Traditional Catholic devotion
Stations of the Cross
Walk with Our Lord from His condemnation to the tomb. Each station includes English and Latin for quiet, traditional prayer.
Christ on the Cross, Diego Velazquez, 1632. Public-domain artwork via Wikimedia Commons. View source
Station 1
Jesus Is Condemned to Death
Iesus ad mortem damnatur
At this station
We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee. Because by Thy holy Cross Thou hast redeemed the world.
Adoramus te, Christe, et benedicimus tibi. Quia per sanctam Crucem tuam redemisti mundum.
English meditation
Jesus, innocent and silent, accepts the unjust sentence for love of us. Grant that I may accept the crosses permitted by Thy providence without complaint.
Then pray an Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be.
Latin meditation
Iesu innocens et tacens, qui inique damnatus es, da mihi crucem a tua providentia missam sine querela suscipere.
Post meditationem dicantur Pater noster, Ave Maria, et Gloria Patri.
Station 2
Jesus Takes Up His Cross
Iesus crucem suam baiulat
At this station
We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee. Because by Thy holy Cross Thou hast redeemed the world.
Adoramus te, Christe, et benedicimus tibi. Quia per sanctam Crucem tuam redemisti mundum.
English meditation
Jesus embraces the wood on which He will save the world. Teach me to take up my daily cross and follow Thee faithfully.
Then pray an Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be.
Latin meditation
Iesu, qui lignum salutis amplexus es, doce me crucem cotidianam fideliter portare et te sequi.
Post meditationem dicantur Pater noster, Ave Maria, et Gloria Patri.
Station 3
Jesus Falls the First Time
Iesus primum cadit
At this station
We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee. Because by Thy holy Cross Thou hast redeemed the world.
Adoramus te, Christe, et benedicimus tibi. Quia per sanctam Crucem tuam redemisti mundum.
English meditation
Weakened by suffering, Jesus falls beneath the Cross and rises again. By Thy mercy, raise me whenever I fall into sin.
Then pray an Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be.
Latin meditation
Iesu sub cruce cadens et resurgens, per misericordiam tuam me peccantem erige.
Post meditationem dicantur Pater noster, Ave Maria, et Gloria Patri.
Station 4
Jesus Meets His Blessed Mother
Iesus Matrem suam convenit
At this station
We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee. Because by Thy holy Cross Thou hast redeemed the world.
Adoramus te, Christe, et benedicimus tibi. Quia per sanctam Crucem tuam redemisti mundum.
English meditation
Mary meets her suffering Son with a sorrow deeper than words. Mother of Sorrows, keep me near Jesus when the way is hard.
Then pray an Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be.
Latin meditation
Maria Dolorosa, me iuxta Iesum conserva, praesertim cum via dura est.
Post meditationem dicantur Pater noster, Ave Maria, et Gloria Patri.
Station 5
Simon of Cyrene Helps Jesus Carry the Cross
Simon Cyrenaeus crucem Iesu portat
At this station
We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee. Because by Thy holy Cross Thou hast redeemed the world.
Adoramus te, Christe, et benedicimus tibi. Quia per sanctam Crucem tuam redemisti mundum.
English meditation
Simon is compelled to help, yet comes close to the Saviour. Make me ready to serve Thee in my neighbor with a willing heart.
Then pray an Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be.
Latin meditation
Iesu, fac me prompto corde tibi in proximo servire.
Post meditationem dicantur Pater noster, Ave Maria, et Gloria Patri.
Station 6
Veronica Wipes the Face of Jesus
Veronica faciem Iesu detergit
At this station
We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee. Because by Thy holy Cross Thou hast redeemed the world.
Adoramus te, Christe, et benedicimus tibi. Quia per sanctam Crucem tuam redemisti mundum.
English meditation
Veronica offers a small act of courage and charity to the suffering Christ. Give me the grace to recognize and comfort Thee in the afflicted.
Then pray an Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be.
Latin meditation
Iesu patientissime, da mihi gratiam te in afflictis agnoscendi et consolandi.
Post meditationem dicantur Pater noster, Ave Maria, et Gloria Patri.
Station 7
Jesus Falls the Second Time
Iesus secundo cadit
At this station
We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee. Because by Thy holy Cross Thou hast redeemed the world.
Adoramus te, Christe, et benedicimus tibi. Quia per sanctam Crucem tuam redemisti mundum.
English meditation
Jesus falls again under the weight of our sins, yet continues toward Calvary. Strengthen me against discouragement and teach me to begin again.
Then pray an Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be.
Latin meditation
Iesu, contra desperationem me confirma et doce me iterum incipere.
Post meditationem dicantur Pater noster, Ave Maria, et Gloria Patri.
