How to pray the Stations of the Cross

The Stations of the Cross is a Catholic devotion that follows Jesus through His Passion and death. At each of fourteen stations, pause with Him, reflect, and pray. You can pray in a church, at home, or wherever you have a quiet moment.

You do not need to know the prayers by heart. This companion puts each meditation and response in front of you, one station at a time.

Begin the traditional Stations →

A simple way to begin

  1. Find a little quiet. Make the Sign of the Cross. You may offer the prayer for a person, a need, or simply the desire to draw closer to Jesus.
  2. Pray the opening prayer. Prepare to accompany Christ with love and attention. If you use this app, choose a tradition and read its preparatory prayer.
  3. Pause at each station. Announce the station and reflect on the scene. The traditional response is: “We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You. Because by Your holy Cross You have redeemed the world.”
  4. Read the meditation and pray. Take your time. In the Liguori tradition, the meditation is followed by a prayer, the Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be, and a verse of the Stabat Mater.
  5. Continue through all fourteen stations. In a church, you can move from one station to the next as you are able. When praying at home, follow the stations on your screen or a printed page.
  6. Finish with the closing prayer. Remain in silence for a moment. Carry something from the prayer into the rest of your day.

Choose a form that helps you pray

The traditional Stations of St. Alphonsus Liguori are a familiar place to start. The Scriptural Stations follow the Gospel-based sequence used by St. John Paul II in 1991. For a family, try the Stations for children, with simpler reflections.

Common questions

How long does it take?

Allow about 30–45 minutes for a traditional devotion with all the prayers. A shorter reflection or the children’s version can take less time. The pace of prayer matters more than the clock.

Do I have to kneel or stand?

Follow local practice when praying with a parish. At home, choose a posture that supports prayer and is possible for your body. If kneeling or walking is difficult, remain seated.

Can I pray the Stations outside Lent?

Yes. They are especially associated with Fridays during Lent and Good Friday, but meditation on Christ’s Passion is appropriate throughout the year.

Are all fourteen stations in the Bible?

The traditional sequence includes scenes drawn from Scripture and scenes preserved in devotional tradition. The Scriptural sequence uses a different set of fourteen Gospel-based scenes. Our station guide identifies the passages and distinctions.

Does using an app grant an indulgence?

An app by itself does not grant an indulgence. The Church specifies the devotional work and the usual conditions. See the guide’s indulgence explanation; do not treat an on-screen completion as fulfilling every condition.

Read, pray, or print

Use the guided companion, or open the complete traditional prayers on one page. Parish leaders can use our group prayer guide.