(Traditional Stations, along with "Were You There")

See Also: http://www.catholic.org/clife/prayers/station.php

This version is sometimes done with school our children, Along with the opening comments of each station, appropriate scripture passages or contemplative message are read. Everyone joins in to sing "Were You There" to help the children to connect with the Passion of Our Lord

Before each station:
Minister:
We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you.
All:
Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

After each station:
V - Jesus Christ Crucified.
+ - Have mercy on Us.
V - May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, Rest in peace.
+ - Amen.

Opening Prayer:

Minister:
God of power and mercy, in love your sent your Son
that we might be cleansed of sin and live with you forever.
Bless us as we gather to reflect on his suffering and death
that we may learn from his example the way we should go.
We ask this through that same Christ, our Lord.

All:
Amen.

Approriate verses for "Were You There" are provided.
Station I

Jesus is condemned to Death

My Jesus, often have I signed your death warrant by my sins; save me by your death from that eternal death which I have so often deserved.

A reflection is given.

The following prayers or other form of contrition may be recited/sung.
Our Father.... Hail Mary....
Glory Be to the Father....

Were you there when they condemned my Lord to death?
Were you there when they condemned my Lord to death?
O___ Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they condemned my Lord to death?

Station II

Jesus bears His Cross

My Jesus, Who by Your own will did take on the most heavy cross I made for You by my sins, oh, make me feel their heavy weight, and weep for them ever while I live.

A reflection is given.

The following prayers or other form of contrition may be recited/sung.
Our Father.... Hail Mary....
Glory Be to the Father....

Were you there when He meekly bore His Cross?
Were you there when He meekly bore His Cross?
O___ Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when He meekly bore His Cross?
Station III

Jesus falls the First time Beneath the Cross

My Jesus, the heavy burden of my sins is on You, and bears You down beneath the cross. I loathe them, I detest them; I call on You to pardon them; my Your grace aid me never more to commit them.

A reflection is given.

The following prayers or other form of contrition may be recited/sung.
Our Father.... Hail Mary....
Glory Be to the Father....

Were you there when He fell beneath the weight?
Were you there when He fell beneath the weight?
O___ Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when He fell beneath the weight?
Station IV

Jesus Meets His Holy Mother

Jesus most suffering, Mary Mother most sorrowful, if, by my sins, I caused you pain and anguish in the past, by God's assisting grace it shall be so no more; rather be you my love henceforth till death.A reflection is given.

The following prayers or other form of contrition may be recited/sung.
Our Father.... Hail Mary.... Glory Be to the Father....

Were you there when His Mother wept for Him?
Were you there when His Mother wept for Him?
O___ Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when His Mother wept for Him?
Station V


Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus to Carry the Cross

My Jesus, blessed, three times blesssed was he who aided You to bear the cross. Blessed too shall I be if I aid You to bear the cross, by patiently bowing my neck to the crosses You shall send me during life. My Jesus, give me grace to do so.

A reflection is given.

The following prayers or other form of contrition may be recited/sung.
Our Father.... Hail Mary.... Glory Be to the Father....

Were you there when a stranger shared His Cross?
Were you there when a stranger shared His Cross?
O___ Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when a stranger shared His Cross?
Station VI

Jesus and Veronica

My tender Jesus, Who deigned to print Your sacred face upon the cloth with which Veronica wiped the sweat from off Your brow, print in my soul deep, I pray to You, the lasting memory of Your bitter pains.

A reflection is given.

The following prayers or other form of contrition may be recited/sung.
Our Father.... Hail Mary....Glory Be to the Father....

Were you there when she wiped His Holy Face?
Were you there when she wiped His Holy Face?
O___ Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when she wiped His Holy Face?
Station VII

Jesus Fall a Second Time

My Jesus, often have I sinned and often, by sin, beaten You to the ground beneath the cross. Help me to use the efficacious means of grace that I may never fall again.

A reflection is given.

The following prayers or other form of contrition may be recited/sung.
Our Father.... Hail Mary....
Glory Be to the Father....

Were you there when He fell a second time?
Were you there when He fell a second time?
O___ Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when He fell a second time?
Station VIII

Jesus comforts the women of Jerusalem

My Jesus, Who comforted the pious women of Jerusalem who wept to see You bruised and torn, comfort my soul with Your tender pity, for in Your pity lies my trust. May my heart ever answer You.

A reflection is given.

The following prayers or other form of contrition may be recited/sung.
Our Father.... Hail Mary....Glory Be to the Father....

Were you there when He told them not to weep?
Were you there when He told them not to weep?
O___ Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when He told them not to weep?
Station IX

Jesus falls a third time

My Jesus, by all the bitter woes You endured when for the third time the heavy cross bowed You to the earth, never, I beseech You, let me fall again into sin. Ah, my Jesus, rather let me die than ever offend You again.

A reflection is given.

The following prayers or other form of contrition may be recited/sung.
Our Father.... Hail Mary....Glory Be to the Father....

Were you there when He tumbled to the ground?
Were you there when He tumbled to the ground?
O___ Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when He tumbled to the ground?
Station X

Jesus is stripped of His garments and given gall to drink

My Jesus, stripped of Your garments and drenched with gall, strip me of love for things of earth, and make me loathe all that savors of the world and sin.

A reflection is given.

The following prayers or other form of contrition may be recited/sung.
Our Father.... Hail Mary....
Glory Be to the Father....

Were you there when they stripped Him of his clothes?
Were you there when they stripped Him of his clothes?
O___ Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they stripped Him of his clothes?
Station XI

Jesus is nailed to the Cross

My Jesus, by Your agony when the cruel nails pierced Your tender hands and feet and fixed them to the cross, make me crucify my flesh by Christian penance.

A reflection is given.

The following prayers or other form of contrition may be recited/sung.
Our Father.... Hail Mary....
Glory Be to the Father....

Were you there when they nailed Him to His Cross?
Were you there when they nailed Him to His Cross?
O___ Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they nailed Him to His Cross?
Station XII

Jesus Dies

My Jesus, three hours You hanged in agony, and then died for me; let me die before I sin, and if I live, live for Your love and faithful service.

A reflection is given.

The following prayers or other form of contrition may be recited/sung.
Our Father.... Hail Mary....
Glory Be to the Father....

Were you there when He died that we might live?
Were you there when He died that we might live?
O___ Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when He died that we might live?
Station XIII

Jesus is taken from the cross and laid in Mary's arms

O Mary, Mother most sorrowful, the sword of grief pierced your soul when you saw Jesus lying lifeless on thy bosom; obtain for me hatred of sin because sin slew your Son and wounded your own heart, and grace to live a Christian life and save my soul.

A reflection is given.

The following prayers or other form of contrition may be recited/sung.
Our Father.... Hail Mary....
Glory Be to the Father....

Were you there when the Virgin held His Head?
Were you there when the Virgin held His Head?
O___ Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when the Virgin held His Head?
Station XIV

Jesus is laid in the tomb

My Jesus, beside Your body in the tomb I, too, would lie dead; but if I live, let it be for You, so as one day to enjoy with Youin heaven the fruits of Your passion and Your bitter death.

A reflection is given.

The following prayers or other form of contrition may be recited/sung.
Our Father.... Hail Mary....
Glory Be to the Father....

Were you there when they laid Him in the tomb?
Were you there when they laid Him in the tomb?
O___ Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they laid Him in the tomb?

The images of the stations depicted on this page are of reliefs found in St. Florian Church. The reliefs date from around 1927, when the present Church/School complex was constructed.

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