Mary's Way of the Cross
Praying the Stations with Mary
By Richard G Furey CSsR & Artwork by Gretchen Hatfield Reid
Opening Prayer
All: Lord Jesus Christ, take me along that holy way you once took to your death. Take my mind, my memory, above all my reluctant heart, and let me see what once you did for love of me and all the world.
First Station
Jesus is condemned to die
All: We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you, because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
Reader: It was early Friday morning when I saw my son. That was the first glimpse I had of him since they took him away. His bruised and bleeding skin sent a sword of pain deep into my heart and tears down my cheeks.
Then Pilate, from his chair of judgment, asked the crowd why they wanted my son executed. All around me they shouted, “Crucify him!”
I wanted to plead with them to stop, but I knew this had to be. So I stood by and cried silently.
All: Lord Jesus, it is hard for me to imagine the anguish your mother felt at your condemnation. But what about today, when I hold a grudge..? “Crucify him!” When I judge others..? “Crucify him!” Doesn’t this bring tears of anguish to both you and your mother? Forgive me, Jesus.
All: Hail Mary…
All: Sing: At the cross her station keeping, stood the mournful Mother weeping, close to Jesus to the last.
~
“Were you there when the judge condemned my Lord? x 2
Oh! Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when the judge condemned my Lord?”
Second Station
Jesus takes His Cross
All: We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you, because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
Reader: Regaining a little strength, I walked with the crowds to the entrance of the square. A door flew open and my son stumbled out, the guards laughing behind him. Two men dragged over a heavy wooden cross and dropped it on his shoulders. Then they shoved him down the road.
My pain for him was unbearable. I wanted to take the cross from him and carry it myself. But I knew this had to be, so I walked on silently.
All: Lord Jesus, I beg you to forgive me for the many times I have added more weight to your cross by closing my eyes to the pain and loneliness of my neighbour.
Forgive me for gossiping about others and for always trying to find excuses to avoid certain people who wish to talk with me. Help me to be like Mary, always seeking to lighten the crosses of others. Forgive me, Jesus.
All: Hail Mary…
All: Sing: Through her heart His sorrow sharing, all His bitter anguish bearing, now at length the sword has passed.
~
“Were you there when he carried forth the beam? x 2
Oh! Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when he carried forth the beam?”
Third Station
Jesus falls the first time
All: We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you, because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
Reader: I followed close behind my son as he stumbled toward Calvary. Nothing had ever hurt me more than to see him in such pain. I saw the cross digging into his shoulders. My heart dropped when I saw him fall to the ground, the heavy cross landing squarely on his back.
For a moment I thought my beloved son was dead. Now my whole body began to tremble. Then the guards kicked him. He rose slowly and began to walk again, yet they still whipped him. I wanted to protect him with my own body. But I knew this had to be, so I walked on and wept silently.
All: Lord, how often have I seen you fall, and, unlike Mary, have left you there without concern? How often have I seen people make mistakes and laughed at them? How often do I find myself getting angry when someone does things differently than I?
Mary offered you her support through your entire passion. Help me to do the same for you by the support I give to others. Lord, have mercy on me.
All: Hail Mary…
All: Sing: Oh how sad and sore distressed, was that Mother highly blessed, of the sole-begotten One!
~
“Were you there when he fell beneath its weight? x 2
Oh! Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when he fell beneath its weight?”
Fourth Station
Jesus meets His grieving Mother
All: We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you, because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
Reader: I had managed to break through the crowd and was walking side by side with my son. I called to him through the shouting voices.
He stopped. Our eyes met, mine full of tears of anguish, his full of pain and confusion. I felt helpless; then his eyes said to me, “Courage! There is a purpose for this.” As he stumbled on, I knew he was right.
So I followed and prayed silently.
All: Lord Jesus, forgive me the many times our eyes met and I turned mine away. Forgive me for the times things did not go my way and I let everyone know about it.
Forgive me for the times I brooded over little inconveniences or became discouraged and did not heed your call to courage! Yes, Lord, our eyes have met many times, but fruitlessly.
All: Hail Mary…
All: Sing: Christ above in torment hangs, she beneath beholds the pangs, of her dying, glorious Son.
~
“Were you there when he saw his mother weep? x 2
Oh! Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when he saw his mother weep?”
Fifth Station
Simon helps Jesus carry His Cross
All: We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you, because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
Reader: I could now see almost complete helplessness on the face of my son as he tried to carry his heavy load. Each step looked as if it would be his last.
I felt his every pain in my heart and I wanted the whole thing to end. Then I noticed some commotion near Jesus. The guards had pulled a protesting man from the crowd. They forced him to pick up the back of the cross to help lighten my son’s load. He asked the guards why this had to be.
I knew, and so followed silently.
All: Lord Jesus, I have many times refused to help you. I have been a selfish person who has often questioned your word.
Don’t let me remain like Simon, but help me to be like your mother, Mary, who always silently followed and obeyed.
All: Hail Mary…
All: Sing: Is there one who would not weep, whelmed in miseries so deep, Christ’s dear Mother to behold?
~
“Were you there when they called for Simon's help? x 2
Oh! Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they called for Simon's help?”
Sixth Station
Veronica wipes the face of Jesus
All: We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you, because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
Reader: As I continued close by Jesus, a woman pushed past the guards, took off her veil and began to wipe my son’s sweating, bloody face. The guards immediately pulled her back.
Her face seemed to say, “Why are you doing this to him?”
I knew, so I walked on in faith, silently.
All: Lord, this woman gave you the best she could. On the other hand, I have wanted to take more than I give.
So many opportunities arise every day for me to give to you by giving to others but I pass them by. My saviour, never let me ask why again, but help me to give all I have to you.
All: Hail Mary…
All: Sing: Can the human heart refrain, from partaking in her pain, in that Mother’s pain untold?
~
“Were you there when the woman wiped his face? x 2
Oh! Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when the woman wiped his face?”
Seventh Station
Jesus falls the second time
All: We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you, because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
Reader: Again my son fell, and again my grief was overwhelming at the thought that he might die. I started to move toward him, but the soldiers prevented me. He rose and stumbled ahead slowly.
Seeing my son fall, get up again, and continue on, was bitter anguish for me.
But since I knew this had to be, I walked on silently.
All: Lord Jesus, of all people Mary was your most faithful follower, never stopping in spite of all the pain she felt for you.
I have many times turned away from you by my sins and have caused others to turn away from you. I beg you to have mercy on me.
All: Hail Mary…
All: Sing: Bruised, derided, cursed, defiled, she beheld her tender child, all with bloody scourges rent.
~
“Were you there when he fell again in pain? x 2
Oh! Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when he fell again in pain?”
Eighth Station
Jesus speaks to the women
All: We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you, because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
Reader: I was walking a few steps behind Jesus when I saw him stop. Some women were there crying for him and pitying him. He told them not to shed tears for him. They had the opportunity to accept him as the messiah; like many others, they rejected him instead. He told them to shed tears for themselves, tears that would bring their conversion.
They did not see the connection between that and his walk to death.
I did, and as he walked on, I followed silently.
All: My saviour, many times have I acted like these women, always seeing the faults of others and pitying them. Yet, very rarely have I seen my own sinfulness and asked your pardon.
Lord, you have taught me through these women. Forgive me, Lord, for my blindness.
All: Hail Mary…
All: Sing: For the sins of His own nation, saw Him hang in desolation, till His spirit forth He sent.
~
“Were you there when the women mourned for him? x 2
Oh! Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when the women mourned for him?”
Ninth Station
Jesus falls the third time
All: We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you, because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
Reader: The fall of Jesus was agony to me. Not only had he fallen on the rocky ground again, but now he was almost at the top of the hill of crucifixion.
The soldiers screamed at him and abused him, almost dragging him the last few steps. My heart pounded as I imagined what they would do to him next.
But I knew this had to be, so I climbed the hill silently behind him.
All: My loving Jesus, I know that many times I have offered my hand to help people but when it became inconvenient or painful to me I left them, making excuses for myself.
Help me, Lord, to be like your mother, Mary, and never take my supporting hand away from those who need it.
All: Hail Mary…
All: Sing: O thou Mother, fount of love, touch my spirit from above, make my heart with thine accord.
~
“Were you there when he fell yet once again? x 2
Oh! Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when he fell yet once again?”
Tenth Station
Jesus is stripped of His garments
All: We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you, because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
Reader: With my son finally relieved of the weight of the cross, I thought he would have a chance to rest. But the guards immediately started to rip his clothes off his blood-clotted skin.
The sight of my son in such pain was unbearable.
Yet, since I knew this had to be, I stood by and cried silently.
All: Lord, in my own way I too have stripped you. I have taken away the good name of another by foolish talk, and have stripped people of human dignity by my prejudice.
Jesus, there are so many ways I have offended you through the hurt I have caused others. Help me to see you in all people.
