Stations of the Cross

The Stations Of The Cross Images for the Stations Were photographed at The National Carmelite Shrine, Holy Hill, in Wisconsin, USA

For My Parents, John and Mary Astell

Lent 2012 Brookline, NH

Holy Face of Jesus Through the many ways you were Disfigured during your Passion, May we be brought into the fullness of Life with You. May your Holy Church be renewed and Your Truth revealed and known by all.

Holy Face O Face Divine Be Every Adoration Thine Amen

First Station: Jesus is Condemned to die.

We adore Thee O Christ and we Praise Thee Because by Thy Holy Cross , Thou hast redeemed the world.

Jesus, you were completely innocent and yet you allowed mere man to have power over you and to condemn you to death. How often we condemn others in our thoughts or words. Forgive us and change our hearts so we seek to remove the beam from our own eye before we try to take the splinter from our brother’s eye. Give us all the ability to see clearly , what is right and what is wrong, so that we might act in a just manner. Give us the courage to stand up against injustice even when it is unpopular or will work against us to do so. Help us never to use excuses or turn away and wash our hands, doing and saying nothing, like Pilate did.

Eternal Father , I offer Thee the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your dearly Beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ ,who was condemned to death though innocent, in reparation for my sins and the sins of the whole world.

Eternal Father I offer thee the tears of the Sorrowful Mother who loved Jesus most here on earth, and who loves Jesus most ardently in heaven.

For the sake of the tears of our Holy Mother, please hear my/our prayers.

Amen

Second Station: Jesus takes up His Cross

We adore Thee of Christ and We praise Thee because by Thy Holy Cross Thou has redeemed the world.

O Jesus, I reflect upon how you willingly embraced your cross, knowing it would help all people who would choose to follow after you. My cross is small compared to the cross of many others. My cross is merited by my own sins. Help me to embrace any sufferings in my life with love and join those sacrifices to your cross so that together we can share in the Father’s work of salvation. I offer my cross, my every day trials and sufferings in union with all the masses said throughout the world for the conversion of the world and the coming of Your Kingdom.

Eternal Father, I offer Thee the Body. Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your dearly beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, who took up the cross at Calvary with love, in reparation for my sins and for the sins of the whole world.

Eternal Father, behold the tears of the Sorrowful Mother who loved Jesus most on earth and who loves Jesus most ardently in Heaven. For the sake of Our Mother’s sorrowful tears , please hear my/our prayers.

Amen

The Third Station: Jesus Falls the First Time

We adore Thee O Christ and we praise Thee.

Because by Thy Holy Cross , Thou has redeemed the world.

Jesus, like a silent lamb, they led you to the slaughter. Give me a generous heart willing to accept the crosses in my own life and to come to the assistance of others falling beneath their cross. May my heart beat a song of love for you all along the way and for all those around me. Help me never to add to the weight of other crosses through my own indifference and lack of love I pray that for all those who feel unwanted and feel they are a burden to others. I pray for those in leadership roles to have the graces they need to carry that cross as a true servant willing to use their leadership to help others. With your grace and help we can overcome all our trials and difficulties.

Eternal Father, I offer Thee the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of your dearly beloved son, our Lord Jesus Christ , who fell beneath the cross. in reparation for my sins and the sins of the whole world.

Eternal Father, I offer Thee the tears of the Sorrowful Mother who loved Jesus most on earth and who loves Jesus most ardently in heaven. For the sake of Our Mother’s sorrowful tears, please hear my/our prayers.

The Fourth Station: Jesus Meets His Mother

We adore Thee O Christ and we praise Thee, because by Thy Holy Cross, Thou has redeemed the world.

On this Fourth Station we reflect on the meeting of Mary and her Son at Calvary. United in their glance, they each wanted to comfort the other and so their two hearts beat as one at this moment. We reflect on the misery and disunity brought into the world by the first original sin and how we all long to return to the original unity between God and man. Mary as the Second Eve and Christ as the Second Adam , give us this example of unity. I pray for true unity in the Church through sharing one faith and overcoming all discord and false teachings, that we may all be one as Christ was one with His Father and with His Mother.

Eternal Father, I offer Thee the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of your dearly beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, who met His Mother on the road of Calvary. in reparation for my sins and the sins of the whole world.

Eternal Father, I offer Thee the tears of the Sorrowful Mother who loved Jesus most on earth and who loves Jesus most ardently in heaven. For the sake of Our Mother’s sorrowful tears, please hear my/our prayers.

Amen

The Fifth Station: Simon is Forced to Assist Jesus

We adore Thee O Christ and we praise Thee because by Thy Holy Cross Thou has redeemed the world.

Simon was taken by force and unwillingly made to assist Jesus in carrying the cross. The cross was heavy at first but the love of Christ enveloped and overcame Simon so that the bitterness of the task became sweet and he embraced the cross, finding in it a sense of peace. On this station I pray for all Priests and religious men and women who have chosen a vocation that serve your church and people in the world. I pray that what may seem hard and a great sacrifice to the world, will be found by Priests and religious to be a sweet blessing, consolation and joy. May they find the special closeness to Christ which is at the heart of all religious vocations.

