Stations of the Cross: How to Pray the 14 Stations
The Stations of the Cross, also known as the Way of the Cross or Via Crucis, are a traditional Catholic devotion commemorating the Passion and death of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
Through fourteen stations, the faithful spiritually accompany Christ from His condemnation by Pontius Pilate to His burial in the tomb.
The Stations may be prayed at any time of year, but they are especially associated with Fridays in Lent and Good Friday.
At each station, Catholics traditionally announce the station, adore Christ, and offer prayers such as the Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be.
The 14 Stations of the Cross
StationEventIJesus is condemned to deathIIJesus takes up His CrossIIIJesus falls the first timeIVJesus meets His sorrowful MotherVSimon of Cyrene helps Jesus carry the CrossVIVeronica wipes the face of JesusVIIJesus falls the second timeVIIIJesus meets the women of JerusalemIXJesus falls the third timeXJesus is stripped of His garmentsXIJesus is nailed to the CrossXIIJesus dies on the CrossXIIIJesus is taken down from the CrossXIVJesus is laid in the tomb
How to Pray the Stations of the Cross
There are many traditional forms of the Stations, and the exact prayers can vary.
A simple method is:
Announce the Station.
Genuflect or bow and pray:
V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we praise Thee.
R. Because by Thy holy Cross, Thou hast redeemed the world.
Pray the prayer for that Station.
Pray an Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be.
Move to the next Station.
In churches, the faithful traditionally move physically from one Station to another.
If you are praying at home, you may remain in one place and follow the Stations using a crucifix, images or a printed guide.
Opening Prayer
Begin with the Sign of the Cross:
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
It is fitting to make an Act of Contrition before beginning.
Act of Contrition
O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee,
and I detest all my sins because I dread the loss of Heaven and the pains of hell;
but most of all because they offend Thee, my God,
Who art all-good and deserving of all my love.
I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace,
to confess my sins,
to do penance,
and to amend my life. Amen.
You may then pray:
My Lord Jesus Christ, Thou didst make this sorrowful journey for love of me. Grant that I may accompany Thee with a contrite heart and learn to carry my own cross in union with Thee. Amen.
First Station: Jesus Is Condemned to Death
V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we praise Thee.
R. Because by Thy holy Cross, Thou hast redeemed the world.
Prayer:
O Jesus, Thou wast condemned unjustly for my sake. Forgive me for the times I have preferred human respect to Thy holy will. Give me courage to remain faithful to Thee, whatever the cost. Amen.
Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory Be.
Second Station: Jesus Takes Up His Cross
V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we praise Thee.
R. Because by Thy holy Cross, Thou hast redeemed the world.
Prayer:
O Jesus, Thou didst willingly take up Thy Cross for love of me. Teach me to accept the crosses permitted by Thy Providence and to carry them patiently in union with Thee. Amen.
Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory Be.
Third Station: Jesus Falls the First Time
V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we praise Thee.
R. Because by Thy holy Cross, Thou hast redeemed the world.
Prayer:
O Jesus, when I fall into sin or discouragement, preserve me from despair. Give me the humility to repent, rise again and continue faithfully on the road to Heaven. Amen.
Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory Be.
Fourth Station: Jesus Meets His Sorrowful Mother
V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we praise Thee.
R. Because by Thy holy Cross, Thou hast redeemed the world.
Prayer:
O sorrowful Mother, obtain for me the grace never to abandon thy Divine Son. Teach me to remain close to Jesus in suffering and to unite my sorrows with His Passion. Amen.
Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory Be.
Fifth Station: Simon of Cyrene Helps Jesus Carry the Cross
V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we praise Thee.
R. Because by Thy holy Cross, Thou hast redeemed the world.
Prayer:
O Jesus, make me willing to help others carry their crosses. Keep me from selfishness when charity demands sacrifice, and grant that I may recognise Thee in those who suffer. Amen.
Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory Be.
Sixth Station: Veronica Wipes the Face of Jesus
V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we praise Thee.
R. Because by Thy holy Cross, Thou hast redeemed the world.
Prayer:
O Jesus, imprint Thy holy image upon my heart. Give me the courage to serve Thee when others are indifferent and to comfort those who suffer for Thy sake. Amen.
Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory Be.
Seventh Station: Jesus Falls the Second Time
V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we praise Thee.
R. Because by Thy holy Cross, Thou hast redeemed the world.
Prayer:
O Jesus, when I fall repeatedly through weakness, give me the grace to rise again. Strengthen me against temptation and teach me never to despair of Thy mercy. Amen.
Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory Be.
Eighth Station: Jesus Meets the Women of Jerusalem
V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we praise Thee.
R. Because by Thy holy Cross, Thou hast redeemed the world.
Prayer:
O Jesus, give me true sorrow for my sins. Let Thy Passion lead me to conversion, amendment of life and greater love for Thee. Amen.
Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory Be.
Ninth Station: Jesus Falls the Third Time
V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we praise Thee.
R. Because by Thy holy Cross, Thou hast redeemed the world.
Prayer:
O Jesus, support me when I am weak. Grant that I may persevere in the true Faith until death and never abandon Thee because the road becomes difficult. Amen.
Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory Be.
Tenth Station: Jesus Is Stripped of His Garments
V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we praise Thee.
R. Because by Thy holy Cross, Thou hast redeemed the world.
Prayer:
O Jesus, Thou wast stripped of everything for love of me. Free my heart from sinful attachments, vanity and excessive love of worldly things. May I desire above all to possess Thee. Amen.
Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory Be.
Eleventh Station: Jesus Is Nailed to the Cross
V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we praise Thee.
R. Because by Thy holy Cross, Thou hast redeemed the world.
Prayer:
O Jesus, nailed to the Cross for my sins, forgive me for the wounds my sins have caused Thee. Teach me to forgive those who injure me and to crucify everything within me that separates me from Thee. Amen.
Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory Be.
Twelfth Station: Jesus Dies on the Cross
V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we praise Thee.
R. Because by Thy holy Cross, Thou hast redeemed the world.
It is fitting to kneel and spend a few moments in silence at this Station.
Prayer:
O Jesus, Thou didst die upon the Cross for love of me. Grant that I may hate sin, love Thee above all things and live so that I may one day die in Thy grace and friendship. Amen.
Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory Be.
Thirteenth Station: Jesus Is Taken Down from the Cross
V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we praise Thee.
R. Because by Thy holy Cross, Thou hast redeemed the world.
Prayer:
O Mother of Sorrows, by the grief thou didst suffer beneath the Cross, obtain for me a profound love of Jesus Crucified and the grace to remain faithful to Him until death. Amen.
Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory Be.
Fourteenth Station: Jesus Is Laid in the Tomb
V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we praise Thee.
R. Because by Thy holy Cross, Thou hast redeemed the world.
Prayer:
O Jesus, laid in the tomb, prepare me for the hour of my death. Grant that I may die fortified by Thy grace and rise with Thee to eternal life. Amen.
Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory Be.
Closing Prayer
After the Fourteenth Station, you may pray:
O Lord Jesus Christ, I adore Thee and thank Thee for Thy bitter Passion and Death. Through the merits of Thy holy wounds, forgive my sins, strengthen me against temptation, give me grace to carry my cross faithfully, and bring me at last to eternal life. Amen.
You may also pray an Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be for the intentions of the Holy Father.
Finish with the Sign of the Cross:
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
The Stations of the Cross at a Glance
At every Station:
Announce the Station
↓
We adore Thee, O Christ, and we praise Thee.
Because by Thy holy Cross, Thou hast redeemed the world.
↓
Prayer
↓
Our Father → Hail Mary → Glory Be
↓
Move to the next Station
Repeat until you have completed all fourteen.
Where Did the Stations of the Cross Come From?
The devotion developed from the desire of Christians to follow spiritually in the footsteps of Christ's Passion in Jerusalem.
Pilgrims to the Holy Land visited places associated with the final journey of Jesus to Calvary.
Over time, Catholics who could not travel to Jerusalem began reproducing this spiritual pilgrimage in their own countries.
The Franciscans played an especially important role in spreading devotion to the Way of the Cross.
Eventually, the familiar fourteen-Station form became established throughout the Catholic world.
Today, representations of the fourteen Stations can be found on the walls of Catholic churches throughout the world.
Are All 14 Stations Found in the Bible?
