JESUS IS CONDEMNED TO DEATH

V. We adore thee, O Christ, and we bless thee: (kneel)
R. Because by thy holy Cross thou hast redeemed the world.

As soon as it was morning, the chief priests, with the elders and scribes, and the whole council, held a consultation; and they bound Jesus and led him away and delivered him to Pilate. And they all condemned him and said, “He deserves to die.” When Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judgment seat at a place called the Pavement, but in the Hebrew, Gabbatha. Then he handed Jesus over to them to be crucified.

V. God spared not his own Son:
R. But delivered him up for us all.

Let us pray.

Almighty God, whose most dear Son went not up to joy but first he suffered pain, and entered not into glory before he was crucified: Mercifully grant that we, walking in the way of the cross, may find it none other than the way of life and peace; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

O how sad and sore distressèd
Then was she, that Mother blessèd
Of the sole-begotten One.

JESUS TAKES UP HIS CROSS

V. We adore thee, O Christ, and we bless thee: (kneel)
R. Because by thy holy Cross thou hast redeemed the world.

Jesus went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called the place of a skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha. Although he was a Son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. Like a lamb he was led to the slaughter; and like a sheep that before its shearers is mute, so he opened not his mouth. Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing.

V. The Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all:
R. For the transgression of his people was he stricken.

Let us pray.

Almighty God, whose beloved Son willingly endured the agony and shame of the cross for our redemption: Give us courage, we beseech thee, to take up our cross and follow him; who liveth and reigneth for ever and ever. Amen.

Deep the woe of her affliction
When she saw the Crucifixion
Of her ever-glorious Son.

JESUS FALLS THE FIRST TIME

V. We adore thee, O Christ, and we bless thee: (kneel)
R. Because by thy holy Cross thou hast redeemed the world.

Christ Jesus, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped; but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, and was born in human likeness. And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him, and bestowed on him the name which is above every name. Come, let us bow down, and bend the knee, and kneel before the Lord our Maker, for he is the Lord our God.

V. Surely he hath borne our griefs:
R. And carried our sorrows.

Let us pray.

O God, who knowest us to be set in the midst of so many and great dangers, that by reason of the frailty of our nature we cannot always stand upright: Grant us such strength and protection as may support us in all dangers, and carry us through all temptations; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Who, on Christ's dear Mother gazing,
Pierced by anguish so amazing,
Born of woman, would not weep?

JESUS MEETS HIS AFFLICTED MOTHER

V. We adore thee, O Christ, and we bless thee: (kneel)
R. Because by thy holy Cross thou hast redeemed the world.

To what can I liken you, to what can I compare you, O daughter of Jerusalem? What likeness can I use to comfort you, O virgin daughter of Zion? For vast as the sea is your ruin. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. The Lord will be your everlasting light, and your days of mourning shall be ended.

V. A sword will pierce thine own soul also:
R. That the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.

Let us pray.

O God, who willed that in the passion of thy Son a sword of grief should pierce the soul of the Blessed Virgin Mary his mother: Mercifully grant that thy Church, having shared with her in his passion, may be made worthy to share in the joys of his resurrection; who liveth and reigneth for ever and ever. Amen.

Who, on Christ's dear Mother thinking,
Such a cup of sorrow drinking,
Would not share her sorrows deep?

THE CROSS IS LAID ON SIMON OF CYRENE

V. We adore thee, O Christ, and we bless thee: (kneel)
R. Because by thy holy Cross thou hast redeemed the world.

As they led Jesus away, they came upon a man of Cyrene, Simon by name, who was coming in from the country, and laid on him the cross to carry it behind Jesus. “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

V. Whosoever doth not bear his cross and come after me:
R. Cannot be my disciple.

Let us pray.

Heavenly Father, whose blessed Son came not to be served but to serve: Bless all who, following in his steps, give themselves to the service of others; that with wisdom, patience, and courage, they may minister in his Name to the suffering, the friendless, and the needy; for the love of him who laid down his life for us, thy Son our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

For his people's sins chastisèd,
She beheld her Son despisèd,
Scourged, and crowned with thorns entwined.

