Opening Hymn: 

Scripture: John 12: 23-24, 26-28

The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. I solemnly assure you, unless the grain of wheat falls to the earth and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat.  But if it dies, it produces much fruit. … If anyone would serve me, let him follow me; where I am, there will my servant be. … It was for this that I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name!

Response:    In the mystery of his love, he calls us to follow him along the way of the evangelical counsels, inviting us to be with him and to be sent by him.  (Constitution 201)

Station 1:   JESUS IS CONDEMNED TO DEATH

L:     Rejected by his people, abandoned by his friends, condemned to death by Pilate … Jesus surrendered himself to the Father’s will for the redemption of the world.

♪  Lord, have mercy…

All:  Christ calls us to continue his obedience in our own lives.  By our free response through the vow of obedience, we follow him in his total submission to the will of the Father.   (Constitution 218)

Silent Reflection:

L:     We remember people condemned to death with HIV/AIDS and our Sisters who minister among them.

All:  We glory in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, for he is our salvation, our life, and our resurrection; through Him, we are saved and made free. 

Station 2:   JESUS ACCEPTS THE CROSS

L:     Jesus teaches us to take up our daily cross.  In Him and with Him, we experience disappointment, pain, weariness, and suffering.

♪   Christ, have mercy…

All:  Under his guidance we more clearly recognize the will of the Father in daily life and respond to it with increasing generosity, taking up our cross and following Christ radically.  (Constitution 414)

Silent Reflection:

L:     We remember those who will receive a cross of suffering to carry this day.

All:  We glory in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, for he is our salvation, our life, and our resurrection; through Him, we are saved and made free. 

Station 3: JESUS FALLS

L:     Jesus becomes one of those who are down, identifying with the poor and marginalized.

♪   Lord, have mercy….

All:  The poor and oppressed have a privileged place in our hearts.  We try to understand their living conditions better and to accept the challenges implied in a life lived in solidarity with the poor.  (Constitution 213)

Silent Reflection:

L:     We remember the many suffering under the weight of poverty and crushed by loneliness and despair, especially our Sisters in lonely and difficult areas.

All:  We glory in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, for he is our salvation, our life, and our resurrection; through Him, we are saved and made free. 

Station 4:   JESUS MEETS HIS MOTHER

L:     Mary is our model in her strong faith, firm hope, and ardent love for God.  We make our own her response: “I am the handmaid of the Lord; let what you have said be done to me”. (Constitution 407).

♪   Misericordia….  (Taize)

All:  … [Mary] was totally dedicated to the person and work of her Son.  Like her, we place ourselves completely at the disposal of God and serve him and his people in joy and trustfulness, in patience and kindness.   (Constitution 121)

Silent Reflection:

L:     We remember the mothers of the world who feel helpless and watch their children suffer from starvation, malnutrition, illness, drug addiction, violence, and war. 

All:  We glory in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, for he is our salvation, our life, and our resurrection; through him, we are saved and made free. 

Station 5:   JESUS IS HELPED BY SIMON

L:     Jesus accepts the companionship and assistance of Simon.

♪  Lord, have mercy…

All:  …  We appreciate, encourage and show interest in each other’s life and work.  The presence of the Spirit of Love in our midst is manifested in mutual trust and loving thoughtfulness….   (Constitutions 304)

Silent Reflection:

L:     We remember those who minister to others in hospitals and clinics, in social service agencies, and civil service.

All:  We glory in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, for he is our salvation, our life, and our resurrection; through Him, we are saved and made free. 

Station 6:   VERONICA WIPES THE FACE OF JESUS

L:     Veronica comes to the assistance of Jesus with courage and initiative.

♪  Christ, have mercy…

All:  Our commitment to the Lord and his service unfolds….   We are always on the way.  Courage, endurance, and joy on this pilgrimage come to us from the enriching presence of the Lord and the guidance of his Spirit.  …we do not make this journey alone but are accompanied by a community of sisters striving towards the same goal. (Constitution 223)

Silent Reflection:

L:     We remember those in leadership in the world community, the Church, and our Congregation that they lead by example, with courage and initiative.

All:  We glory in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, for he is our salvation, our life, and our resurrection; through Him, we are saved and made free.  

Station 7: JESUS FALLS

L:     The way is difficult, the journey of the cross is accompanied by discouragement and sometimes failure.  Lord, have mercy…

All:  …  With love and sincerity, we endeavor to overcome the tensions, misunderstandings, and failures that are unavoidable in our daily life.  When differences arise, an attitude of faith and humility will help us to take the first step towards reconciliation, mutual understanding, and acceptance. (Constitution 306)

Silent Reflection: 

1:     We remember our Sisters and Brothers and all people who fall beneath the weight of anger, misunderstanding, and hurtful words and actions.

