Holy Week - Monday - Stations of the Cross

One traditional way of marking Lent, especially in Passiontide - the last two weeks of Lent - is 'The Stations of the Cross'.

It's a powerful and immersive way to reflect on Jesus' Passion.

These stations were painted by Eleanor Ferguson (Instagram @eferguson_artist) - many thanks to her for allowing them be reproduced here.
(These were painted for a church near Cambridge. She has also painted a set for Selwyn College, Cambridge, which can be found on her Instagram.)

Each station has some words of introduction, and perhaps then a Bible reading. After some time for reflection/meditation/prayer, these words are used before moving to the next station: 'Holy God, holy and strong, holy and immortal, have mercy on us'.)

It may be that you'd like to walk 'The Way of the Cross' in one go, or perhaps split the 14 stations up over a few days this week. Either way, the introductions and conclusion should be used each time.
You may also like to use this chant to aid your reflections at each station: O Lord, hear my prayer.


_ _ _ _


The Stations of the Cross


Introduction

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.

Jesus told his disciples, 'If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.'

Matthew 16.24-25

Once we were far off, but now in union with Christ Jesus we have been brought near through the shedding of Christ's blood, for he is our peace.

Ephesians 2.13-14

Almighty and everlasting God,
who in your tender love towards the human race sent your Son our Saviour Jesus Christ
to take upon him our flesh
and to suffer death upon the cross:
grant that we may follow the example of his patience and humility,
and also be made partakers of his resurrection;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
Amen.

Holy God,
holy and strong,
holy and immortal,
have mercy on us.

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you,
because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

Mark 15:1-5, 15

As soon as it was morning, the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council. They bound Jesus, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate. Pilate asked him, ‘Are you the King of the Jews?’ He answered him, ‘You say so.’ Then the chief priests accused him of many things. Pilate asked him again, ‘Have you no answer? See how many charges they bring against you.’ But Jesus made no further reply, so that Pilate was amazed. So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released Barabbas for them; and after flogging Jesus, he handed him over to be crucified. 

Holy God,

holy and strong,

holy and immortal,

have mercy on us.

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you,

because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

John 19:6, 15-17

When the chief priests and the police saw him, they shouted, ‘Crucify him! Crucify him!’ Pilate said to them, ‘Take him yourselves and crucify him; I find no case against him.’ They cried out, ‘Away with him! Away with him! Crucify him!’ Pilate asked them, ‘Shall I crucify your King?’ The chief priests answered, ‘We have no king but the emperor.’ Then he handed him over to them to be crucified.

So they took Jesus; and carrying the cross by himself, he went out to what is called The Place of the Skull, which in Hebrew is called Golgotha.

Holy God,
holy and strong,
holy and immortal,
have mercy on us.

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you,

because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

Holy God,

holy and strong,

holy and immortal,

have mercy on us.

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you,

because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

Holy God,

holy and strong,

holy and immortal,

have mercy on us.

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you,

because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

Mark 15:21

They compelled a passer-by, who was coming in from the country, to carry his cross; it was Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus.

Holy God,

holy and strong,

holy and immortal,

have mercy on us.

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you,

because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

Holy God,

holy and strong,

holy and immortal,

have mercy on us.

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you,

because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

Holy God,

holy and strong,

holy and immortal,

have mercy on us.

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you,

because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

Luke 23:27-31

A great number of the people followed him, and among them were women who were beating their breasts and wailing for him. But Jesus turned to them and said, ‘Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For the days are surely coming when they will say, “Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed.” Then they will begin to say to the mountains, “Fall on us”; and to the hills, “Cover us.” For if they do this when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?’

Holy God,

holy and strong,

holy and immortal,

have mercy on us.

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you,

because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

Holy God,

holy and strong,

holy and immortal,

have mercy on us.

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you,

because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

John 19:23-24

When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his clothes and divided them into four parts, one for each soldier. They also took his tunic; now the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from the top. So they said to one another, ‘Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see who will get it.’ This was to fulfil what the scripture says,
‘They divided my clothes among themselves,
   and for my clothing they cast lots.’

Holy God,

holy and strong,

holy and immortal,

have mercy on us.

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you,

because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

Luke 23:33-34

When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. [[ Then Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.’]] And they cast lots to divide his clothing.

Holy God,

holy and strong,

holy and immortal,

have mercy on us.

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you,

because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

Luke 23:44-46

It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, while the sun’s light failed; and the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, ‘Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.’ Having said this, he breathed his last.

Holy God,

holy and strong,

holy and immortal,

have mercy on us.

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you,

because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

Holy God,

holy and strong,

holy and immortal,

have mercy on us.

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you,

because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

Matthew 27:57-60

When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who was also a disciple of Jesus. He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus; then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. So Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn in the rock. He then rolled a great stone to the door of the tomb and went away.

Holy God,

holy and strong,

holy and immortal,

have mercy on us.

Conclusion

Let us pray for the coming of God's kingdom

in the words our Saviour taught 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,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever.
Amen.

Most merciful God,

who by the death and resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ

delivered and saved the world:

grant that by faith in him who suffered on the cross

we may triumph in the power of his victory;

through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,

Amen.

[Bible verses from NRSV, most liturgical material © The Archbishops' Council and can be found here.]