: Simon was forced to help our exhausted Savior carry His cross. How pleased would Jesus have been, had Simon offered his services of his own accord. However, Simon was not invited by Christ as we are. He says, “Take up your cross and follow Me.” Nevertheless we recoil, and carry it grudgingly. 

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SIXTH STATION 

Veronica Wipes the Face of Jesus 

 

Father: The Sixth Station: Veronica wipes the face of Jesus. We adore You, Oh Christ, and we praise You. 

 

Crowd: Because by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world. 

 

Father: Moved by compassion, Veronica presents her veil to Jesus, to wipe His disfigured face. He imprints on it His holy countenance, and returns it to her as a recompense. Shall Christ reward you in like manner? Then we, too, must do Him a service. We do a service to Christ every time we perform a work of mercy towards our neighbors; for he says, “What you have done to the least of My brethren, you have done to me.” 

 

Centurion: That’s enough! 

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SEVENTH STATION 

Jesus Falls the Second Time 

 

Father: The Seventh Station: Jesus falls the third time. We adore You, Oh Christ, and we praise You. 

 

Crowd: Because by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world. 

 

Father: Overwhelmed by the weight of the cross, Jesus falls again to the ground. But the cruel executioners do not permit Him to rest a moment. With thrusts and blows they urge Him onward. Remember, compassionate souls, that our sins caused Jesus this painful fall. 

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EIGHTH STATION 

Jesus Meets the Women of Jerusalem 

 

Father: The Eighth Station: Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem. We adore You, Oh Christ, and we praise You. 

 

Crowd: Because by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world. 

 

Father: Moved by compassion, these devoted women weep over our suffering Savior. We also must weep over our sins, for there is nothing more pleasing to our Lord and more useful to ourselves than the tears we shed out of contrition for our sins. 

 

Jesus: Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep from yourselves and for your children. 

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NINTH STATION 

Jesus Falls the Third Time 

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Father: The Ninth Station: Jesus falls the third time. We adore You, Oh Christ, and we praise You. 

 

Crowd: Because by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world. 

 

Father: Exhausted at the foot of Calvary, Jesus falls for the third time to the ground. Each fall reopened the wounds of His tender body. How enormous must our sins be, to cause Jesus to fall so painfully. Had Jesus not taken our sins upon Himself, our sins would have plunged us into the abyss of Hell. 

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TENTH STATION 

Jesus is Stripped of His Clothing 

 

Father: The Tenth Station: Jesus is stripped of His clothing. We adore You, Oh Christ, and we praise You. 

 

Crowd: Because by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world. 

 

Father: Arriving at Calvary, Jesus was deprived of His garments. How painful the stripping must have been, as the garments adhered to His mangled body, so that in removing them, parts of the flesh were torn away. Jesus is deprived of His garments that He may die possessed of nothing. From what do we need detachment in our own lives? 

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ELEVENTH STATION 

Jesus is Nailed to the Cross 

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Father: The Eleventh Station: Jesus is nailed to the cross. We adore You, Oh Christ, and we praise You. 

 

Crowd: Because by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world. 

 

Father: Stripped of his garments, Jesus is violently thrown down on the cross. His hands and feet are nailed to it in the cruelest way. Jesus remains silent, because it so pleases His heavenly Father. He suffers patiently, because He suffers for us. How do we act in sufferings and trials? How fretful and impatient, how full of complaints are we! 

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TWELFTH STATION 

Jesus Dies on the Cross 

 

Jesus: Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. 

 

Bad Thief: Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself, and us! 

 

Good Thief: Have you no fear of God? We have been condemned justly, but this man has done nothing wrong. Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom. 

 

Jesus: Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise. 

 

Jesus: Woman, behold your son. Son, behold your mother. 

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Father: The Twelfth Station: Jesus dies on the cross. We adore You, Oh Christ, and we praise You. 

 

Crowd: Because by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world. 

 

Jesus: Father, into your hands, I commend my spirit. 

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THIRTEENTH STATION 

Jesus is Placed in the Arms of His Mother 

 

Father: The Thirteenth Station: Jesus is placed in the arms of His Mother. We adore You, Oh Christ, and we praise You. 

 

Crowd: Because by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world. 

 

Father: Jesus did not descend from the cross, but remained on it till His death. When taken down, He rested on the bosom of His beloved Mother as He had so often done in life. Let us persevere in our good resolutions, and do not flee from the cross. For he who perseveres until the end shall be saved. Consider, moreover, how pure the heart should be that receives the body and blood of Jesus Christ in the adorable Sacrament of the Altar.

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FOURTEENTH STATION 

Jesus is Laid in the Tomb 

 

Father: The Fourteenth Station: Jesus is laid in the tomb. We adore You, Oh Christ, and we praise You. 

 

Crowd: Because by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world. 

 

Father: Almighty and Eternal God, on the edge of sadness, when all seemed lost, You restored to us the Savior we thought defeated and conquered. Help us, we beg You, so to empty ourselves of self concern that we might see Your hand in every failure, and Your victory in every defeat. These things we ask in the name of Your son, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God forever and ever. 

 

Crowd: Amen. 

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Please remain silent as we proceed back to Wisdom for The Passion of the Lord & Veneration of the Cross.

Our custom is that members of the crowd help carry Jesus back to Wisdom in the stretcher.

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