# Good Friday Stations of the Cross
*2021-04-02*

> Bill Young leads a homebound Good Friday devotion, walking through the fourteen Stations of the Cross with prayers, Scripture, and reflections on Christ’s suffering.

## Opening Prayer

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Before meditating on the Passion of Jesus, let us humbly acknowledge that we are sinners before God and ask for the purification of our hearts.

## The First Three Stations

**Station 1 – Jesus is condemned to death**
We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you, because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world. Pilate found no fault in Jesus, yet the crowd shouted, “Crucify him!”

**Station 2 – Jesus takes up his Cross**
We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you. Jesus said, “If anyone wants to follow me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me. Whoever saves his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.”

**Station 3 – Jesus falls the first time**
We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you. The weight of the Cross caused Him to fall, but His love for all souls gave Him the strength to rise again.

## Stations of the Mother and the Helpers

**Station 4 – Jesus meets his Mother**
We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you. Mary, standing at the foot of the Cross, shares in her Son’s sorrow, offering us a model of faithful love.

**Station 5 – Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus carry the Cross**
We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you. Simon, compelled by the soldiers, bears the Cross for a moment, reminding us to assist one another in our burdens.

**Station 6 – Veronica wipes the face of Jesus**
We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you. Veronica’s act of compassion, wiping the Savior’s face, shows how small gestures of love can reflect the love of Christ.

## The Final Stations and the Crucifixion

**Station 7 – Jesus falls the second time**
We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you. Even in repeated collapse, He rises, urging us not to lose heart.

**Station 8 – Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem**
We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you. He tells them, “Weep not for me, but for yourselves and your children.”

**Station 9 – Jesus falls the third time**
We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you. Each fall deepens His compassion for our weakness.

**Station 10 – Jesus is stripped of his garments**
We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you. The soldiers cast lots for His seamless robe, fulfilling Scripture.

**Station 11 – Jesus is nailed to the Cross**
We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you. “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do,” He prays.

**Station 12 – Jesus dies on the Cross**
We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you. At the ninth hour He cries, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” He offers Himself as the perfect sacrifice, and the centurion declares, “Truly this man was the Son of God.”

## Closing Prayer

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

*May the suffering of Christ draw us closer to Him, inspiring us to bear our own crosses with love and humility.*