Stations of the Cross For Vocations

Opening Prayer

O Jesus, we are about to walk with You

through the stages of Your Agony and Death. 

We want to spend a brief time

renewing the offering that gave us life,

and that brings us to salvation. 

Help us to understand a little better,

to love a little more,

and to give of ourselves more generously,

as we meditate upon Your Cross.  Amen

1.  Pilate Condemns Jesus to Die

O Jesus, You are standing all alone.  No friends are with You, no one to speak to You, no one to defend You.  You spent your life helping others.  You are calling others to come and follow You.  As we look upon You who willingly give of Yourself, we ask that those who follow You may answer Your call wholeheartedly.  Give them the courage You had, when others made fun of You, and to say with You “Your Will be done.”  Dear Lord of the Harvest, send laborers into Your harvest.

2.  Jesus Accepts His Cross

O Jesus, as the Cross is placed on Your shoulders, You realize that is not going to be an easy journey.  You have told us that unless we take our cross and follow You – even daily – we are not worthy to be Your disciples.  Maybe that is why so few are willing to work in the service of the church as priests, sisters and brothers, and leaving father and mother and all to follow You.  Through Your Cross, give us the special strength to accept the cross of our vocation and follow You.

3.  Jesus Falls the First Time

The awful weight of the cross caused You to fall many times on Your journey to Calvary, dear Lord.  Through Your falls, teach us to lift ourselves up again and again, when we fail to continue on our pilgrim journey.  Give Your anointed servants the grace to recognize their weaknesses and to rely upon You.  May they come to You in their trials.  You have chosen us, weak as we are, to do Your will.  Help us do it to the best of our ability.

4.  Jesus Meets his Mother

Dear Lord, what a terrible sight to see Your mother Mary as You carried Your Cross.  She taught You the lesson of unconditional love, of service of God, of compassion to neighbors in need.  We are grateful to You for the gift of our parents.  Their example led us to love and serve You.  Their faith has enlightened our path in the service of others.  We ask that Your Mother take the hand of all those who serve You as priests, sisters and brothers, and guide them to giving themselves to work for God’s Reign.

5.  Simon helps Carry the Cross

Jesus, You needed help to carry Your cross and the soldiers forced someone to help You.  How will we know what Simon said and did before helping you carry the cross!  May we who carry Your cross, and help You do Your will, be blessed, and may our names inscribed in the book of life.  May our service be accompanied by love, compassion, and by a willingness to do Your Will, no matter how heavy the burden.

6.  Veronica wipes the Face of Jesus

The journey to Calvary goes on.  But from the crowd a woman steps forward – Veronica, a true image of a caring God.  On the cloth she presents to You comes the impression of Your Face.  What a great gift for such a small favor!  Dear Lord, how many more gifts do You shower on those who offer You their whole beings to love and serve You and Your people!  The sign of Your love is marked on them.  Would that there would be more men and women like Veronica, to come forth and seek to imprint Your image on their very beings.

7.  Jesus Falls the Second Time

St. James writes that the just fall seven times a day.  These are the difficulties in our pilgrimage from life to eternity.  Even Your disciples were weak human beings, who faltered.  Your apostles and helpers in Your work, Lord, need our help.  Give them the strength to rise again when they fall.  May the people they serve always give them a helping hand, a kind word, a sweet mantle of charity, and prayers to God.  We pray that Your disciples may grow strong, and journey on the path that leads to our heavenly home.

8.  Jesus Speaks to the Women

As You walked the streets of Jerusalem, women watched, and You, o Lord, saw them crying.  You stop to talk to them.  You tell them that You are innocent, and that You are suffering all this for them and their children.  They are to raise their children to follow You in the way of the cross, and be willing to walk with You on the road that leads to death.  Dear Lord, grant that Your people will be faithful – through sufferings and even death itself – and gain one day everlasting glory.

9.  Jesus Falls the Third Time

The cruel treatment of Your executioners caused You to fall one more time.  This can only teach us to be patient and humble when not everything falls into place in life the way we want, or when it all seem useless.  May those who minister on Your behalf, be kind and understanding, strong and humble, seeking to imitate You in their service.  May Your Love enkindle great love in them for those who have fallen, that they may be lifted up to new life.

10.  Jesus is Stripped of His Garments

What a horrendous sight, dear Lord, as they tore Your clothing from Your body.  But even through bitter humiliation, You teach us to rid ourselves of those things which hinder us from giving all to You.  Grant that those who serve You in the ministries of the Church be clothed in the mantle of genuine love for others.  May they inspire others by their witness, to trust in Your guidance.

11.  Jesus is Nailed to the Cross

Dear Lord, as You are nailed to the cross, Your compassion reaches high and wide like your stretched limbs.  May those who have chosen to follow You most intimately, stretch out their whole being and all their energies to do Your will for the salvation of all.  Grant them faithfulness, not counting the cost, trusting only in Your words “Those who persevere to the end will be saved.”  Dear Lord, may all those who have left parents, brothers and sisters, all things, know Your love.

12.  Jesus Dies on the Cross

Lord Jesus Crucified, lifted up on the Cross, draw all humankind to Yourself.  How can we ever understand Your love for us?  How can we ever appreciate the great gift You have given to us?  What can we give you back in exchange for Your gift to us?   May all who choose to be one with You, have the courage and strength to remain with You.  With Peter, we say “To whom shall we go, Lord, for You have the words of eternal life.”  May we always live, live in You, live in time and eternity.

13.  Jesus is Taken Down from the Cross

To see You dead on the Cross, is to know how much You love us, Lord Jesus.  You gave Your all.  You ask us to give You some of our life to serve and love You.  You ask us to help others know Your continued love.  May we often come to You for strength, that close to You we continue to share Your story and our story.  Through Your death, we possess eternal life.  May many people know your presence through our efforts, our prayers, and our vocation.

14.  Jesus is Laid in the Tomb

Our dear Savior, laid in the tomb, we believe in You.  You teach us to detach ourselves from the things of this earth and cling to those of heaven.  It doesn’t matter where You lay buried, but that You rose again to new life.  Help us see Your hand in every failure and Your victory in every defeat.  May we ever look to You and not seek  what is here upon the earth.  Your death is the source of life.  Your resurrection is the victory over sin and death.  Let it be.  Amen.

Closing Prayer

Loving God,

You speak to us and nourish us

through the life of church communities.

In the name of Jesus,

we ask You to send your Spirit upon us

so that we may respond joyfully to Your call

to service and leadership in the Church

as missionaries and witnesses

of Your Word and Reign.

May those who are opening

their hearts and minds to Your call

be encouraged and strengthened

through our enthusiasm and faithfulness

to serving You and all Your people.  Amen.