Fridays in Lent - Stations of the Cross (At Home)

So it is Friday in Lent and what does that mean apart from abstinence from meat?

Well for us it means participating in and praying The Stations of the Cross as much as we can.
Even though they have these at church we have never found the time slot very convenient and so have developed over the years our own at home version.

We place around the home our ' Stations' and then pray as we go around using the script below.
This is exactly what we use and in total it takes us 20 mins. Really not very long at all.

Honestly rarely do we get through the stations without some random agitation from someone or other (she's standing in front of me, or he won't let me touch the cross etc) so don't think you have to have perfect children to do this.

So here is our Stations of the Cross with the pictures we actually have on our walls to guide us - (not great pics but hey they work)

STATIONS OF THE CROSS IN OUR HOME:

Opening Prayer-

We will glory in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ:

In whom is our salvation, our life and resurrection.

Let us pray:

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. Amen.

Announce the First Station:

Jesus is Condemned to Death

All Genuflect as we say:

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you:

Because by your holy cross, you have saved the world.

Mummy says :  Jesus is brought to stand in front of Pontius Pilate, the judge. He is innocent but Pontius Pilate condemns him anyway and sentences Him to death.

Dear Jesus, it is really our bad thoughts, mean words, and angry actions that you are being punished for. We are praying the Stations of the Cross to tell You that we are sorry for all our sins. Amen.

All: Say Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory as we walk to next station

Announce the Second Station:

Jesus Takes His Cross

All Genuflect as we say:

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you:

Because by your holy cross, you have saved the world.

Mummy says :: Jesus has been beaten by the soldiers. He has been laughed at and spat upon. Now he must pick up the heavy cross and carry it while the crowd yells. He is so tired and sad, but no one cares.

Dear Jesus, we care that you are tired. We are sorry that you are sad. We would like to help You carry Your cross with our prayers. Amen.

All: Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy Immortal One, Have mercy upon us.

Announce the Third Station:

Jesus Falls the First Time

All Genuflect as we say:

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you:

Because by your holy cross, you have saved the world.

Mummy says : The cross is too heavy. It is so heavy that Jesus falls down under its weight. The blood from the crown of thorns is running into His eyes and His back aches from being whipped. People are still screaming and throwing things at Him. His heart must be as heavy as the cross He carries.

Let us pray: Dear Jesus, it is our sins that make your cross so heavy. We are sorry. We love you and we try to be good for You with our prayers and with our lives. Amen.

All: Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy Immortal One,Have mercy upon us.     

Announce the Fourth Station:

Jesus Meets His Blessed Mother

All Genuflect as we say:

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you:

Because by your holy cross, you have saved the world.

Mummy says : Suddenly, Jesus sees His Mother. She is standing at the side of the road surrounded by the crowd. Her eyes fill with tears when she sees Jesus. She wants to help Him but she can not. Both their hearts ache at the other's pain.

Let us pray: Jesus, our hearts ache with you and your blessed mother with the pain of the Stations of the Cross. We promise to pray to you often, for help in our lives. Amen.

All: Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy Immortal One, Have mercy upon us.

Announce the Fifth Station:

Simon of Cyrene Helps Jesus Carry the Cross

All Genuflect as we say:

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you:

Because by your holy cross, you have saved the world.

Mummy says : The soldiers are in a hurry. They grab Simon of Cyrene out of the crowd to carry the cross and make Jesus go faster. Jesus was grateful to Simon for his help.

Let us pray: Dear Jesus, Simon did not know he was blessed when he was carrying Your cross - he only felt how heavy it was. Praying the Stations of the Cross will help us to remember that carrying our crosses helps You too. Amen.

All: Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy Immortal One, Have mercy upon us.    

Announce the Sixth Station:

Veronica Wipes the Face of Jesus

All Genuflect as we say:

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you:

Because by your holy cross, you have saved the world.

Mummy says : Jesus' face is covered with sweat, blood and dust. It is itchy and uncomfortable. In pity, Veronica runs out to the road to wipe the dirt from Jesus' face. This small act of kindness is all she can do to help Him.

Let us pray: Jesus, we want to see and touch Your face, shining in glory in Heaven. We know that our small acts of kindness and our prayers help us grow closer to You and Your Father in Heaven. Amen.

All: Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy Immortal One, Have mercy upon us.

Announce the Seventh Station:

Jesus Falls the Second Time

All Genuflect as we say:

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you:

Because by your holy cross, you have saved the world.

Mummy says :The road is so long and the cross is so heavy. Exhausted, Jesus falls down again. The soldiers yell at Him and whip Him to make him get up. Don't they know that they are hurting Him more? Jesus knows that He is suffering for the sins of the world. He gets up and keeps walking.

Let us pray: Jesus, sometimes we get tired, discouraged and impatient with the world. When we fail and fall into sin, it hurts You more. We are sorry and we ask You to help us be as patient and brave as You. Amen.

All: Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy Immortal One, Have mercy upon us.

