Stations of the Cross by Most Rev. Valerian D'Souza

These reflections and prayers were written by Most Rev. Valerian D'Souza, Bishop Emeritus of Pune, who sadly passed away on 25th February 2020. They are short reflections and prayers written using plain and simple words, which makes it perfect to read anytime and anywhere. This Way of the Cross is also great for kids to read.

You can read the Stations of the Cross daily (usually during Lent) or on Wednesdays and Fridays (also usually during Lent).

Opening Prayer: Heavenly Father, we have gathered here to accompany your Son as He suffers, stumbles and struggles on his way to Calvary. May these reflections and prayers strengthen our readiness to imitate Your Son and to take up the small and big crosses of life.

Very often, suffering and death seem so meaningless. Help us through this Way of the Cross to realize the redemptive value of suffering and death.

1st Station: Jesus is condemned to death

We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you.

R. Because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.

Reflection: It is strange. An innocent man is condemned to death; a man without sin has to suffer for the sins of others. What must Jesus have felt - revolt, anger? For Him it was the will of His Father. To suffer for others is a noble thing.

Jesus looks at us to ask, "Why do you sin? Your sins have done this to me. When will you improve yourself?"

Prayer: Jesus, I revolt when I have to suffer for the sake of others. I get angry when I am blamed unjustly. Help me to learn from you. I am there to help others, to suffer for others. This is one way of serving them. Help me to stop sinning, because my sins have condemned you to death.

Jesus, I am sorry that I have sinned.

R. But Your love is greater than my sins.

2nd Station: Jesus receives the Cross

We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you.

R. Because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.

Reflection: Jesus is treated like a criminal. As a condemned criminal, He has to carry His cross to the place of crucifixion. What a shame it is for Him! The people jeer at him. For many others the whole affair is just entertainment. It is difficult to believe that this man is God.

Prayer: Jesus, you are carrying the cross of my sins. You do not blame me; you do not scold me, you suffer silently for me.

Thank you, Jesus, I mean my 'thank you' and will not only say it but will live up to it by trying to avoid sins against you and against my neighbour.

Jesus, help me to help you to carry your cross.

Jesus, I am sorry that I have sinned.

R. But Your love is greater than my sins.

3rd Station: Jesus falls the first time

We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you.

R. Because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.

Reflection: Jesus seems such a pitiable sight. He is our Lord and King, though He seems so weak and miserable. But He does not pity himself. He struggles to rise up and go on. He is weak and exhausted, but He goes on because the Father wills it.

Prayer: Jesus, I fall down under the weight of my own sins. Often, I am tired and do not want to get up, but just lie under the weight of my sins. Give me the strength to rise up when I fall. Give me the strength to try and overcome my sins. It is not falling that matters but rising up again.

Jesus, I am sorry that I have sinned.

R. But Your love is greater than my sins.

4th Station: Jesus meets His Mother

We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you.

R. Because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.

Reflection: Here we see two persons who have never sinned and yet suffer so much. Why must innocent people suffer? What wrong did Jesus and Mary do to suffer so much? Is Mary ashamed to see her Son being treated like a criminal? What a test of love! Each one is a tower of strength to the other. True love triumphs over all difficulties.

Prayer: Mother, I pray often to you, but seldom realize how much you suffered. You suffered with your Son because of my sins. You are really my Mother. You do not rebuke me, but gently say, "Sin no more." How can I continue sinning, when I see what suffering my sins have caused you and your Son?

Jesus, I am sorry that I have sinned.

R. But Your love is greater than my sins.

5th Station: Simon helps Jesus to carry his Cross

We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you.

R. Because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.

Reflection: Simon helps Jesus to carry His cross. Simon performs a good deed, but at first he is unwilling and is forced to carry the cross. Who likes to do heavy work for another? Are we not like that? Must we be forced to help other in need? What a privilege it is for Simon to carry the cross for Jesus!

Prayer: Jesus, I envy Simon for being able to help You. Yet when you ask me to carry Your cross, I am not very happy. Let me not be forced to carry Your cross, but let me willingly carry whatever cross you send me. You are constantly looking out in this world for Simons. Let me be a Simon helping others to carry their crosses.

Jesus, I am sorry that I have sinned.

R. But Your love is greater than my sins.

6th Station: Veronica wipes the face of Jesus

We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you.

R. Because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.

Reflection: Everyone mocks and laughs at Jesus. Some might be sympathising with Him but dare not show their sympathy for fear of the crowd. Veronica alone has the courage to show her love for Jesus. She offers Him a towel to wipe his face. Jesus rewards her by leaving the imprint of His face on the towel.

Prayer: So often I care for you, Jesus. But I am afraid of what people might say. I love You. I know what You want me to do, but I avoid doing it for fear of ridicule. Lord, I offer You my heart. Let Your image be imprinted on my heart. I am a Christian. Let me live as a Christian.

Jesus, I am sorry that I have sinned.

R. But Your love is greater than my sins.

7th Station: Jesus falls the second time

We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you.

R. Because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.

Reflection: Jesus is weak. He stumbles and falls. Everyone sees His weakness. He is exposed to the insults and jokes of the crowd. He bears it all with silent dignity and does not lower Himself to the level of the crowd.

Prayer: Jesus, my weakness, too is sometimes exposed to public gaze. People speak about them and make fun of me. Help me to follow your example and to bear all with dignity and not to start making fun of the weaknesses of others.

Jesus, I am sorry that I have sinned.