Station 8
Jesus Speaks to the Women of Jerusalem
Iesus mulieres Hierosolymitanas alloquitur
At this station
We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee. Because by Thy holy Cross Thou hast redeemed the world.
Adoramus te, Christe, et benedicimus tibi. Quia per sanctam Crucem tuam redemisti mundum.
English meditation
Jesus calls us beyond passing sorrow to true repentance. Give me a contrite heart and a life changed by love of Thee.
Then pray an Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be.
Latin meditation
Iesu, da mihi cor contritum et vitam amore tuo mutatam.
Post meditationem dicantur Pater noster, Ave Maria, et Gloria Patri.
Station 9
Jesus Falls the Third Time
Iesus tertio cadit
At this station
We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee. Because by Thy holy Cross Thou hast redeemed the world.
Adoramus te, Christe, et benedicimus tibi. Quia per sanctam Crucem tuam redemisti mundum.
English meditation
Near Calvary, Jesus falls once more and rises to complete His sacrifice. In my final weakness, sustain me with Thy grace.
Then pray an Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be.
Latin meditation
Iesu, in extrema mea infirmitate gratia tua me sustine.
Post meditationem dicantur Pater noster, Ave Maria, et Gloria Patri.
Station 10
Jesus Is Stripped of His Garments
Iesus vestibus exuitur
At this station
We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee. Because by Thy holy Cross Thou hast redeemed the world.
Adoramus te, Christe, et benedicimus tibi. Quia per sanctam Crucem tuam redemisti mundum.
English meditation
Jesus is stripped and exposed for my sake. Strip from me all attachment to sin and clothe me in humility and purity.
Then pray an Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be.
Latin meditation
Iesu nudatus, exue me omnibus peccati affectionibus et humilitate ac puritate indue.
Post meditationem dicantur Pater noster, Ave Maria, et Gloria Patri.
Station 11
Jesus Is Nailed to the Cross
Iesus cruci affigitur
At this station
We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee. Because by Thy holy Cross Thou hast redeemed the world.
Adoramus te, Christe, et benedicimus tibi. Quia per sanctam Crucem tuam redemisti mundum.
English meditation
Jesus is nailed to the Cross with hands that healed and blessed. Fasten my heart to Thy holy will.
Then pray an Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be.
Latin meditation
Iesu crucifixe, cor meum voluntati tuae sanctae adfige.
Post meditationem dicantur Pater noster, Ave Maria, et Gloria Patri.
Station 12
Jesus Dies on the Cross
Iesus in cruce moritur
At this station
We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee. Because by Thy holy Cross Thou hast redeemed the world.
Adoramus te, Christe, et benedicimus tibi. Quia per sanctam Crucem tuam redemisti mundum.
English meditation
Jesus gives His life for our salvation. May I never be separated from Thee, and may Thy Cross be my hope at the hour of death.
Then pray an Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be.
Latin meditation
Iesu moriens, numquam a te separari permittas; Crux tua sit spes mea in hora mortis.
Post meditationem dicantur Pater noster, Ave Maria, et Gloria Patri.
Station 13
Jesus Is Taken Down from the Cross
Iesus de cruce deponitur
At this station
We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee. Because by Thy holy Cross Thou hast redeemed the world.
Adoramus te, Christe, et benedicimus tibi. Quia per sanctam Crucem tuam redemisti mundum.
English meditation
Mary receives the sacred Body of her Son in sorrow and faith. Teach me to remain faithful when I do not understand Thy ways.
Then pray an Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be.
Latin meditation
Maria fidelis, doce me in fide manere cum vias tuas non intellego.
Post meditationem dicantur Pater noster, Ave Maria, et Gloria Patri.
Station 14
Jesus Is Laid in the Tomb
Iesus sepulcro conditur
At this station
We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee. Because by Thy holy Cross Thou hast redeemed the world.
Adoramus te, Christe, et benedicimus tibi. Quia per sanctam Crucem tuam redemisti mundum.
English meditation
Jesus is laid in the tomb, but His sacrifice opens the way to resurrection. Bury my old life with Thee and lead me into new life.
Then pray an Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be.
Latin meditation
Iesu sepultus, veterem vitam meam tecum sepeli et ad vitam novam perduc.
Post meditationem dicantur Pater noster, Ave Maria, et Gloria Patri.
Source and tradition
Prayed in the older tradition
This companion follows the traditional fourteen stations and St. Alphonsus Liguori’s Way of the Cross. The short meditations are newly arranged from that devotion; the Latin station titles and response follow traditional Catholic usage.
Stations of the Cross by Gebhard Fugel, from the St. Joseph Church cycle in Munich. Each image is a direct, frame-free reproduction of the painted scene. Public-domain artwork via Wikimedia Commons.
View the Stations artwork and licenseRead the public-domain prayer source