Announce the Eighth Station:

Jesus Speaks to the Women of Jerusalem

All Genuflect as we say:

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you:

Because by your holy cross, you have saved the world.

Mummy says :Next, Jesus meets some of the women he taught. They are crying. They are crying for Jesus, and for their own loss - what will they do without Jesus? Jesus tells them not to weep for Him, but for all the sinners of the world.

Let us pray: Jesus, you told the women of Jerusalem to weep for us children. Even in your pain, You remembered us. Thank you. We will pray for sinners too. Amen.

All: Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy Immortal One, Have mercy upon us.

Announce the Ninth Station:

Jesus Falls the Third Time

All Genuflect as we say:

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you:

Because by your holy cross, you have saved the world.

Mummy says :Jesus reaches the last hill before Calvary. He looks up to see how far he has to go. When he sees the hill where He knows he is going to die, His strength leaves Him and He falls to the ground. There is still more pain, still more sorrow to endure. But Jesus loves us, so He keeps going.

Let us pray: Jesus, You kept going even though you were tired, scared and sad. You loved us then, and You love us now. We offer our prayers to tell you that we love you, and want to comfort you in Your great sacrifice. Amen.

All: Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy Immortal One, Have mercy upon us.

Announce the Tenth Station:

Jesus is Stripped of His Garments

All Genuflect as we say:

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you:

Because by your holy cross, you have saved the world.

Mummy says :The crowd followed Jesus and the soldiers to the top of Calvary hill. Now they laugh as the guards pull off his clothes - His robe has stuck to the blood on His back. The guards push and shove Jesus. They do not care who He is, they only see that He is an object of scorn.

Let us pray: Jesus, even wounded, bleeding, roughly treated by the guards and mocked by the crowds, You were and are still our King. We ask you to remember us in Your Kingdom. Amen.

All: Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy Immortal One, Have mercy upon us.

 Announce the Eleventh Station:

Jesus is Nailed to the Cross

All Genuflect as we say:

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you:

Because by your holy cross, you have saved the world.

Mummy says :Is this the worst? The feet that carried the message of God's Love and the hands that healed are pierced with nails as Jesus is nailed to the cross. More wounds, more pain and more humiliation for Jesus.

Let us pray: Jesus, they tried to stop your hands and feet from doing Your Father's work by nailing you to a cross. You endured the pain of it for us, as you gave your whole life for us. We thank you and we love you. Amen.

All: Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy Immortal One, Have mercy upon us.

Announce the Twelfth Station:

Jesus Dies upon the Cross

All Genuflect as we say:

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you:

Because by your holy cross, you have saved the world.

Mummy says :The sword that Simeon prophesied has pierced Mary's heart. The hopes of the Apostles are crushed. The veil of the Temple, symbol of the old covenant of God's Love, is torn in two as Jesus' death opens a New Covenant with God.

Let us pray: Jesus, you spoke lovingly to everyone gathered at the foot of Your cross. You knew the new life that Your death made possible. Speak lovingly to us when we come before You and make us worthy of that new life in You. Amen.

All: Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy Immortal One, Have mercy upon us.

Announce the Thirteenth Station:

Jesus is Taken from the Cross

All Genuflect as we say:

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you:

Because by your holy cross, you have saved the world.

Mummy says :Now, all that is left is to take Jesus' body down from the cross. All the gentleness,reverence and love denied through this terrible day is possible now. Mary and the Apostles wonder, Is it too late? Is it over?

Let us pray: Jesus, with our prayers, we join in taking your body down from the cross. We touch You; take the nails out, wash your wounds, take off the crown of thorns, with love and sorrow. We grieve with Mary, and want to comfort her. Amen.

All: Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy Immortal One, Have mercy upon us.

 Announce the Fourteenth Station:

Jesus is Laid in the Tomb

All Genuflect as we say:

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you:

Because by your holy cross, you have saved the world.

Mummy says :Even in this time of sorrow, there is help. Joseph of Arimathea arranges for Jesus to be buried in a nearby tomb. His body is wrapped in clothes and sealed away. Everyone walks away, weeping. Finally, all is quiet.

Let us pray: Jesus, we sometimes think that You are gone, that it is all over, that we will never be happy or good again. Your death and resurrection shows us that You will never leave us. We should always try to follow You with our lives and our prayers. Amen.

All: Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy Immortal One, Have mercy upon us.

Closing prayers:

Lord Jesus, through our meditation on your suffering and death teach us the glad message which you brought to all people that after every Good Friday comes an Easter. That all suffering is a fount of blessing and death itself is the seed of new life for everyone who holds fast to you.

Let this conviction rise to life in me,

when hours of darkness come.

Then will I learn to know

that I can not only endure my suffering,

but also overcome it.

In you , I feel myself equal to the task.

Lord, help me realise

that from every hour of suffering bravely battled through

the soul goes forth the  stronger;

that every stretch of darkness travelled through,

a ray of Easter light shines forth.

We ask that we who live and suffer with you,

will always be granted a share of your peace.

Amen

Blessings to you and your homes,