High Stations of the Cross at Lourdes, FRANCE

Opening Prayer 
Lord Jesus, Grant us the tears we lack, that our sins may be washed clean.
Grant us the courage to implore your mercy.
On the day of your final judgment tear out the pages listing our sins and consign them to oblivion.
Lord Jesus, you repeat to us the words you once spoke to Peter: “Come, follow me”.Obedient to your summons, we wish to follow you, step by step, along the way of your Passion,
so that we too may learn to think as God thinks and not by human standards.
Amen.

The First Station

Jesus is Condemned

    As God's own people we have Christ as our head. He delivered Himself up for our sins. In accepting a cruel death He won for us  the right to eternal bliss with God our Father.

The Second Station

Jesus Takes His Cross

As the redeemed of the Lord we are called to walk in the footsteps of the humble, cross-bearing Christ. Each of us has his daily cross to bear to be worthy to share our Savior's glory.

The Third Station

The First Fall

The only safe way to the promised land is the way of the cross. As Pilgrims here, we retrace the same path Christ trod for our salvation. Through trial and affliction we go forward with eyes fixed on our heavenly goal.

The Fourth Station

Jesus meets his Mother

The Mother of Jesus cares for all the redeemed who still journey on this earth. Her spiritual maternity will last until all the elect are safe in the heavenly fatherland. She helps us on the sorrowful way to keep our gaze focused on our true home.

The Fifth Station

Simon of Cyrene Helps Jesus

Love of God and of neighbor marks the true disciple of Christ. When God was a very close neighbor, Simon of Cyrene hesitated. He had to be compelled to help our Redeemer carry his cross.

The Sixth Station

Veronica Wipes Jesus' Face 

As God's chosen ones we are to show mercy and compassion in our dealings with others. It is our mission to comfort the sorrowing, to put new heart into the disheartened, and to raise the spirits of those we meet.

The Seventh Station

Jesus Falls Again

As God's own people we continue our search for a future and abiding city. The road is long and rugged, not always easy to follow. When we fall we must rise again like our Savior on the way to Calvary.

The Eighth Station

Jesus Speaks to the Women

The theater of our earthly pilgrimage is sometimes a valley of tears. The daughters of Jerusalem weeping for our Savior were reminded, as we are now, that they had reason to weep for themselves and their children.

The Ninth Station

The Third Fall

Our Cross-Bearer stumbled a third time in the dust, yet won a name which is above all names. But the hour of shame had to precede His hour of glory. So must it be for all of us, the people He has redeemed.

The Tenth Station

Jesus is Stripped of His Clothing

We purify and renew ourselves that the vision of Christ may shine more brightly in the church and the world. So we strip ourselves of deeds of darkness; we cast off all hindrances to our growth in the new life of Christ.

The Eleventh Station

Jesus is Nailed to the Cross

They crucified Him, mocked His dignity and deprived Him of physical freedom. Thus He acquired for us our heritage, the dignity and freedom of the sons of God.

The Twelfth Station

Jesus Dies on the Cross

He was holy, innocent, undefiled. He knew nothing of sin, but came to blot out the sins of the world. He proved His love by laying down His life for us.

The Thirteenth Station

Jesus is Taken Down from the Cross

At the end of our earthly journey we, like our blessed Redeemer, are taken down from the cross of this life. United with Him in the likeness of His death, we shall be so in the likeness of His resurrection also.

The Fourteenth Station

Jesus is Laid in the Tomb

In God's plan each of us becomes acquainted with suffering until finally death closes our eyes. But the grave will not hold us captives forever. In God's hour we shall rise, nevermore to die.

Fifteenth Station

The Resurrection

Closing Prayer

God, our heavenly Father, we raise our minds and hearts to You in praise and thanksgiving. Though weak and sinful, we wish to follow Your only Son, our Lord Jesus, on the way of the cross. May our Holy Spirit help us use our Savior's strength effectively in our place in life.

We ask the special aid of our blessed Lady, ever Virgin and Mother, in following Christ and in making His way of the cross our way of life. Amen.

These photos were taken during a pilgrimage to Lourdes France in 1993, they depict the 14 stations in life sized bronze statues.