Stations of the Cross

The practice of pilgrims to the Holy Land following the Way of Sorrows from the house of Pilate to the Holy Sepulchre was the origin of this devotion, which became widespread in the later Middle Ages, although it was not completely formalized until the eighteenth century. This is a popular and appropriate devotion during Lent and Holy Week. Eight of the stations are based directly upon events recorded in the Gospels. The remaining six (stations III, IV, VI, VII, IX, and XIII) are based upon inferences from the Gospels or upon pious legend, and may be omitted if desired.

I. Jesus is Condemned to Death
And straightaway in the morning the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council, and bound Jesus, and carried him away, and delivered him to Pilate. And they all condemned him to be guilty of death. When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus forth, and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called the Pavement, but in the Hebrew, Gabbatha. Then delivered he him unto them to be crucified. And they took Jesus and led him away.

II. Jesus Takes up His Cross
And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha. Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered. He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth. Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing.

III. Jesus Falls the First Time
Christ Jesus, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name. O come, let us worship and fall down, and kneel before the Lord our Maker, for he is the Lord our God.

IV. Jesus Meets His Mother
What shall I testify unto thee? What shall I liken to thee, O daughter of Jerusalem? What shall I compare to thee, that I may comfort thee, O virgin daughter of Zion? For thy ruin is deep as the sea: who can heal thee? Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. The Lord shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended.

V. The Cross is Laid upon Simon of Cyrene
And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name, coming out of the country, and on him they laid the cross, that he might bear it after Jesus. If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me; for my yoke is easy, and my burden light.

VI. A Woman Wipes the Face of Jesus
He hath no form or comeliness; and when we see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief:  and we hid as it were our faces from him: he was despised, and we esteemed him not. His visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men. He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

VII. Jesus Falls the Second Time
Surely he hath borne our griefs and carried our sorrows. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way; and the Lord hath 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 his people was he stricken.

VIII. Jesus Meets the Women of Jerusalem
And there followed him a great company of people, and of women which also bewailed and lamented him. But Jesus turning unto them said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children."

IX. Jesus Falls the Third Time
O my people, what have I done unto thee, or wherein have I wearied thee? Testify against me. Because I brought thee forth from the land of Egypt, thou hast prepared a Cross for thy Savior. Because I led thee through the desert forty years, and fed thee with manna, and brought thee into a land exceeding

X. Jesus is Stripped of His Garments
And when they were come unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say, place of a skull, they gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink. And they parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, "They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots."

XI. Jesus is Nailed to the Cross
And when they were come to the place which is called Calvary, there they crucified him. And with him they crucified two thieves; the one on his right hand, and the other on his left. And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, "And he was numbered with the transgressors." O my people, what have I done unto thee? I did raise thee on high with great power: and thou hast hanged me upon the gibbet of the Cross.

XII. Jesus Dies on the Cross
When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, "Woman, behold thy son!" Then saith he to the disciple, "Behold thy mother!" When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, "It is finished." And when he had cried with a loud voice, he said, "Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit." And he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

XIII. The Body of Jesus is Placed in the Arms of His Mother
All ye that pass by, behold, and see if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow. Mine eyes do fail with tears, my soul is troubled; my heart is poured out in grief because of the downfall of my people. Call me not Naomi (which is Pleasant), call me Mara (which is Bitter); for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me.

XIV. Jesus is Laid in the Tomb
When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus disciple; he went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered. And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed.