The Way of the Cross

The Way of the Cross

The Way of the Cross is an occasional service of the Reformed Episcopal Church used for devotional prayer through the Stations of the Cross.

Overview

This service leads the congregation through the traditional stations, with versicles, Scripture, collects, and prayers meditating on the Passion of Christ.

Full Text of the Service

¶ A hymn or other song may be sung during the entrance of the ministers.

Minister. The Lord be with you.

Answer. And with thy spirit.

Minister. In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

Answer. Amen.

¶ Minister and people.

Lord, have mercy upon us.

Christ, have mercy upon us.

Lord, have mercy upon us.

Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name.

Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

Minister. We will glory in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ:

Answer. In whom is our salvation, our life and resurrection.

Let us pray. (Silence) ASSIST us mercifully with thine help, O Lord God of our salvation, that we may enter with joy upon the contemplation of those mighty acts, whereby thou hast given us life and immortality; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

First Station

Jesus is Condemned to Death.

Minister. We adore thee, O Christ, and we bless thee:

Answer. Because by thy holy cross and precious blood thou hast redeemed the world.

And straightway in the morning the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council, and bound Jesus, and carried him away, and delivered him to Pilate. And they all condemned him and said, He deserves death. When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus forth, and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called the Pavement, but in the Hebrew, Gabbatha. Then he handed Jesus over to them to be crucified.

Minister. God did not spare his own Son:

Answer. But delivered him up for us all.

Let us pray. (Silence) ALMIGHTY God, whose most dear Son went not up to joy but first he suffered pain, and entered not into glory before he was crucified: Mercifully grant that we, walking in the way of the cross, may find it none other than the way of life and peace; through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord. Amen.

¶ Minister and people.

Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy Immortal One, Have mercy upon us.

Second Station

Jesus Takes Up His Cross.

Minister. We adore thee, O Christ, and we bless thee:

Answer. Because by thy holy cross and precious blood thou hast redeemed the world.

And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha:

Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.

Minister. The Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all:

Answer. For the transgression of my people was he stricken.

Let us pray. (Silence) ALMIGHTY God, whose beloved Son willingly endured the agony and shame of the cross for our redemption:

Give us courage, we beseech thee, to take up our cross and follow him; who liveth and reigneth, world without end. Amen.

¶ Minister and people.

Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy Immortal One, Have mercy upon us.

Third Station

Jesus Falls the First Time.

Minister. We adore thee, O Christ, and we bless thee:

Answer. Because by thy holy cross and precious blood thou hast redeemed the world.

Christ Jesus, Who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name.

Come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the Lord our maker, for he is our God.

Minister. Surely he hath borne our griefs,

Answer. and carried our sorrows.

Let us pray. (Silence) O GOD, who knowest us to be set in the midst of so many and great dangers, that by reason of the frailty of our nature we cannot always stand upright; Grant to us such strength and protection, as may support us in all dangers, and carry us through all temptations; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

¶ Minister and people.

Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy Immortal One, Have mercy upon us.

Fourth Station

Jesus Meets His Afflicted Mother.

Minister. We adore thee, O Christ, and we bless thee:

Answer. Because by thy holy cross and precious blood thou hast redeemed the world.

What thing shall I take to witness for thee? What thing shall I liken to thee, O daughter of Jerusalem? What shall I equal to thee, that I may comfort thee, O virgin daughter of Zion? For your ruin is spread wide as the sea. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. The Lord shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended.

Minister. A sword shall pierce through thy own soul also:

Answer. And fill thy heart with bitter pain.

Let us pray. (Silence) O GOD, who willed that in the passion of thy Son, a sword of grief should pierce the soul of the Blessed Virgin Mary his mother: Mercifully grant that thy Church, having shared with her in his passion, may be made worthy to share in the joys of his resurrection; who liveth and reigneth, world without end. Amen.

¶ Minister and people.

Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy Immortal One, Have mercy upon us.

Fifth Station

The Cross is Laid on Simon of Cyrene.

Minister. We adore thee, O Christ, and we bless thee:

Answer. Because by thy holy cross and precious blood thou hast redeemed the world.

As they led him away, they laid hold upon one Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the country, and on him they laid the cross, that he might bear it after Jesus. “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. Take my yoke on you, and learn of me; for my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Minister. And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me,

Answer. Cannot be my disciple.

