Most parishes throughout the country offer Stations of the Cross on Fridays during Lent. While most use the traditional Way of the Cross, my parish here in Raleigh began mixing it up by using St. John Paul II’s version, from 1991.
JPII prayed Via Crucis on Good Friday, 1991, in the Vatican. It has been transcribed, and published in various forms, and we’ve brought it to you here!
It has a heavy focus on the Scriptural accounts of Jesus’ passion and death. JPII also dropped a few stations and added some others, such as Jesus being Betrayed by Judas. Praying the Stations of the Cross offer an important reflection of Jesus’ sacrifice for us.
O Jesus Christ, my Lord, with what great love you traveled the painful road which led to your death — and how often have I abandoned you. But now I love you with my whole soul, and because I love you, I am sincerely sorry for having offended you. My Jesus, pardon me, and permit me to accompany you on this journey. You died for love of me, and it is my wish, O my dearest Redeemer, to be willing to die for love of you. O my beloved Jesus, in your love I wish to live, and in your love I wish to die. Amen.
St. Alphonsus
JPII’s Via Crucis is interesting to those that want a mild change while they pray the Stations. Feel free to print and redistribute our copy linked below!
Stations with St. John Paul II (Handout version)
For other prayers, visit our Prayers and Novenas page!
