Stations of the Cross
St. Francis of Assisi - Quincy, Illinois

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The Sign of the Cross
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

Opening Scripture Reading
The son of Man is destined to suffer grievously, to be rejected, and to be raised up on the third day.  If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him renounce himself and take up his cross every day and follow me.  For anyone who wants to save his life will lose it; but anyone who loses his life for my sake will save it.  Luke 9:22-24                                                                                                                                   

Opening Prayer
Lord Jesus, help me to be open to your closeness and presence as I begin this journey to Calvary with you.  Help me to find in your Passion and Death the strength to take up my cross and follow you.

The First Station
Jesus is condemned to death

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

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

Lord Jesus, often I judge others and fail to be understanding or loving.  Help me to see the people in my life through your eyes, not the eyes of a Pontius Pilate.

The Second Station
Jesus carries his cross

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

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

Lord Jesus, you embraced your cross to redeem the world.  Help me to embrace the crosses in my life - the hardships, struggles, disappointments, pain.  Only by recognizing my own weakness, can I discover your strength.

The Third Station
Jesus fall the first time

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

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

Lord Jesus, you know how often I fall trying to follow you.  Yet you are always there to life me up.  Help me always to trust in your loving care for me.

The Fourth Station
Jesus meets His Mother

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

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

Lord Jesus, your mother Mary's grief was surpassed by her love for you.  So often you come to me in others and their love gives me new life.  Help me to see how often you love me through the people in my life.

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The Fifth Station
Jesus is helped by Simon

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

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

Lord Jesus, sometimes I am indifferent to the needs of others in my life.  I even neglect those whom I love.  Help me to see that loving others is the surest way to find you in my life.

The Sixth Station
Veronica wipes the face of Jesus

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

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

Lord Jesus, at times I am afraid to reach out to others.  I do nothing when I should act.  I say nothing when I should speak out.  Give me a deeper and more courageous faith.  Help me to trust that you are with me.

Seventh Station
Jesus falls the second time

We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you.

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

Lord Jesus, failure and disappointment sometimes lead me to despair.  I hide behind my pride and self-pity, withdrawing from you and others.  Give me the hope I need and help me never to be afraid to begin again.

The Eighth Station
Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem

We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you.

Because, by your holy cross, you have redeemed the world.

Lord Jesus, your great compassion for others overwhelms me.  I feel petty and selfish when I think of you and the way you love.  Help me to pour out my love, that you might fill me with your love.

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The Ninth Station
Jesus falls the third time.

We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you.

Because, by your holy cross, you have redeemed the world.

Lord Jesus, your failing strength makes me see how helpless I am.  Without you, I can do nothing.  Help me to rely on your strength, to see how much I need you.
 

The Tenth Station
Jesus is stripped of his garments

We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you.

Because, by your holy cross, you have redeemed the world.

Lord Jesus, seeing you so cruelly humiliated makes me realize how I cling to my accomplishments, my possessions, my ways.  Help me to let go of those things in my life that prevent me from growing closer to you and others.

The Eleventh Station
Jesus is nailed to the cross

We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you.

Because, by your holy cross, you have redeemed the world.

Lord Jesus, I can never doubt your great love for me when I see you crucified.  Help me to see your cross as the great sign of your love for me.

The Twelfth Station
Jesus dies on the cross

We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you.

Because, by your holy cross, you have redeemed the world.

Lord Jesus, your broken lifeless body calls me to deeper faith.  You chose death, even death on the cross.  Help me to see my crosses as ways of loving you.

                   First-Class Relic
    Thorns from Christ's Crown of Thorns

      First-Class Relic
Wood from the True Cross

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The Thirteenth Station
Jesus is taken down from the cross

We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you.

Because, by your holy cross, you have redeemed the world.

Lord Jesus, seeing your body taken from the cross reminds me how fearful I am of letting go of my own life.  I am frightened when I think of being unimportant, useless or helpless.  Help me to place my life in your hands.

The Fourteenth Station
Jesus is laid in the tomb

We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you.

Because, by your holy cross, you have redeemed the world.

Lord Jesus, when I see the great stone sealing your tomb.  I feel alone and abandoned.  Even though you sometimes seem distant or absent in my life, help me always to believe in your closeness and your loving presence.

Closing Scripture Reading
On the first day of the week, at the first sign of dawn, they went to the tomb with the spices they had prepared.  They found that the stone had been rolled away from the tomb, but on entering they discovered that the body of the Lord Jesus was not there.  As they stood there not knowing what to think, two men in brilliant clothes suddenly appeared at their side.  Terrified, the women lowered their eyes.  But the two men said to them.  "Why look among the dead for someone who is alive?  He is not here; he has risen.  Remember what he told you when he was still in Galilee; that the son of Man had to be handed over into the power of sinful men and be crucified, and rise again on the third day?" And they remembered his words.           
Luke 24:1-8

Closing Prayer
Lord Jesus, help me to walk with you each day of my life, even to Calvary.  The sorrow and joy, the pain and healings, the failures and triumphs of my life are truly small deaths and resurrections that lead me to closeness with you.  Give me the faith and trust I need to walk with you always.  Amen.

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