Stations of the Cross

Cardinal Vincent Nichols invites you to join him as he meditates on the ‘Way of the Cross’. We use the traditional text from Saint Alphonsus Liguori. As the Cardinal says: "It's written from the heart and it speaks to our hearts."

The Via Dolorosa in the Old City in Jerusalem offers the backdrop to this commemoration of the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Join us on Good Friday on our journey to the foot of the Cross.

Move to Station 1 to start the virtual Stations of the Cross.

Station 1: Jesus is Condemned to Death

Jesus is scourged and crowned with thorns having been unjustly condemned by Pontius Pilate to die on the cross.

Station 2: The Cross is Laid on Jesus

Jesus accepts His Cross and in making this journey with it on his shoulders, thought of us, and offered to his Father the death he was about to undergo.

Station 3: Jesus falls the first time

When Jesus falls for the first time, he is so weakened he could scarcely walk. Yet he has to carry the great load of the Cross upon his shoulders.

Station 4: Jesus meets his Mother

When Jesus meets his mother, their looks became like so many arrows to wound those hearts which love each other so tenderly.

Station 5: Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus to carry his Cross

Seeing Jesus was on the point of expiring, his tormentors, wishing him to die the shameful death of the Cross, constrained Simon of Cyrene to carry the Cross.

Station 6: Veronica wipes the face of Jesus

The holy woman named Veronica, seeing Jesus so ill-used, and bathed in sweat and blood, wiped his face with a towel.

Station 7: Jesus falls the Second Time

Consider the second fall of Jesus under the Cross; a fall which renews the pain of all the wounds in his head and members.

Station 8: Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem

The women wept with compassion at seeing Jesus in such a pitiable state, streaming with blood as he walked along.

Station 9: Jesus falls the third time

When he fell the third time, Jesus was weak in the extreme as his cruel executioners tried to hasten his steps when he could scarcely move.

Station 10: Jesus is stripped of his garments

Jesus was stripped by the executioners. His inner garments adhered to his torn flesh, and they dragged them off so roughly that the skin came with them.

Station 11: Jesus is nailed to the Cross

Jesus, having been placed upon the Cross, extended his hands and offered to his eternal Father the sacrifice of his life for our salvation.

Station 12: Jesus dies on the Cross

Our Lord Jesus, after three hours of agony on the cross, abandoned himself to the weight of his body, bowed his head and died.

Station 13: Jesus is taken down from the Cross

Consider how, after Our Lord had expired, two of his disciples, Joseph and Nicodemus, took him down from the Cross, and placed him in the arms of his afflicted Mother

Station 14: Jesus is laid in the Tomb

Consider how the disciples, accompanied by his holy Mother, carried the body of Jesus to bury it. They closed the tomb, and all came sorrowfully away.

Prayers for our Holy Father Pope Francis

Now we've finished our 14-step devotion, walking alongside Our Lord Jesus Christ through his Passion and death, we pray for the Holy Father Pope Francis.

Prayer to Our Lady of Sorrows

A prayer to Our Lady of Sorrows at the conclusion of the Stations of the Cross.