Mass Vespers and Stations of the Cross (Copy)
Friday after Ash Wednesday
The psalm and canticles recitation will alternate between the presider’s side (I) and the ambo side (II). The Mass antiphons, the ending antiphons, and the Magnificat will be said in unison (U). (L) indicates Leader.
Entrance Antiphon
U: The Lord heard and had mercy on me; the Lord became my helper.
L: Day after day I will bless you, Lord; I will tell of your marvelous deeds.
Psalm 145/I
I: I will give you glory, O God my king, I will bless your name forever.
II: I will bless you day after day and praise your name forever.
The LORD is great, highly to be praised, his greatness cannot be measured.
I: Age to age shall proclaim your works, shall declare your mighty deeds, shall speak of your splendor and glory, tell the tale of your wonderful works.
II: They speak of your terrible deeds, recount your greatness and might.
They will recall your abundant goodness; Age to age shall ring out your justice.
I: The LORD is kind and full of compassion, slow to anger, abounding in love.
How good is the Lord to all, compassionate to all his creatures.
II: All your creatures shall thank you, O LORD, and your friends shall repeat their blessings. They shall speak of the glory of your reign and declare your might, O God,
I: To make known to men your mighty deeds and the glorious splendor of your reign.
Yours is an everlasting kingdom; your rule lasts from age to age.
II: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
I: As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.
U: Day after day I will bless you, Lord; I will tell of your marvelous deeds.
L: To you alone, Lord, we look with confidence; you are ever close to those who call upon you.
Psalm 145/II
I: The LORD is faithful in all his words and loving in all his deeds.
The LORD supports all who fall and raises all who are bowed down.
II: The eyes of all creatures look to you and you give them their food in due time.
You open wide your hand, grant the desires of all who live.
I: The LORD is just in all his ways, and loving in all his deeds.
He is close to all who call him, who call on him from their hearts.
II: He grants the desires of those who fear him, he hears their cry and he saves them.
The LORD protects all who love him; but the wicked he will utterly destroy.
I: Let me speak the praise of the LORD, let all mankind bless his holy name for ever, for ages unending.
II: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
I: As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
U: To you alone, Lord, we look with confidence; you are ever close to those who call upon you.
L: King of all the ages, your ways are perfect and true.
Canticle - Revelation 15:3-4
I: Mighty and wonderful are your works, Lord God almighty!
Righteous and true are your ways, O King of the nations.
II: Who would dare refuse you honor, or the glory due your name, O Lord?
I: Since you alone are holy, all the nations will come and worship in your presence.
Your mighty deeds are clearly seen.
II: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
I: As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.
U: King of all the ages, your ways are perfect and true.
The Mass continues as normal.
Responsorial Psalm
U: A heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.
Communion Antiphon
U: O Lord, make me know your ways, teach me your paths.
L: When the bridegroom is taken away from them, then will be the time for the wedding guests to fast.
U: +My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord
My spirit rejoices in God my savior
For he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed:
The Almighty has done great things for me,
And holy is his name.
He has mercy on those who fear him in every generation.
He has shown the strength of his arm,
He has scattered the proud in their conceit.
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
And the rich he has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel
For he has remembered his promise of mercy,
The promise he made to our fathers,
To Abraham and to his children forever.
U: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.
When the bridegroom is taken away from them, then will be the time for the wedding guests to fast.
Blessing and Dismissal
Marian Way of the Cross
Opening Prayer
Leader: Mary stood by her Son throughout His passion and, in her faith, experienced the joy of His resurrection. Tonight’s station of the cross attempts to enkindle a sense of both powerful repentance and grateful redemption as we walk Jesus’ last steps with His Mother. To feel with her the “sword of sorrow,” the confusion, the feelings of helplessness, as well as her ever-present faith, will hopefully lead us to an experience of redemption and conversion.
Reader 1: My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my Savior. For He has looked with favor on His lowly servant. From this day all generations will call me blessed. The Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his Name. He has mercy on those who fear him in every generation. He has shown the strength of his arm, he has scattered the proud in their conceit. He has cast down the mighty from their thrones and has lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. He has come to the help of his servant Israel for he has remembered his promise of mercy, the promise he made to our fathers, to Abraham and his children forever.
First Station
Leader: The First Station: Jesus is condemned to die
Leader: We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You.
[Genuflect]
All: Because by your holy Cross You have redeemed the world.
Reader 1: It was early Friday morning when I saw my son. That was the first glimpse I had of him since they took him away. His bruised and bleeding skin sent a sword of pain deep into my heart and tears down my cheeks. Then Pilate, from his chair of judgment, asked the crowd why they wanted my son executed. All around me they shouted, “Crucify him!” I wanted to plead with them to stop, but I knew this had to be. So, I stood by and cried silently.