Eternal Father, I offer Thee the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of your dearly Beloved Son, our Lord, Jesus Christ who was assisted by Simon, In reparation for my sins and the sins of the whole world.

Eternal Father, I offer Thee the tears of the Sorrowful Mother who loved Jesus most on earth and who loves Jesus most ardently in heaven. For the sake of Our Mother’s sorrowful tears, please hear my/our prayers.

Amen

The Sixth Station: Veronica Wipes the Face of Jesus

We adore Thee O Christ and we praise Thee because by Thy Holy Cross Thou has redeemed the world.

Veronica was a courageous woman Lord. In the midst of an angry mob she approached you and wiped the blood from your face. This small act of kindness meant so much to you and I am glad that there was someone at Calvary who offered you consolation. I pray for all those who have been kind to me in my own life. Sometimes just a smile has meant a lot at the right moment. May all the kind words and actions of others be blessed and rewarded by you my Lord who sees even the smallest act of kindness that we do.

Eternal Father, I offer Thee the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your dearly beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, whose face was wiped by Veronica, in atonement for my sins and the sins of the whole world.

Eternal Father, I offer Thee the tears of the Sorrowful Mother who loved Jesus most on earth and who loves Jesus most ardently in heaven. For the sake of Our Mother’s sorrowful tears, please hear my/our prayers.

Amen

The Seventh Station: Jesus Falls the Second Time

We adore Thee O Christ and we praise Thee because by Thy Holy Cross thou has redeemed the world.

On this station we reflect on Christ’s second fall. This fall reminds us that we, too, have fallen over and over again into the same offenses. Give us the humility of true contrition and the grace of good confessions. Help us to rise again from our falls with an increase of self -knowledge recognizing our need and dependence on Your grace and aid. I pray in reparation for my own sins or pride and vanity. I pray for all those caught in sins of addiction who fall over and over again because they are caught physically or spiritually by drugs, alcohol or other forms of addiction. I ask for the help we all need to overcome these obstacles in our lives.

Eternal Father, I offer Thee the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of your dearly beloved Son, our Lord, Jesus Christ, who fell a many times, in reparation for my sins and the sins of the whole world.

Eternal Father, I offer Thee the tears of the Sorrowful Mother who loved Jesus most on earth and who loves Jesus most ardently in heaven. For the sake of Our Mother’s sorrowful tears, please hear my/our prayers.

Amen

The Eight h Station: Jesus Speaks to the Women of Jerusalem

We adore Thee O Christ and we praise Thee because by Thy Holy Cross Thou has redeemed the world.

Jesus, You stopped and spoke to these women in the midst of Your Passion. You gave them words to reflect upon to strengthen them for what You knew would be great trials for them in their own lives. How they must have wondered at your wisdom. Did they understand your words to them? Do I hear your words to me and do I understand? Lord , You died to bring us into a full union and life with God, open our hearts and minds to hear You as You speak to us through the events of our lives, through your Church, and the sacred scriptures.

Eternal Father, I offer you the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your dearly beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, who spoke to the women of Jerusalem, in reparation for my sins and the sins of the whole world.

Eternal Father I offer you the tears of the sorrowful Mother who loved Jesus most on earth and who loves Him most ardently in heaven. For the sake of our Mother’s sorrowful tears, please hear my/our prayers.

Amen

The Ninth Station: Jesus Falls the Third Time

We adore Thee O Christ and we praise Thee Because by Thy Holy Cross Thou has redeemed the world.

The third fall of Jesus is the fall of complete exhaustion. We all come to points of exhaustion and times when we feel we can hardly keep going on with the many responsibilities we may shoulder or the worries which may burden us in our lives. The burdens of our lives should all be buried in Your third fall Jesus, so that with You we can rise again always with hope in our hearts. I pray for anyone who is in danger of deep despair in their life that you will give them hope and peace. Anchor us in your Love.

Eternal Father, I offer Thee the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of your dearly beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, who fell the third time at Calvary, in atonement for my sins and the sins of the whole world.

Eternal Father, I offer Thee the tears of the Sorrowful Mother who loved Jesus most on earth and who loves Jesus most ardently in heaven. For the sake of Our Mother’s sorrowful tears, please hear my/our prayers.

Amen

The Tenth Station: Jesus is Stripped of His Garments

We adore Thee O Christ and we praise Thee , because by Thy Holy Cross Thou has redeemed the world.

Jesus, your garments were stripped from your body and you suffered the opening of many wounds all over again. Exhausted in every way you suffered exposure to shame and every kind of insult. These wounds are what we give You Jesus, while you offer all of us every possible mercy and chance for healing. I pray for peace throughout the world. I pray that all people will willingly lay down their hatred for others and any intentions to bring harm. Jesus, may we all find the graces necessary to belong to You, who gave up everything for all of us. May Holy Wisdom be imparted to every person and all nations seeking justice and right judgment right now.