VERONICA WIPES THE FACE OF JESUS

V. We adore thee, O Christ, and we bless thee: (kneel)
R. Because by thy holy Cross thou hast redeemed the world.

We have seen him without form or comeliness, with no beauty that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces, he was despised, and we esteemed him not. His appearance was so marred, beyond human semblance, and his form beyond that of the sons of men. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that made us whole, and with his stripes we are healed.

V. Turn us again, O Lord God of hosts:
R. Show us the light of thy countenance, and we shall be whole.

Let us pray.

O God, who before the passion of thy only-begotten Son didst reveal his glory upon the holy mount: Grant unto us that we, beholding by faith the light of his countenance, may be strengthened to bear our cross, and be changed into his likeness from glory to glory; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Let my heart be always burning,
Still for love of Jesus yearning,
Let his will be found in mine.

JESUS FALLS A SECOND TIME

V. We adore thee, O Christ, and we bless thee: (kneel)
R. Because by thy holy Cross thou hast redeemed the world.

Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth. For the transgression of my people was he stricken.

V. But as for me, I am a worm and no man:
R. A very scorn of men, and the outcast of my people.

Let us pray.

Almighty and everlasting God, who, of thy tender love towards mankind, hast sent thy Son our Savior Jesus Christ to take upon him our flesh, and to suffer death upon the cross, that all mankind should follow the example of his great humility: Mercifully grant that we may both follow the example of his patience, and also be made partakers of his resurrection; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Saw him then from judgment taken,
And in death by all forsaken
Till his spirit he resigned.
Mother, fount of all devotion,
Stir in me thy grief's emotion,
Let my tears be joined with thine.

JESUS MEETS THE WOMEN OF JERUSALEM

V. We adore thee, O Christ, and we bless thee: (kneel)
R. Because by thy holy Cross thou hast redeemed the world.

There followed after Jesus a great multitude of the people, and among them were women who bewailed and lamented him. But Jesus turning to them said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.”

V. They that sow in tears:
R. Shall reap in joy.

Let us pray.

Almighty and everlasting God, who hatest nothing that thou hast made and dost forgive the sins of all those who are penitent: Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of thee, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

True repentance, Mother, win me;
Print my Savior’s wounds within me,
Brand them on my stubborn heart.

JESUS FALLS A THIRD TIME

V. We adore thee, O Christ, and we bless thee: (kneel)
R. Because by thy holy Cross thou hast redeemed the world.

I am the man who has seen affliction under the rod of his wrath; he has driven and brought me into darkness without any light. He has besieged me and enveloped me with bitterness and tribulation; he has made me dwell in darkness like the dead of long ago. Though I call and cry for help, he shuts out my prayer. He has made my teeth grind on gravel, and made me cower in ashes. “Remember, O Lord, my affliction and bitterness, the wormwood and the gall!”

V. He was led as a sheep to the slaughter:
R. And like a lamb dumb before its shearers, so opened he not his mouth.

Let us pray.

O God, who by the passion of thy blessed Son didst make an instrument of shameful death to be unto us the means of life: Grant us so to glory in the cross of Christ, that we may gladly suffer shame and loss for the sake of thy Son our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

As he bought, through tribulation,
In his Passion, my salvation,
Let me bear therein my part.

JESUS IS STRIPPED OF HIS GARMENTS

V. We adore thee, O Christ, and we bless thee: (kneel)
R. Because by thy holy Cross thou hast redeemed the world.

When they came to a place called Golgotha (which means the place of a skull), they offered him wine to drink, mingled with gall; but when he tasted it, he would not drink it. And they divided his garments among them by casting lots. This was to fulfill the scripture which says, “They divided my garments among them; they cast lots for my clothing.”

V. They gave me gall to eat:
R. And when I was thirsty they gave me vinegar to drink.

Let us pray.