Reader 2: Lord Jesus, it is hard for us to imagine the anguish your mother felt at your condemnation. But what about today, when we hold a grudge…? When we judge others…? Doesn’t this bring tears of anguish to both you and your mother? Forgive us, Jesus. Amen
Leader: Let us pray:
All: Lord Jesus, you were condemned to death because of our sins. Save us from condemnation by uniting us in your passion and death. We ask this in your holy name. Amen.
All sing:
At the cross her station keeping,
Mary stood in sorrow, weeping,
When her Son was crucified.
Second Station
Leader: The Second Station: Jesus takes up his cross
Leader: We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You.
[Genuflect]
All: Because by your holy Cross You have redeemed the world.
Reader 1: Regaining a little strength, I walked with the crowds to the entrance of the square. A door flew open, and my son stumbled out, the guards laughing behind him. Two men dragged over a heavy wooden cross and dropped it on his shoulders. Then they shoved him down the road. My pain for him was unbearable. I wanted to take the cross from him and carry it myself. But I knew this had to be, so I walked on silently.
Reader 2: Lord Jesus, we beg you to forgive us for the many times we have added more weight to your cross by closing our eyes to the pain and loneliness of our neighbors. Forgive us for gossiping about others and for always trying to find excuses to avoid certain people who wish to talk with us. Help us to be like Mary, always seeking to lighten the crosses of others. Forgive us, Jesus. Amen.
Leader: Let us pray:
All: Lord Jesus, fill us with the same holy obedience with which you accepted your cross. Free us from all cowardice and fear. We ask this in the holy name of Jesus. Amen.
All sing:
While she waited in her anguish,
Seeing Christ in torment languish,
Bitter sorrow pierced her heart.
Third Station
Leader: The Third Station: Jesus falls the first time
Leader: We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You.
[Genuflect]
All: Because by your holy Cross You have redeemed the world.
Reader 1: I followed close behind my son as he stumbled toward Calvary. Nothing had ever hurt me more than to see him in such pain. I saw the cross digging into his shoulders. My heart dropped when I saw him fall, his face to the ground, the heavy cross landing squarely on his back. For a moment I thought my beloved son was dead. Now, my whole body began to tremble. Then the guards kicked him. He rose slowly and began to walk again, yet they still whipped him. I wanted to protect him with my own body. But I knew this had to be, so I walked on and wept silently.
Reader 2: Lord, how often have we seen you fall, and, unlike Mary, have left you there without concern? How often have we seen people make mistakes and laughed at them? How often do we find ourselves getting angry when someone does things differently? Mary offered you her support through your entire passion. Help us to do the same for you by the support we give to others. Have mercy on us. Amen.
Leader: Let us pray:
All: Lord Jesus, may we know God’s providence in all that befalls us. May our perseverance in suffering raise us up to new life with you.
All sing:
With what pain and desolation,
With what noble resignation,
Mary watched her dying Son.
Fourth Station
Leader: The Fourth Station: Jesus meets his grieving mother
Leader: We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You.
[Genuflect]
All: Because by your holy Cross You have redeemed the world.
Reader 1: I had managed to break through the crowd and was walking side by side with my son. I called to him through the shouting voices. He stopped. Our eyes met, mine full of tears of anguish, his full of pain and confusion. I felt helpless; then his eyes said to me, “Courage! There is a purpose for this.” As he stumbled on, I knew he was right. So, I followed and prayed silently.
Reader 2: Lord Jesus, forgive us the many times our eyes met, and we turned away. Forgive us the times things did not go our way and we let everyone know about it. Forgive us the times we brooded over little inconveniences or became discouraged and did not heed your call to courage! Yes, Lord, our eyes have met many times, but fruitlessly. Amen.
Leader: Let us pray:
All: Lord Jesus, from the cross you appointed Mary to be our Mother. May her love purify us to follow you as true brothers and sisters on the Way of the Cross.
All sing:
Ever patient in her yearning,
Though her tear-filled eyes were burning
Mary gazed upon her Son.
Fifth Station
Leader: The Fifth Station: Simon helps Jesus carry his cross.
Leader: We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You.
[Genuflect]
All: Because by your holy Cross You have redeemed the world.
Reader 1: I could now see almost complete helplessness on the face of my son as he tried to carry his heavy load. Each step looked as if it would be his last. I felt his every pain in my heart, and I wanted the whole thing to end. Then I noticed some commotion near Jesus. The guards had pulled a protesting man from the crowd. They forced him to pick up the back of the cross to help lighten my son’s load. He asked the guards why this had to be. I knew, and so followed silently.
Reader 2: Lord Jesus, we have many times refused to help you. We have been a selfish people who have often questioned your word. Do not let us remain like Simon, but help us to be like your mother, Mary, who always silently followed and obeyed. Amen.
