In Luke’s gospel, Christ says, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” – Luke 9:23

Tradition tells us that Mother Mary frequently visited the sites of her Son’s passion. Christians from all ages followed her way, and in the 17th century developed the Way of the Cross devotion to closely follow the path of Christ’s great sacrifice. The scenes of the passion can be found in nearly all Catholic parishes, but this chaplet allows you to take them along wherever you go. These meditations will surely remind you of His great love.

This chaplet is a substitution for making the way of the cross, which is usually done in a church or open-air grotto with pictorial representations of Christ’s journey to the cross. The medals representing the fourteen stations are a vital part of the chaplet.

This portable way of the cross allows the supplicant to make a pilgrimage, of sorts, at any time or place.

Prayers:

There are many variations to the prayers for the stations of the cross, especially for introductory and concluding prayers. Beginning with the Crucifix, bless yourself, making the sign of the cross. IUf you have holy water you may use it. Recite the Apostles; or Nicene creed at the beginning, along with a few Hail Mary, Our Father and Glory Be prayers corresponding to the introductory beads on the tail. Then begin meditation upon the actual stations in the following way:

Start at the bead or medal representing the first station. This will either be the centre or be near the centre. State the first meditation:

Jesus is condemned to death

And then pray the following prayer:

We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You, because by Your Holy Cross You have redeemed the World.

Proceed to the first set of three prayer beads in the loop above the centre. Pray one Our Father, one Hail Mary and One Glory Be – one prayer on each bead – while continuing to meditate upon the station in question.

Repeat the pattern alon the beads. State the station, pray “We adore you…” and pray three prayers for each of the meditations:

1. Jesus is condemned to death
2. Jesus is made to bear His cross
3. Jesus falls the first time
4. Jesus is met by His Blessed Mother
5. The cross is laid on Simon of Cyrene
6. Veronica wipes the face of Jesus
7. Jesus falls the second time
8. Jesus speaks to the women of Jerusalem
9. Jesus falls the third time
10. Jesus is stripped and receives gall to drink
11. Jesus is nailed to the cross
12. Jesus dies on te cross
13. Jesus is taken down from the cross
14. Jesus is laid in the tomb

When praying the Stations of the Cross outside of the Lenten season, some add a 15th station, that of Christ’s resurrection.