Complete prayers · English
Scriptural Stations of the Cross
Introduced by Pope John Paul II in 1991. Each station is drawn directly from the Gospels, replacing traditional stations that lack direct scriptural basis.
This reading edition is in English. The guided companion offers the available translations and narration. About the texts and sources.
Opening prayer
My Lord Jesus Christ, You have made this journey to die for me with love unutterable, and I have so many times unworthily abandoned You; but now I love You with my whole heart, and because I love You, I repent sincerely for having ever offended You. Pardon me, my God, and permit me to accompany You on this journey. You go to die for love of me; I wish also, my beloved Redeemer, to die for love of You. My Jesus, I will live and die always united to You.
1. Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane
We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You.
Because by Your holy Cross You have redeemed the world.
Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, "Sit here while I go over there and pray." He advanced a little and fell prostrate in prayer, saying, "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet, not as I will, but as you will." (Matthew 26:36, 39)
Lord Jesus, in the garden You sweat blood, overwhelmed by the weight of what was to come. Yet You prayed, "Not my will but yours be done." Teach us to surrender our will to the Father, especially in our darkest hours. I love You, my Jesus; I repent of having offended You. Never permit me to separate myself from You again. Grant that I may love You always; and then do with me what You will.
At the Cross her station keeping, Stood the mournful Mother weeping, Close to Jesus to the last.
2. Jesus Is Betrayed by Judas and Arrested
We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You.
Because by Your holy Cross You have redeemed the world.
Then, while he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived, accompanied by a crowd with swords and clubs, who had come from the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders. His betrayer had arranged a signal with them, saying, "The man I shall kiss is the one; arrest him." (Mark 14:43-44)
Lord Jesus, You were betrayed with a kiss, the sign of friendship perverted into treachery. You did not recoil from Judas but called him "friend." Give us the grace to love even those who betray our trust, and never to betray You by our sins. I love You, my Jesus; I repent of having offended You. Never permit me to separate myself from You again. Grant that I may love You always; and then do with me what You will.
Through her heart, His sorrow sharing, All His bitter anguish bearing, Lo! the piercing sword had passed!
3. Jesus Is Condemned by the Sanhedrin
We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You.
Because by Your holy Cross You have redeemed the world.
The high priest asked him and said to him, "Are you the Messiah, the son of the Blessed One?" Then Jesus answered, "I am; and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Power and coming with the clouds of heaven." At that the high priest tore his garments and said, "What further need have we of witnesses?" (Mark 14:61-63)
Lord, You stood before the religious leaders who should have recognized You and spoke the truth even knowing it meant death. Give us courage to witness to truth regardless of consequences, and to recognize Your presence where the world refuses to see it. I love You, my Jesus; I repent of having offended You. Never permit me to separate myself from You again. Grant that I may love You always; and then do with me what You will.
O, how sad, and sore distressed, Now was she, that Mother Blessed Of the sole-begotten One.
4. Peter Denies Jesus
We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You.
Because by Your holy Cross You have redeemed the world.
Then Peter remembered the word that Jesus had spoken: "Before the cock crows you will deny me three times." He went out and began to weep bitterly. (Matthew 26:75)
Lord, Peter, the rock, crumbled under fear. Yet You did not abandon him. You looked at him with love, not accusation. When we deny You through cowardice or shame, turn Your merciful gaze upon us, and grant us the grace of Peter's repentance and tears. I love You, my Jesus; I repent of having offended You. Never permit me to separate myself from You again. Grant that I may love You always; and then do with me what You will.
Christ above in torment hangs; She beneath beholds the pangs Of her dying, glorious Son.
5. Jesus Is Judged by Pilate
We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You.
Because by Your holy Cross You have redeemed the world.
Pilate said to them, "Then what shall I do with Jesus called Messiah?" They all said, "Let him be crucified!" But he said, "Why? What evil has he done?" They only shouted the louder, "Let him be crucified!" (Matthew 27:22-23)
Lord, Pilate knew You were innocent but chose political safety over justice. How often do we choose comfort over truth, silence over witness? Give us the integrity to stand for what is right, even when the crowd demands otherwise. I love You, my Jesus; I repent of having offended You. Never permit me to separate myself from You again. Grant that I may love You always; and then do with me what You will.
Who, on Christ's dear Mother gazing, Pierced by anguish so amazing, Born of woman, would not weep?
6. Jesus Is Scourged and Crowned with Thorns
We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You.
Because by Your holy Cross You have redeemed the world.
Then he released Barabbas to them, but after he had Jesus scourged, he handed him over to be crucified. They stripped him and put a scarlet military cloak about him. Weaving a crown out of thorns, they placed it on his head, and a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!" (Matthew 27:26, 28-29)
Lord, they mocked Your kingship with thorns and a scarlet rag. Yet You are truly King, King of a kingdom where the last shall be first, where power is service, and where love conquers all. May we recognize Your sovereignty in the suffering of the lowly. I love You, my Jesus; I repent of having offended You. Never permit me to separate myself from You again. Grant that I may love You always; and then do with me what You will.
Who, on Christ's dear Mother thinking, Such a cup of sorrow drinking, Would not share her sorrow deep?
7. Jesus Takes Up His Cross
We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You.
Because by Your holy Cross You have redeemed the world.
And carrying the cross himself he went out to what is called the Place of the Skull, in Hebrew, Golgotha. (John 19:17)
Lord, You took up the Cross willingly. It was not forced upon You, You chose it out of love for us. Help us take up our daily crosses not with resignation, but with the love that transforms suffering into redemption. I love You, my Jesus; I repent of having offended You. Never permit me to separate myself from You again. Grant that I may love You always; and then do with me what You will.