Eternal Father I offer Thee the Body, the Blood, the Soul and the Divinity of Your dearly beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, whose robe was torn from His body. in reparation for my sins and the sins of the whole world.

Eternal Father, I offer Thee the tears of the Sorrowful Mother who loved Jesus most on earth and who loves Jesus most ardently in heaven. For the sake of Our Mother’s sorrowful tears, please hear my/our prayers.

Amen

The Eleventh Station: Jesus is Nailed to the Cross

We adore Thee O Christ and we praise Thee , Because by Thy Holy Cross , Thou has redeemed the world.

Jesus, the word ‘excruciating’ refers to the pain of your passion and death on Calvary. I cannot imagine how you were able to endure the whole ordeal. I can imagine that your Holy Mother felt each stroke of the hammer in as the nails entered Your hands and feet in her own heart. By these bitter and deep wounds which you shared with Mary, I pray for healing in our wounded world filled as it is with violence of man against other men. We have wars, slavery, abuse of children, —every kind of act of hatred. Like Cain we are guilty of killing our own brother. Please help all this to end and bring to us a new era of Your Peace.

Eternal Father I offer Thee the Body, the Blood, the Soul and the Divinity of Your dearly beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, who was nailed to the cross, in reparation for my sins and the sins of the whole world.

Eternal Father, I offer Thee the tears of the Sorrowful Mother who loved Jesus most on earth and who loves Jesus most ardently in heaven. For the sake of Our Mother’s sorrowful tears, please hear my/our prayers.

Amen

The Twelfth Station: Jesus Dies on the Cross

We adore Thee O Christ and we praise Thee , because by Thy Holy Cross Thou has redeemed the world.

Lord, Your arms are spread open to receive every one, and through Your death the graces have been won for the salvation of all the world and the renewal of all of creation. You have reversed our first Parent’s sin completely and yet you leave it to us to co-operate with the graces you have won. You never force anything on us. Love is freely given but it must be freely received. Open our hearts. May none of the blood shed for us on Calvary be in vain. I pray for myself and for all my loved ones and for every person in the world to find you and accept you into their lives. I pray for non-believers and for the luke warm believer to realize the depth of Your love that their hearts may be set on fire with love.

Eternal Father I offer Thee the Body, the Blood, the Soul and the Divinity of Your dearly beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, who died on the cross, in reparation for my sins and the sins of the whole world.

Eternal Father, I offer Thee the tears of the Sorrowful Mother who loved Jesus most on earth and who loves Jesus most ardently in heaven. For the sake of Our Mother’s sorrowful tears, please hear my/our prayers.

Amen

The Thirteenth Station: Jesus is Taken Down from the Cross.

We adore Thee O Christ and we praise Thee , Because by Thy Holy Cross, Thou has redeemed the world.

Mary received you once as a small child, an infant new born. Now she receives you, Lord Jesus, mangled and disfigured, bruised and beaten. She does not shrink from you nor did she lose her faith in you. Mary was strong at the foot of the cross, continually saying yes to God’s Will, even when it meant the death of Jesus, who was her whole reason for living and being.

Thank you Jesus and Mary for all you suffered. I pray for an end to abortion Lord. May every child be welcomed and received. May each life be seen as precious no matter how frail or disabled. Each was made in your image Lord and we do not have the right to take their life from them or to shrink from them as if they are less than human..

Eternal Father I offer Thee the Body, the Blood, the Soul and the Divinity of Your dearly beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, who was taken down from the cross, in reparation for my sins and the sins of the whole world.

Eternal Father, I offer Thee the tears of the Sorrowful Mother who loved Jesus most on earth and who loves Jesus most ardently in heaven. For the sake of Our Mother’s sorrowful tears, please hear my/our prayers.

Amen

The Fourteenth Station: Jesus Is Laid in the Tomb

We adore Thee O Christ and we praise Thee , Because by Thy Holy Cross Thou has redeemed the world Lord we reflect upon Your burial. The Lord of All Life is now wrapped in linens and carried to a cold sepulcher. You are sealed in the quiet of the earth like that small seed you spoke of in the parables, a seed which was to grow into a great tree and all the birds of the air would dwell in its branches. Jesus you are the Tree of Life and Your nourish us every time we approach the sacraments and receive You in Communion. We pray for all the deceased loved ones in our family and for all the sick and dying, may all find Your healing Presence and the graces which they need at this present moment in time.

Eternal Father, we offer Thee the Body, the Blood, the Soul and Divinity of Your dearly Beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ , who was wrapped in a Shroud and buried in a tomb, in atonement for our sins and the sins of the whole world.

Eternal Father, I offer Thee the tears of the Sorrowful Mother who loved Jesus most on earth and who loves Him most ardently in heaven. For the sake of Our Mother’s sorrowful tears, please hear my/our prayers.

Amen

In Memoriam Father Francis Cotter OCDS Who was my spiritual director when he lived in Peterborough, NH. Lord, may Your Eternal rest shine upon his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed. Amen Please say a Hail Mary for his soul and the souls of all departed priests and religious.

Holy Face Studio Brookline, NH