Let us pray. (Silence) HEAVENLY Father, whose blessed Son came not to be served but to serve: We beseech thee to bless all who, following in his steps, give themselves to the service of their fellow men. Endue them with wisdom, patience, and courage, that they may strengthen the weak and raise up those who fall; and, being inspired by thy love, may worthily minister in thy Name to the suffering, the friendless, and the needy; for the sake of him who laid down his life for us, the same thy Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.

¶ Minister and people.

Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy Immortal One, Have mercy upon us.

Sixth Station

A Woman Wipes the Face of Jesus.

Minister. We adore thee, O Christ, and we bless thee:

Answer. Because by thy holy cross and precious blood thou hast redeemed the world.

When we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

As many were astonied at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men: But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

Minister. Turn us again, O Lord God of hosts:

Answer. Show the light of thy countenance, and we shall be whole.

Let us pray. (Silence) O GOD, who before the passion of thine only-begotten Son didst reveal his glory upon the holy mount: Grant to us that we, beholding by faith the light of his countenance, may be strengthened to bear our cross, and be changed into his likeness from glory to glory; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

¶ Minister and people.

Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy Immortal One, Have mercy upon us.

Seventh Station

Jesus Falls a Second Time.

Minister. We adore thee, O Christ, and we bless thee:

Answer. Because by thy holy cross and precious blood thou hast redeemed the world.

Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows.

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth. For the transgression of my people was he stricken.

Minister. But as for me, I am a worm and no man:

Answer. A very scorn of men, and the outcast of the people.

Let us pray. (Silence) ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who, of thy tender love towards mankind, hast sent thy Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ, to take upon him our flesh, and to suffer death upon the cross, that all mankind should follow the example of his great humility; Mercifully grant, that we may both follow the example of his patience, and also be made partakers of his resurrection; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

¶ Minister and people.

Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy Immortal One, Have mercy upon us.

Eighth Station

Jesus Meets the Women of Jerusalem.

Minister. We adore thee, O Christ, and we bless thee:

Answer. Because by thy holy cross and precious blood thou hast redeemed the world.

And there followed him a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed and lamented him. But Jesus turning to them said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.

Minister. They that sow in tears

Answer. shall reap with songs of joy.

Let us pray. (Silence) TEACH thy Church, O Lord, to mourn the sins of which it is guilty, and to repent and forsake them; that, by thy pardoning grace, the results of our iniquities may not be visited upon our children and our children’s children; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

¶ Minister and people.

Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy Immortal One, Have mercy upon us.

Ninth Station

Jesus Falls a Third Time.

Minister. We adore thee, O Christ, and we bless thee:

Answer. Because by thy holy cross and precious blood thou hast redeemed the world.

I am the man that hath seen affliction by the rod of his wrath, he hath led me, and brought me into darkness, but not into light. He hath builded against me, and compassed me with gall and travail. He hath set me in dark places, as they that be dead of old. Also when I cry and shout, he shutteth out my prayer. He hath also broken my teeth with gravel stones, he hath covered me with ashes. “Remember, O Lord, mine affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the gall!”

Minister. He is brought as a lamb to the slaugher:

Answer. And as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.

Let us pray. (Silence) O GOD, by the passion of thy blessed Son didst make an instrument of shameful death to be unto us the means of life: Grant us so to glory in the cross of Christ, that we may gladly suffer shame and loss for the sake of thy Son our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

¶ Minister and people.

Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy Immortal One, Have mercy upon us.

Tenth Station

Jesus is Stripped of His Garments.

Minister. We adore thee, O Christ, and we bless thee:

Answer. Because by thy holy cross and precious blood thou hast redeemed the world.

And when they were come unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say, a place of a skull, they gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink. And they parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, they parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots.

Minister. They gave me gall to eat:

Answer. And when I was thirsty they gave me vinegar to drink.

Let us pray. (Silence) LORD God, whose blessed Son our Savior gave his back to the smiters and hid not his face from shame: Give us grace to take joyfully the sufferings of the present time, in full assurance of the glory that shall be revealed; through the same Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord. Amen

¶ Minister and people.

Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy Immortal One, Have mercy upon us.

Eleventh Station

Jesus is nailed to the Cross.

Minister. We adore thee, O Christ, and we bless thee:

Answer. Because by thy holy cross and precious blood thou hast redeemed the world.

When they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, And he was numbered with the transgressors

Minister. They pierce my hands and my feet:

Answer. They stand staring and looking upon me.

Let us pray. (Silence) LORD Jesus Christ, who didst stretch out thine arms of love on the hard wood of the cross that everyone might come within the reach of thy saving embrace: So clothe us in thy Spirit that we, reaching forth our hands in love, may bring those who do not know thee to the knowledge and love of thee; for the honor of thy Name. Amen.

¶ Minister and people.

Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy Immortal One, Have mercy upon us.

Twelfth Station

Jesus Dies on the Cross.

Minister. We adore thee, O Christ, and we bless thee:

Answer. Because by thy holy cross and precious blood thou hast redeemed the world.

When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And when Jesus had received the vinegar, he said, “It is finished!” And then, crying with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit. and gave up the ghost.

Minister. Christ for us became obedient unto death:

Answer. Even death on a cross.

Let us pray. (Silence) O GOD, who for our redemption didst give thine only-begotten Son to the death of the cross, and by his glorious resurrection hast delivered us from the power of our enemy:

Grant us so to die daily to sin, that we may evermore live with him in the joy of his resurrection; who liveth and reigneth with thee, world without end. Amen.

¶ Minister and people.

Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy Immortal One, Have mercy upon us.

Thirteenth Station

The Body of Jesus is Placed in the Arms of His Mother.

Minister. We adore thee, O Christ, and we bless thee:

Answer. Because by thy holy cross and precious blood thou hast redeemed the world.

All ye that pass by behold, and see if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow. Mine eyes do fail with tears, my bowels are troubled, my liver is poured upon the earth, for the destruction of the daughter of my people. Call me not Naomi (which means Pleasant), call me Mara (which means Bitter); for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me.

Minister. Her tears are on her cheeks:

Answer. And she hath none to comfort her Let us pray. (Silence) LORD Jesus Christ, who by thy death didst take away the sting of death: Grant unto us thy servants so to follow in faith where thou hast led the way, that we may at length fall asleep peacefully in thee, and awake up after thy likeness; for thy tender mercies' sake. Amen.

¶ Minister and people.

Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy Immortal One, Have mercy upon us.

Fourteenth Station

Jesus is Laid in the Tomb.

Minister. We adore thee, O Christ, and we bless thee:

Answer. Because by thy holy cross and precious blood thou hast redeemed the world.

When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus’ disciple. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered.

And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock; and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre.

Minister. Thou shalt not leave my soul in hell:

Answer. Neither shalt thou suffer thy Holy One to see corruption.

Let us pray. (Silence) O GOD, whose blessed Son was laid in a sepulchre in a garden, and rested on the Sabbath day: Grant that we who have been buried with him in baptism may find our perfect rest in his eternal and glorious kingdom; where he liveth and reigneth, world without end. Amen.

¶ Minister and people.

Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy Immortal One, Have mercy upon us.

Let us pray.

SAVIOUR of the world, by thy cross and precious blood you have redeemed us: Save us and help us, we humbly beseech three, O Lord. Amen.

WE thank thee, heavenly Father, for that thou hast delivered us from the dominion of sin and death and hast brought us into the kingdom of thy Son; and we pray that, as by his death he hath recalled us to life, so by his love he may raise us to joys eternal; who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen.

TO Christ our Lord who loves us, and washed us in his own blood, and hath made us a kingdom of priests to serve his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Notes on Use

• Use especially in Lent and Holy Week, or at other times of penitential devotion.
• Plan movement between stations in advance, including any hymns or silences.
• The repeated responses should be printed or clearly led so all can participate.

Liturgical Structure

• Opening prayers
• Stations with Scripture and collects
• Lord's Prayer
• Concluding devotion
• Blessing

Theological Themes

• Christ's Passion as the way of salvation.
• Repentance, gratitude, and perseverance.
• The cross as redemption, discipleship, and hope.

Source

This text is transcribed from the official Reformed Episcopal Church PDF.

See Also

• Book of Common Prayer
• Reformed Episcopal Church
• Anglican liturgy
• Book of Occasional Services (Reformed Episcopal Church)
• Via Dolorosa (Stations)
• The Blessing of Palms and Procession
• Blessing of the Paschal Candle