O Lord God, whose blessed Son our Savior gave his back to the smiters and hid not his face from shame: Grant us grace to take joyfully the sufferings of the present time, in full assurance of the glory that shall be revealed; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Let me mourn with thee beside him
For the sins which crucified him,
While my life remains in me;

JESUS IS NAILED TO THE CROSS

V. We adore thee, O Christ, and we bless thee: (kneel)
R. Because by thy holy Cross thou hast redeemed the world.

When they came to the place which is called The Skull, there they crucified him; and with him they crucified two criminals, one on the right, the other on the left, and Jesus between them. And the scripture was fulfilled which says, “He was numbered with the transgressors.”

V. They pierced my hands and my feet:
R. They stand staring and looking upon me.

Let us pray.

Lord Jesus Christ, who didst stretch out thine arms of love on the hard wood of the cross that everyone might come within the reach of thy saving embrace: So clothe us in thy Spirit that we, reaching forth our hands in love, may bring those who do not know thee to the knowledge and love of thee; for the honor of thy Name. Amen.

Take beneath the Cross my station,
And in all thy desolation
So unite myself with thee.

JESUS DIES ON THE CROSS

V. We adore thee, O Christ, and we bless thee: (kneel)
R. Because by thy holy Cross thou hast redeemed the world.

When Jesus saw his mother, and the disciple whom he loved standing near, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold your son!” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold your mother!” And when Jesus had received the vinegar, he said, “It is finished!” And then, crying with a loud voice, he said, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” And he bowed his head, and handed over his spirit.

[All kneel in silence.]

The Lord’s Prayer
Hail Mary

V. Christ for our sake became obedient unto death:
R. Even the death of the cross.

Let us pray.

O God, who for our redemption didst give thine only-begotten Son to the death of the cross, and by his glorious resurrection hast delivered us from the power of our enemy: Grant us so to die daily to sin, that we may evermore live with him in the joy of his resurrection; through the same thy Son Christ our Lord. Amen.

Virgin, blessed beyond all other,
Turn not from me gentle Mother;
Let me too bewail thy Son.

THE BODY OF JESUS IS PLACED IN THE ARMS OF HIS MOTHER

V. We adore thee, O Christ, and we bless thee: (kneel)
R. Because by thy holy Cross thou hast redeemed the world.

All you who pass by, behold and see if there is any sorrow like my sorrow. My eyes are spent with weeping; my soul is in tumult; my heart is poured out in grief because of the downfall of my people. “Do not call me Naomi (which means Pleasant), call me Mara (which means Bitter); for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me.”

V. Her tears are on her cheeks:
R. She hath none to comfort her.

Let us pray.

O Lord Jesus Christ, who by thy death didst take away the sting of death: Grant unto us thy servants so to follow in faith where thou hast led the way, that we may at length fall asleep peacefully in thee, and awake up after thy likeness; for thy tender mercies’ sake. Amen.

Let my soul, his death declaring,
His unsparing Passion sharing,
Count his bruises one by one.

JESUS IS LAID IN THE TOMB

V. We adore thee, O Christ, and we bless thee: (kneel)
R. Because by thy holy Cross thou hast redeemed the world.

When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who also was a disciple of Jesus. He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. And Joseph took the body, and wrapped it in a clean linen shroud, and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn in the rock; and he rolled a great stone to the door of the tomb.

V. Thou shalt not leave my soul in hell:
R. Neither shalt thou suffer thy Holy One to see corruption.

Let us pray.

Grant, O Lord, that as we are baptized into the death of thy blessed Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ, so by continual mortifying our corrupt affections we may be buried with him; and that through the grave, and gate of death, we may pass to our joyful resurrection; for his merits, who died, and was buried, and rose again for us, the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Jesus, may thy Cross defend me,
And thy saving death befriend me,
Cherished by thy deathless grace;
When to dust my dust returneth,
Grant a soul that to thee yearneth
In thy Paradise a place.