Leader: Let us pray:
All: Lord Jesus, your cross is a gift of grace calling us to supreme goodness. Strengthen us to embrace your cross and to love the life of sacrifice.
All sing:
Who, that sorrow contemplating,
On that passion meditating,
Would not share the Virgin’s grief?
Sixth Station
Leader: The Sixth Station: Veronica wipes the face of Jesus
Leader: We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You.
[Genuflect]
All: Because by your holy Cross You have redeemed the world.
Reader 1: As I continued close by Jesus, a woman pushed past the guards, took off her veil, and began to wipe my son’s sweating, bloody face. The guards immediately pulled her back. Her face seemed to say, “Why are you doing this to him?” I knew, so I walked on in faith, silently.
Reader 2: Lord, this woman gave you the best she could. On the other hand, we have wanted to take more than we give. So many opportunities arise every day for us to give to you by giving to others – but we pass them by. Our savior, never let us ask why again, but help us to give all we have to you. Amen.
Leader: Let us pray:
All: Lord Jesus, your holy face reveals the splendor of the Father. May we love your humanity and yearn for your divinity in everything we do.
All sing:
Christ, she saw, for our salvation,
Scourged with cruel acclamation,
Bruised and beaten by the rod.
Seventh Station
Leader: The Seventh Station: Jesus falls the second time
Leader: We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You.
[Genuflect]
All: Because by your holy Cross You have redeemed the world.
Reader 1: Again, my son fell, and again my grief was overwhelming at the thought that he might die. I started to move toward him, but the soldiers prevented me. He rose and stumbled ahead slowly. Seeing my son fall, get up again, and continue on, was bitter anguish to me. But since I knew this had to be, I walked on silently.
Reader 2: Lord, of all people Mary, was your most faithful follower, never stopping in spite of all the pain she felt for you. We have many times turned away from you by our sins and have caused others to turn away from you. We beg you to have mercy on us. Amen.
Leader: Let us pray:
All: Lord Jesus, may our experience of failure lead us more surely to you and unite us more deeply in your work of crucifying love.
All sing:
Christ, she saw with life-blood failing,
All her anguish unavailing,
Saw him breathe his very last.
Eighth Station
Leader: The Eighth Station: Jesus speaks to the women
Leader: We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You.
[Genuflect]
All: Because by your holy Cross You have redeemed the world.
Reader 1: I was walking a few steps behind Jesus when I saw him stop. Some women were there crying for him and pitying him. He told them not to shed tears for him. They had the opportunity to accept him as the messiah; like many others, they rejected him instead. He told them to shed tears for themselves, tears that would bring their conversion. They did not see the connection between that and his walk to death. I did, and as he walked on, I followed silently.
Reader 2: Our Savior, many times have we acted like these women, always seeing the faults of others and pitying them. Yet very rarely have we seen our own sinfulness and asked your pardon. Lord, you have taught us through these women. Forgive us, Lord, for our blindness. Amen.
Leader: Let us pray:
All: Lord Jesus, in the midst of your agony you fill us with consolation. May our tears be turned to joy through the tenderness of your mercy.
All sing:
Mary, fount of love’s devotion,
Let me share with true emotion
All the sorrow you endured
Ninth Station
Leader: The Ninth Station: Jesus falls a third time
Leader: We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You.
[Genuflect]
All: Because by your holy Cross You have redeemed the world.
Reader 1: This fall of Jesus was agony to me. Not only had he fallen on the rocky ground again, but now he was almost at the top of the hill of crucifixion. The soldiers screamed at him and abused him, almost dragging him the last few steps. My heart pounded as I imagined what they would do to him next. But I knew this had to be, so I climbed the hill silently behind him.
Reader 2: Our loving Jesus, we know that many times we have offered our hands to help people but when it became inconvenient or painful to us, we left them, making excuses. Help us, Lord, to be like your mother, Mary, and never take our supporting hands away from those who need them. Amen.
Leader: Let us pray:
All: Lord Jesus, save us from every temptation to despair. Detach us from all selfishness and pride, for you alone are our hope.
All sing:
Virgin, ever interceding,
Hear me in my fervent pleading:
Fire me with your love of Christ.
Tenth Station
Leader: The Tenth Station: Jesus is stripped of his garments
Leader: We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You.
[Genuflect]
All: Because by your holy Cross You have redeemed the world.
Reader 1: With my son finally relieved of the weight of the cross, I thought he would have a chance to rest. But the guards immediately started to rip his clothes off his blood-clotted skin. The sight of my son in such pain was unbearable. Yet, since I knew this had to be, I stood by and cried silently.
Reader 2: Lord, in our own way we too have stripped you. We have taken away the good name of another by foolish talk and have stripped people of human dignity by our prejudice. Jesus, there are so many ways we have offended you through the hurt we have caused others. Help us to see you in all people. Amen.
