THE STATIONS OF THE CROSS 

The Stations of the Cross constitute a major devotion in the Catholic World. They surround the various Sacred places which were personally sanctified by the sufferings and death of our Divine Savior.

Originally, this pious practice was limited to Jerusalem and its environs. Gradually it became universal as several Popes granted plenary and partial indulgences to the faithful who devoutly meditate on the Way of the Cross.

INDULGENCES ARE:
 

1. A plenary indulgence every time the devotion is completed.

2. An additional plenary indulgence if one receives Holy Communion on the same day.

3. Also an additional plenary indulgence if one performs the devotion ten times and receives Holy Communion within a month after so doing.

4. A partial indulgence of ten years for every Station made if one was not able to finish the Stations.
   

Any one of the following  conditions, suffices for gaining the indulgence:
 

1. PRIVATELY . Walking from Station to Station , whether  the Stations be indoors or outdoors.
    

2.  When making it as a devotion with the priest, , it suffices for the priest ,with the altar boys , to do so.
    

3. Meditate at each Station on the sufferings of our Lord.

4. Praying  the Stations Of The Cross at  home , before a picture of each station & a blessed , is now an acceptable devotion for the gaining of the Plenary Indulgence.

These conditions are essential. 

THE DIVINE PRAISES

Blessed be God.
Blessed be His Holy Name.
Blessed be Jesus Christ, true God and true man.
Blessed be the Name of Jesus!
Blessed be His Most Sacred Heart!
Blessed be Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar!
Blessed be the great Mother of God, Mary most holy!
Blessed be her holy and Immaculate Conception!
Blessed be her glorious Assumption!
Blessed be the name of Mary, Virgin and Mother!
Blessed be St. Joseph, her most chaste spouse!
Blessed be God in His Angels and in His Saints!

PRAYER BEFORE A CRUCIFIX

Look down upon me, good and gently Jesus, while before Thy face I humbly kneel; and with burning soul pray and beseech Thee to fix deep in my heart lively sentiments of faith, hope and charity, true contrition for my sins and a firm purpose of amendment. While with great love and tender pity I contemplate Thy five wounds, pondering over them within me, calling to mind the words which David, Thy prophet, said of Thee, my Jesus: "They have pierced My hands and My feet; they have numbered all My bones."

PRAYER

O God, Who in this wonderful Sacrament, hast left us a memorial of Thy Passion, grant us, we beseech Thee, so to reverence the sacred Mysteries of Thy Body and Blood, that our souls may be always sensible of the fruit of Thy Redemption. Who livest and reignest world without end. Amen.
 

THE FIFTEEN PROMISES OF ETERNAL LIFE TO CHRISTIANS WHO

 MAKE THE STATIONS OF THE CROSS