For His people's sins, in anguish, There she saw the Victim languish, Bleed in torments, bleed and die.
8. Simon of Cyrene Helps Jesus Carry the Cross
We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You.
Because by Your holy Cross You have redeemed the world.
As they were going out, they met a Cyrenian named Simon; this man they pressed into service to carry his cross. (Matthew 27:32)
Lord, Simon was pressed into service, an unwilling participant in Your Passion. Yet tradition holds that he became a believer. Transform our reluctant service into joyful discipleship, and open our eyes to see You in every person who needs our help. I love You, my Jesus; I repent of having offended You. Never permit me to separate myself from You again. Grant that I may love You always; and then do with me what You will.
Let me mingle tears with thee, Mourning Him who mourned for me, All the days that I may live.
9. Jesus Meets the Women of Jerusalem
We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You.
Because by Your holy Cross You have redeemed the world.
A large crowd of people followed Jesus, including many women who mourned and lamented him. Jesus turned to them and said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep instead for yourselves and for your children." (Luke 23:27-28)
Lord, even on the way to Calvary You were a prophet, thinking not of Yourself but of others. You wept not for Yourself but for Jerusalem's future. Give us eyes that see beyond our present suffering to the eternal consequences of sin, and hearts that weep for the right things. I love You, my Jesus; I repent of having offended You. Never permit me to separate myself from You again. Grant that I may love You always; and then do with me what You will.
Holy Mother! pierce me through; In my heart each wound renew Of my Savior crucified.
10. Jesus Is Crucified
We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You.
Because by Your holy Cross You have redeemed the world.
When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him and the criminals there, one on his right, the other on his left. Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, they know not what they do." (Luke 23:33-34)
Lord, Your first word from the Cross was forgiveness. Not vengeance, not justice, but mercy. Teach us this radical forgiveness, to pray for those who nail us to our crosses, and to see in every enemy a soul for whom You died. I love You, my Jesus; I repent of having offended You. Never permit me to separate myself from You again. Grant that I may love You always; and then do with me what You will.
Let me, to my latest breath, In my body bear the death Of that dying Son of Thine.
11. Jesus Promises Paradise to the Good Thief
We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You.
Because by Your holy Cross You have redeemed the world.
He replied to him, "Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise." (Luke 23:43)
Lord, the good thief's only prayer was "Remember me." And it was enough. No matter how late in life we turn to You, no matter how much we have squandered, Your mercy is always greater than our sin. Grant us the humility to ask and the faith to trust. I love You, my Jesus; I repent of having offended You. Never permit me to separate myself from You again. Grant that I may love You always; and then do with me what You will.
Wounded with His every wound, Steep my soul till it hath swooned In His very Blood away.
12. Jesus Speaks to His Mother and the Beloved Disciple
We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You.
Because by Your holy Cross You have redeemed the world.
When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved, he said to his mother, "Woman, behold, your son." Then he said to the disciple, "Behold, your mother." And from that hour the disciple took her into his home. (John 19:26-27)
Lord, from the Cross You created a new family, giving Your Mother to all of us. In Your deepest agony, You still provided for those You love. Mary, Mother of the Church, intercede for us, your children, now and at the hour of our death. I love You, my Jesus; I repent of having offended You. Never permit me to separate myself from You again. Grant that I may love You always; and then do with me what You will.
Be to me, O Virgin, nigh, Lest in flames I burn and die, In His awful Judgment Day.
13. Jesus Dies on the Cross
We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You.
Because by Your holy Cross You have redeemed the world.
It was now about noon and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon because of an eclipse of the sun. Then the veil of the temple was torn down the middle. Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commend my spirit"; and when he had said this he breathed his last. (Luke 23:44-46)
The veil of the temple was torn in two. Heaven was opened. The centurion declared, "Truly this man was the Son of God." In Your death, Lord, You conquered death itself. Into Your hands we commend our spirits, in life, in death, and in the life to come. I love You, my Jesus; I repent of having offended You. Never permit me to separate myself from You again. Grant that I may love You always; and then do with me what You will.
Let me carry Christ's death with me, Let His wounds transfix and free me, Drenched in His most precious Blood.
14. Jesus Is Laid in the Tomb
We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You.
Because by Your holy Cross You have redeemed the world.
When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea named Joseph, who was himself a disciple of Jesus. He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus; then Pilate ordered it to be handed over. Taking the body, Joseph wrapped it in clean linen and laid it in his new tomb that he had hewn in the rock. Then he rolled a huge stone across the entrance to the tomb and departed. (Matthew 27:57-60)
Lord, the tomb was sealed, the guards were posted, and darkness covered the earth. But the tomb could not hold You. The stone would be rolled away. Death would have no dominion. When we face our darkest moments, when all seems lost, remind us that You are the God who brings life from death, hope from despair, joy from mourning. I love You, my Jesus; I repent of having offended You. Never permit me to separate myself from You again. Grant that I may love You always; and then do with me what You will.
When my body here decayeth, Let my soul, Thy goodness stayeth, Dwell forever in Thy love. Amen.
Closing prayer
Lord Jesus Christ, Your Passion and Death is the sacrifice that unites earth and heaven and reconciles all people to You. May we who have faithfully reflected on these mysteries follow in Your steps and so come to share Your glory in heaven, where You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
How to pray the Stations · Scripture and history of each station