All: Hail Mary…
All: Sing: Make me feel as thou has felt, make my soul to glow and melt, with the love of Christ, my Lord.
~
“Were you there when they stripped him of his clothes? x 2
Oh! Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they stripped him of his clothes?”
Eleventh Station
Jesus is nailed to the Cross
All: We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you, because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
Reader: As they threw Jesus on the cross, he willingly allowed himself to be nailed. As they punctured his hands and his feet I felt the pain in my heart. Then they lifted up the cross.
There he was, my son, whom I love so much, being scorned as he struggled for the last few moments of earthly life.
But I knew this had to be, so I stood by and prayed silently.
All: Lord, what pain you endured for me. And what pain your mother went through, seeing her only son die for love of me!
Yet, both you and she are ready to forgive me of my sin. Help me, Lord, to turn away from my sinfulness.
All: Hail Mary…
All: Sing: Holy Mother, pierce me through! In my heart each wound renew, of my Saviour crucified.
~
“Were you there when they nailed him to the tree? x 2
Oh! Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they nailed him to the tree?”
Twelfth Station
Jesus dies on the Cross
All: We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you, because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
Reader: What greater pain is there for a mother than to see her son die right before her eyes! I, who had brought this saviour into the world and watched him grow, stood helplessly beneath his cross as he lowered his head and died.
His earthly anguish was finished, but mine was greater than ever.
Yet, this had to be and I had to accept it, so I stood by and I mourned silently.
All: My Jesus, have mercy on me for what my sins have done to you and to others. I thank you for your great act of love.
You have said that true love is laying down our life for your friends. Let me always be your friend. Teach me to live my life for others, and not fail you again.
All: Hail Mary…
All: Sing: Let me share with thee His pain, who for all our sins was slain, who for me in torments died.
~
“Were you there when he yielded up his soul? x 2
Oh! Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when he yielded up his soul?”
Thirteenth Station
Jesus is taken from the Cross
All: We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you, because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
Reader: The crowd had gone; the noise had stopped. I stood quietly with one of Jesus’ friends and looked up at the dead body of our saviour, my son. Then two men took the body from the cross and placed it in my arms.
A deep sorrow engulfed my being. Yet, I also felt deep joy. Life had ended cruelly for my son, but it had also brought life to all of us.
I knew this had to be, and I prayed silently.
All: Lord, your passion has ended. Yet, it still goes on whenever I choose sin over you. I have done my part in your crucifixion and now, my saviour, I beg your forgiveness with all my heart.
Help me to live a life worthy of you and your mother.
All: Hail Mary…
All: Sing: Let me mingle tears with thee, mourning Him who mourned for me, all the days that I may live.
~
“Were you there when they took his body down? x 2
Oh! Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they took his body down?”
Fourteenth Station
Jesus is placed in the tomb
All: We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you, because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
Reader: We brought Jesus' body to a tomb and I arranged it there myself, silently weeping, silently rejoicing.
I took one more look at my loving son, and then walked out. They closed the tomb and before I left, I thought, I knew this had to be ... it had to be for you!
I would wait in faith silently.
All: Yes, my Lord, this had to be because you love me, and for no other reason. All you ask is that I live a good life. You never said such a life would be easy.
I am willing to leave sin behind and live for you alone, in my brothers and sisters.
All: Hail Mary…
All: Sing: By the cross with thee to stay, there with thee to weep and pray, is all I ask of thee to give.
~
“Were you there when they laid him in the tomb? x 2
Oh! Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?”
Closing Prayer
All: My Lord Jesus Christ: I have accepted my own Crown of Thorns, and in my Resurrection I will share Your Crown of Glory. There is no better way to live than this!
Help me to believe this with unwavering trust in You.
Guide me as I prepare for my own Resurrection each day that I offer.
Let me connect all my pain, all my sorrow, all my difficulties to Your Passion. And show me how to love others with Your passionate love!
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen!
The Old Rugged Cross
On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross
The emblem of suffering and shame
And I love that old cross where the dearest and best
For a world of lost sinners was slain
So I'll cherish the old rugged cross
Till my trophies at last I lay down
I will cling to the old rugged cross
And exchange it some day for a crown
To the old rugged cross I will ever be true
It's shame and reproach gladly bear
Then he'll call me some day to my home far away
Where his glory forever I'll share
And I'll cherish the old rugged cross
Till my trophies at last I lay down
I will cling to the old rugged cross
Exchange it some day for a crown
I will cling to the old rugged cross
And exchange it some day for a crown