Leader: Let us pray:
All: Lord Jesus, bless us with the grace of self-knowledge to know our sins, in all their horror, never making excuses for them, but remaining always confident in your mercy.
All sing:
Mother, may this prayer be granted:
That Christ’s love may be implanted.
In the depths of my poor soul.
Eleventh Station
Leader: The Eleventh Station: Jesus is nailed to the cross
Leader: We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You.
[Genuflect]
All: Because by your holy Cross You have redeemed the world.
Reader 1: As they threw Jesus on the cross, he willingly allowed himself to be nailed. As they punctured his hands and his feet, I felt the pain in my heart. Then they lifted up the cross. There he was, my son, whom I love so much, being scorned as he struggled for the last few moments of earthly life. But I knew this had to be, so I stood by and prayed silently.
Reader 2: Lord, what pain you endured for us. And what pain your mother went through, seeing her only son die for love of us! Yet, both you and she are ready to forgive us as soon as we repent of our sin. Help us, Lord, to turn away from our sinfulness. Amen.
Leader: Let us pray:
All: Lord Jesus, pierce our hard hearts so that we will not be shackled by our wounds, but rather lavish in our worship of you.
All sing:
At the cross, your sorrow sharing,
All your grief and torment bearing,
Let me stand and mourn with you.
Twelfth Station
Leader: The Twelfth Station: Jesus dies on the cross
Leader: We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You.
[Genuflect]
All: Because by your holy Cross You have redeemed the world.
Reader 1: What greater pain is there for a mother than to see her son die right before her eyes! I, who had brought this savior into the world and watched him grow, stood helplessly beneath his cross as he lowered his head and died. His earthly anguish was finished, but mine was greater than ever. Yet, this had to be, and I had to accept it, so I stood by and I mourned silently.
Reader 2: Our Jesus, have mercy on us for what our sins have done to you and to others. We thank you for your great act of love. You have said that true love is laying down your life for your friends. Let us always be your friend. Teach us to live our lives for others, and not fail you again. Amen.
[All bow and pause for a few moments.]
Leader: Let us pray:
All: Lord Jesus, we have no life but through your death. We love you, Lord Jesus. Forgive us who are so undeserving of your love. Restore us to your friendship, for you alone are the only real joy of every human heart.
All sing:
Fairest maid of all creation,
Queen of hope and consolation,
Let me feel your grief sublime.
Thirteenth Station
Leader: The Thirteenth Station: Jesus is taken from the cross
Leader: We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You.
[Genuflect]
All: Because by your holy Cross You have redeemed the world.
Reader 1: The crowd had gone; the noise had stopped. I stood quietly with one of Jesus’ friends and looked up at the dead body of our savior, my son. Then two men took the body from the cross and placed it in my arms. A deep sorrow engulfed my being. Yet, I also felt deep joy. Life had ended cruelly for my son, but it had also brought life to all of us. I knew this had to be, and I prayed silently.
Reader 2: Lord, your passion has ended. Yet, it still goes on whenever we choose sin over you. We have done our part in your crucifixion and now, our savior, we beg your forgiveness with all our heart. Help us to live a life worthy of you and your mother. Amen
Leader: Let us pray:
All: Lord Jesus, even in death your sacred body remains the sacrament of our salvation. May we remain close to you in your death by zealously preserving the dignity of all human life.
All sing:
Virgin, in your love, befriend me,
At the Judgment Day defend me.
Help me by your constant prayer.
Fourteenth Station
Leader: The Fourteenth Station: Jesus is placed in the tomb
Leader: We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You.
[Genuflect]
All: Because by your holy Cross You have redeemed the world.
Reader 1: We brought Jesus’ body to a tomb and I arranged it there myself, silently weeping, silently rejoicing. I took one more look at my loving son, and then walked out. They closed the tomb and before I left, I thought, I knew this had to be… it had to be for you! I would wait in faith silently.
Reader 2: Yes, our Lord, this had to be because you love us, and for no other reason. All you ask is that we live a good life. You never said such a life would be easy. We are willing to leave sin behind and live for you alone, with our brothers and sisters. Amen.
Leader: Let us pray:
All: Lord Jesus, in this moment of the most profound loneliness in the history of the world, fill us with the hope that keeps us vigilant at your tomb, adoring your presence in each other through your undying love that binds us.
All sing:
Savior, when my life shall leave me,
Through your mother’s prayers receive me
With the fruits of victory.
Concluding Prayer
Leader: Lord Jesus Christ, your passion and death is the sacrifice that unites earth and heaven and reconciles all people to you. May we who have faithfully reflected on these mysteries follow in your steps and so come to share your glory in heaven where you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit one God, for ever and ever.
All: Amen.
