A Way of the Cross for those Struggling in Marriage
by Patty Schneier
The First Station:
Jesus is Condemned to Death
We Adore You, O Christ, and we bless you.
Because, by your holy cross, you have redeemed the world.
Lord, do not let us condemn each other with our words. Do not let us condemn our marriage to divorce. Do not let us condemn one another with false accusations.
Our Father...Hail Mary...Glory Be
The Second Station:
Jesus Takes up his Cross
We Adore You, O Christ, and we bless you.
Because, by your holy cross, you have redeemed the world.
Lord, as you willingly embraced your cross and the road that lay in front of you, give us the courage and strength to walk this road of marriage counseling, healing, and reconciliation. It will be a long, hard road of work and sweat, pain and dying to self...Give us the courage to embrace it and be willing to walk it!
Our Father...Hail Mary...Glory Be
The Third Station:
Jesus Falls the First Time
We Adore You, O Christ, and we bless you.
Because, by your holy cross, you have redeemed the world.
Lord, we fall constantly and experience setbacks. We get angry and hurt over the littlest of things. Do not let setbacks discourage us. Help us to get back up after each fall. Give us both the grace to run to the Sacrament of Reconciliation every time we fall, so as to continue the journey.
Our Father...Hail Mary...Glory Be
The Fourth Station:
Jesus Takes up his Cross
We Adore You, O Christ, and we bless you.
Because, by your holy cross, you have redeemed the world.
Blessed Mother, just as you accompanied your son along the way, walk with us! Let us feel your maternal love and remember that we are never alone. Mary, "Undoer of Knots," lead us to Jesus and untie all the "knots" that prevent us from loving each other.
Our Father...Hail Mary...Glory Be
The Fifth Station:
Simon Helps Jesus Carry the Cross
We Adore You, O Christ, and we bless you.
Because, by your holy cross, you have redeemed the world.
Lord, we need HELP! Surround us with people who, like Simon, will help us carry this heavy cross. Give us the courage to seek Godly friends, solid resources, and wise counselors who will help save our marriage! We ask for the whole Church's power--especially the Sacraments--to come to our assistance. Put the right people in our lives at the right time to walk alongside us when the cross gets heavy.
Our Father...Hail Mary...Glory Be
The Sixth Station:
Veronica Wipes the Face of Jesus
We Adore You, O Christ, and we bless you.
Because, by your holy cross, you have redeemed the world.
Lord, despite the fact that your face was bruised and bleeding, Veronica still recognized you, and she stepped out with courage to perform one, tiny act of service--one random act of kindness. Give us eyes to see that we are both bruised and bleeding...but let us still recognize the beauty of the other person and do one small act of kindness for each other. Give us the courage to lovingly "wipe each other's face" to show tender mercy, and perhaps perform one random act of kindness for each other TODAY.
Our Father...Hail Mary...Glory Be
The Seventh Station:
Jesus Falls the Second Time
We Adore You, O Christ, and we bless you.
Because, by your holy cross, you have redeemed the world.
Lord, you fell again due to the weight of sin. Here we confront the repeated sins and habitual behaviors that wound us both. These are the ingrained patterns of distrust, rejection, rudeness, fear, pride, arrogance, blame, etc. Lord, these are the addictions and walls that must be addressed. When we face them, they seem impossible to overcome, and we fall under their weight. Please, Lord, we beg you...Give us the strength and endurance to get back up and get the help we need. Don't let us quit here. Help us to get back up.
Our Father...Hail Mary...Glory Be
The Eighth Station:
Jesus Meets the Holy Women
We Adore You, O Christ, and we bless you.
Because, by your holy cross, you have redeemed the world.
Lord, you said to the women, "Do not weep for me. Weep for yourselves and for your children." Give us the special grace to acknowledge and weep for our sins. Let the tears of repentance and acknowledgment bring healing and hope. Let us weep for the wounds we have caused each other and for the effects this has had on our children.
Our Father...Hail Mary...Glory Be
The Ninth Station:
Jesus Falls the Third Time
We Adore You, O Christ, and we bless you.
Because, by your holy cross, you have redeemed the world.
Lord, this fall was because you were so weak, you could barely go on. When we feel as if we "can't go on," give us your supernatural strength to somehow get back up--even when it seems impossible or pointless. We beg you for perseverance...SUPERNATURAL PERSEVERANCE! Can we get back up again? By your grace...yes.
Our Father...Hail Mary...Glory Be
Our Father...Hail Mary...Glory Be
The Tenth Station:
Jesus is Stripped
We Adore You, O Christ, and we bless you.
Because, by your holy cross, you have redeemed the world.
Lord, the humiliation and pain of being stripped naked must have been awful, but it was necessary. Strip away everything -- EVERYTHING -- that gets in our way of loving each other. Strip away our desire to be "right." Strip away our pride, anger, bitterness, lies, distortions, insecurities, fears, accusations, false perceptions, old wounds... Strip away things and attachments, false gods and addictions. Strip away grudges. Strip it all away, Lord.
Our Father...Hail Mary...Glory Be
The Eleventh Station:
Jesus is Nailed to the Cross
We Adore You, O Christ, and we bless you.
Because, by your holy cross, you have redeemed the world.
Did the Roman Soldier even comprehend what he was doing? Did he realize how much pain he caused when he nailed your hands adn feet, Lord? OR was he oblivious to your agony, nad just kept hammering away? How often have we been just like that Roman Soldier? Help us comprehend and realize each other's pain. Let us not be oblivious any longer... show us how we have hurt each other and give us the grace to humbly, sincerely ask for forgiveness.
Our Father...Hail Mary...Glory Be
The Twelfth Station:
Jesus Dies on the Cross
We Adore You, O Christ, and we bless you.
Because, by your holy cross, you have redeemed the world.
"Father, forgive them. They know not what they are doing." Beaten, spit upon, mocked, tortured, rejected...and yet, Lord, you remained on the cross and forgave them. You CHOSE love and forgiveness. Help us to do the same. Let love and mercy triumph over all evil, all sin, all past wounds. Help us choose love. Give us both the courage to climb up on the cross and "die to self." TOTALLY. The power of your passion and death on the cross is REAL, and it is far greater than anything on the planet. Help us to know it, feel it, and experience it!
Our Father...Hail Mary...Glory Be
The Thirteenth Station:
Jesus is Taken Down from the Cross
We Adore You, O Christ, and we bless you.
Because, by your holy cross, you have redeemed the world.
Lord, you look dead. You are dead. And yet, we know by faith that the story isn't over. And so, we pray that even if our marriage looks dead, seems dead, IS actually dead, that you will give us the eyes to see beyond all outward appearances. Give us the faith to believe in the power of the resurrection and the hope to know that our story isn't over!
Our Father...Hail Mary...Glory Be
The Fourteenth Station:
Jesus is Laid in the Tomb
We Adore You, O Christ, and we bless you.
Because, by your holy cross, you have redeemed the world.
Now we must wait. Through the cold darkness and the unknown, we will wait in faith. Resurrection is coming! Give us patience in this time of healing. Jesus, break through with Resurrection power! Make all things new in our marriage. We believe in the power of your Resurrection to do all things!! The victory is yours! Jesus, we trust in you. Amen
Our Father...Hail Mary...Glory Be