R. But Your love is greater than my sins.

8th Station: Jesus consoles the weeping women of Jerusalem

We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you.

R. Because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.

Reflection: Some women realize the injustice done to Jesus. They see Him suffering though He is innocent. Out of true sympathy and compassion they weep for Him. Jesus can very well relish such consolation. But He thinks of others and not of Himself. He speaks to the women about their problems.

Prayer: Jesus, let me be like those women, quick to see the needs and the sufferings of others and not be backward in offering them my sincere sympathy. Help me to be like You - to bear my sufferings and yet not to concentrate on my own sufferings, but rather to concentrate on trying to console others.

Jesus, I am sorry that I have sinned.

R. But Your love is greater than my sins.

9th Station: Jesus falls the third time

We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you.

R. Because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.

Reflection: Jesus falls for the third time. Again He is humiliated. Thrice He falls, but thrice He rises to go on. Why does He not stop? He knows what His Father expects of Him. He knows that death awaits Him. Yet calm and unafraid he rises to meet death.

Prayer: Jesus, I have fallen not thrice but a thousand times. Help me always to rise again and to go on in life. Let me not try to avoid difficulties and obstacles but face them and overcome them. Let me face death calmly and serenely as You did.

Jesus, I am sorry that I have sinned.

R. But Your love is greater than my sins.

10th Station: Jesus is stripped of His garments

We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you.

R. Because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.

Reflection: The humiliation is carried still further. Jesus stands naked before a laughing, scoffing multitude. The All-Powerful is now powerless. The Miracle-Worker who received such lavish praise stands awkwardly helpless.

Prayer: Jesus, I can never be humiliated as much as You were. Teach me to bear insults and humiliations. Often in life there is a change in attitude among our friends and admirers. Those who praised us begin to laugh at us. May Your example help me never to grow bitter at humiliations but to see in them a chance of imitating You.

Jesus, I am sorry that I have sinned.

R. But Your love is greater than my sins.

11th Station: Jesus is nailed to the cross

We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you.

R. Because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.

Reflection: How painful it is! The nails pierce the skin and tear the flesh. Jesus is nailed like a hardened criminal. "The servant is not greater than the Master." Jesus reminds us, "If they have persecuted Me, they will persecute you."

Prayer: Jesus, you were nailed to Your cross. I try to free myself from my cross. I try to escape suffering. Of what use is my sorrow at Your suffering, if I do not avoid sin? Those nails are caused by my sins.

Jesus, I am sorry that I have sinned.

R. But Your love is greater than my sins.

12th Station: Jesus dies on the cross

We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you.

R. Because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.

Reflection: It is a tremendous mystery of divine love. God humiliates Himself and becomes Man in order to die for sinful, worthless man. Because of that there is hope for us. He dies that we might live; that we might live free from sin.

Prayer: Jesus, you gave up Your life to save me. Your sacrifice must not be in vain. I will avoid all grievous sins and shall try my best to overcome my many weaknesses. I am really sorry for my sins and my ingratitude. Forgive me Jesus. Forgive me.

Jesus, I am sorry that I have sinned.

R. But Your love is greater than my sins.

13th Station: Jesus is taken down from the cross

We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you.

R. Because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.

Reflection: Jesus is dead. All seems lost. All hopes are dashed to the ground. The apostles and disciples have run away. Mary and a few faithful followers grieve deeply. What a glorious life, but what a sad and miserable death!

Prayer: Jesus, often in life everything seems lost. Hopes are smashed; dreams are shattered; prayers seem unanswered. You seem dead. But it is only a passing phase. The dark clouds hiding the brilliant sun will be dispelled and the warm sunshine of Your love will give my life joy and new meaning.

Jesus, I am sorry that I have sinned.

R. But Your love is greater than my sins.

14th Station: Jesus is laid in the tomb

We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you.

R. Because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.

Reflection: With His burial, Jesus seems to have finally failed. Yet His moment of tragedy is His moment of victory. Through death He has conquered both sin and death. He will rise again in glory.

Prayer: Jesus, You are my hope. Death means the beginning of my real life of peace and joy. You have given a meaning to suffering and to death. I too will die - die to my sins and rise to you in glory. With your strength I shall conquer sin and death. All that matters is your love for me.

Jesus, I am sorry that I have sinned.

R. But Your love is greater than my sins.

15th Station: Jesus rises from the dead

We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you.

R. Because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.

Reflection: Jesus foretold that He would rise from the dead. Now He rises and the forces of the evil lie vanquished. His enemies do not want to believe and His followers just cannot believe that He has risen. The final chapter of history has been written already and Christ will come triumphant as judge of all humankind. Come Lord Jesus, Come.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, the struggle between good and evil, between light and darkness continues. You want me to decide whether to live for You or to be a slave of the powers of evil. I want to follow You. As Your suffering led You on to Your victory, may my weakness spur me on to trust in Your strength alone. With You at my side, there is nothing for me to fear.

Jesus, I am sorry that I have sinned.

R. But Your love is greater than my sins.

Concluding Prayer: Almighty Father, we thank you for your gift of Jesus to us. Through His obedience to Your will and His love for You and for us, He has saved us from sin and death. By rising from the dead, He has given us everlasting hope. He is with us always, and nothing in life, not even death can separate us from Jesus. May we die daily to sin and experience daily that Jesus is with us. May we always keep before us the truth that there is never a single line of success and glory, without a line of sacrifice and suffering running parallel to it. Amen.