All:  We glory in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, for he is our salvation, our life, and our resurrection; through Him, we are saved and made free.  

Station 8:   JESUS MEETS THE WOMEN OF JERUSALEM

L:     Jesus stands with those who weep and gives of his love and understanding.

♪  Misericordia…

All:  The love we share in the community flows out to others.  All who come in contact with us should be able to experience Christ’s kindness.  …we generously give our time and attention.   …we meet (others) with simplicity, courtesy, and sincerity of heart.   (Constitution 314)

Silent Reflection:

L:     We remember those who weep, the victims of trafficking of women and children.

All:  We glory in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, for he is our salvation, our life, and our resurrection; through Him, we are saved and made free.  

Station 9:   JESUS FALLS

L:     Falling again, Jesus gets up and gives us an example of perseverance in the midst of adversity.

♪   Lord, have mercy….

All:  In carrying out our mission, we live in the hope that the Spirit who began the work of salvation will bring it to completion.  … This assurance will enable us to carry on in the midst of trials, difficulties, and disappointments….  (Constitution 120)

Silent Reflection:

L:    We remember those who grow tired and weary in the way of their cross or in their service to others.

All:  We glory in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, for he is our salvation, our life, and our resurrection; through Him, we are saved and made free.  

Station 10: JESUS IS STRIPPED OF HIS GARMENTS

L:     Jesus stands alone and powerless, enfolded only by fidelity to God’s will.

♪  Christ, have mercy…

All:  Our life of poverty acquires deeper meaning when … we accept our dependence on God as his creatures and become inwardly free and detached from all earthly possessions and honors.  (Constitution 212)

Silent Reflection:

L:     We remember those whose lives are stripped by famine and war; slander and gossip; theft and lack of privacy.

All:  We glory in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, for he is our salvation, our life, and our resurrection; through Him, we are saved and made free.   

Station 11: JESUS IS NAILED TO THE CROSS

L:     Full of love, Jesus stretches forth his arms, embraces life, suffering, and death for all. 

♪ Lord, have mercy …

All:  …  In this spirit, we willingly carry out our duties and bear our personal limitations as well as the difficulties and demands of everyday life.  (Constitution 416)

Silent Reflection:

L:     We remember the sick, infirmed, and handicapped.   May they be patient, accept their illness and aging, and trust in God’s embracing love.

All:  We glory in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, for he is our salvation, our life, and our resurrection; through Him, we are saved and made free.   

Station 12: JESUS DIES ON THE CROSS

L:     Jesus Christ came not to do his own will but the will of the Father.  Moved by the Spirit of love he discerned and obeyed his Father’s will in the everyday circumstances of life  … and in his death on the cross.  He redeemed the world by his obedience.

♪  Misericordia…

All:  The supreme norm of our life of service is the self-surrender of Jesus Christ.  In the strength of the Holy Spirit, he fulfilled his Father’s mission and gave his life for the love of humankind.  Following the Lord in this way of life remains a challenge that can only be understood and answered in faith and love.  (Constitutions – Epilogue)

Silent Reflection / Prayer         (Peaceful Music) 

Station 13: JESUS IS TAKEN DOWN FROM THE CROSS

L:     With reverence and love, the body of Jesus is removed from the cross and laid in the arms of his mother.

♪  All honor, laud, and glory to you Redeemer, king…

All:  The union with Christ that attains its perfection when we return home to the Father is a source of joy …  If we allow Him to guide us throughout our religious life, and grow in our oneness of life and mission with Christ, we will become heralds of joy and signs of hope.  (Constitution 421)

Silent Reflection:

L:    We remember those who die alone with no one to remember them.

All:  We glory in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, for he is our salvation, our life, and our resurrection; through Him, we are saved and made free.  

Station 14: JESUS IS BURIED

L:     Through his life, suffering, death, and resurrection Jesus gathered all of humankind in a saving embrace of love.

♪  Misericordia…

All:  Jesus Christ took suffering and death upon himself to bring us to eternal life. … Strengthened in the Lord, we are able to contribute in a new way to the glory of the Triune God….  (Constitution 417)

Silent Reflection:

L:     We remember our deceased Sisters and Brothers of the Arnoldus Congregations, our parents and family members, relatives, friends and benefactors, and those who die this day.

All:  We glory in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, for he is our salvation, our life, and our resurrection; through Him, we are saved and made free.  

Station 15: THE RESURRECTION

L:     Through the power of his resurrection, Jesus is hope for all people. 

♪  Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ, You are the Savior of the world.

All:  God created the world through his Word and vivified the universe through his Spirit.  In his boundless love, he called all peoples to union with himself in glory.  …  The glorified Lord pours out his Spirit on the Church, making her an efficacious sign of salvation for all.   (Constitutions – Prologue)

Silent Reflection:

Hymn: “May the Holy Triune God”