Not every traditional Station is described explicitly in Sacred Scripture.
Several are directly recorded in the Gospel accounts, including:
Jesus being condemned
Simon of Cyrene carrying the Cross
the women of Jerusalem
Jesus being stripped
the Crucifixion
Christ's death
His removal from the Cross
His burial
Others, such as the three falls of Jesus, His meeting with His Mother and Veronica wiping His face, come from Christian devotional tradition.
The Stations are a devotion, not a claim that every individual scene is explicitly narrated in the Gospel text.
What Is the Stabat Mater?
A longstanding custom is to sing or recite verses of the Stabat Mater while moving between Stations.
The hymn meditates on the sorrow of the Blessed Virgin Mary as she stands at the Cross of her Son.
It is particularly appropriate during the Stations because it helps the faithful accompany the Passion in union with Our Lady.
Do You Have to Walk Between the Stations?
No.
Moving physically from one Station to another is traditional and especially appropriate when praying in a church where the fourteen Stations are displayed.
But someone who cannot walk between them may remain seated or kneeling.
The Stations can also be prayed at home.
Can You Pray the Stations of the Cross at Home?
Yes.
You do not need to be inside a church to pray the Stations.
At home you can:
pray before a crucifix,
use images of the fourteen Stations,
follow a printed guide,
or simply announce each Station and pray the prayers in turn.
Families can also pray the Stations together.
When Should Catholics Pray the Stations of the Cross?
The Stations may be prayed throughout the year.
They are particularly associated with:
Fridays
Lent
Good Friday
retreats and days of recollection
periods of suffering or penance
Many Catholic parishes publicly pray the Stations on Fridays during Lent.
Do You Have to Pray an Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be at Every Station?
No single formula is required for every form of the Stations.
The Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be form a simple and traditional method, but different versions contain different prayers.
Why Do Catholics Pray the Stations of the Cross?
The Stations help Catholics contemplate the Passion and death of Christ and remember:
the seriousness of sin,
the price of our Redemption,
the love of Christ,
the sorrow of Our Lady,
the necessity of repentance,
the value of carrying our crosses,
and the reality of death and eternity.
They are therefore particularly suited to Lent, when the Church calls the faithful to prayer, fasting and penance.
Is There a Fifteenth Station?
Some modern forms add a Fifteenth Station commemorating the Resurrection.
The Resurrection is, of course, essential to the Catholic Faith and the culmination of the Paschal Mystery.
However, the traditional Way of the Cross consists of fourteen Stations and ends with Christ being laid in the tomb.
Those wishing to follow the traditional form therefore conclude at the Fourteenth Station.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Stations of the Cross
How many Stations of the Cross are there?
The traditional Stations of the Cross contain fourteen Stations.
What is another name for the Stations of the Cross?
They are also called the Way of the Cross or, in Latin, the Via Crucis.
How long does it take to pray the Stations of the Cross?
A typical devotion takes around 20 to 45 minutes, depending on the prayers used and the time spent in silence.
Can I pray the Stations outside Lent?
Yes. They may be prayed throughout the year, especially on Fridays.
Can I pray the Stations alone?
Yes. They may be prayed privately, with a family or publicly in a parish.
Do I need pictures of the Stations?
No, although images can help keep track of each Station.
Do the Stations have to be prayed inside a church?
No. They may also be prayed at home or outdoors.
Why are there fourteen Stations?
Fourteen became the established traditional form of the devotion, tracing Christ's journey from His condemnation to His burial.
Are all fourteen Stations directly in the Bible?
No. Some come directly from the Gospel accounts, while others belong to longstanding Christian devotional tradition.
A Simple Guide for Beginners
If you have never prayed the Stations before, simply begin:
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
At each Station say:
“We adore Thee, O Christ, and we praise Thee.”
“Because by Thy holy Cross, Thou hast redeemed the world.”
Then pray the prayer for that Station, followed by:
Our Father.
Hail Mary.
Glory Be.
Move to the next Station.
Continue until you reach the tomb.
The Stations are a simple way to accompany Our Lord Jesus Christ on the road to Calvary and to honour His Passion and death for our salvation.
We adore Thee, O Christ, and we praise Thee, because by Thy holy Cross, Thou hast redeemed the world.
