Stations of the Cross
Examination of Conscience - based on the Stations of the Cross
First Station: Jesus is Condemned to Death
Every time I choose to sin, I choose death instead of life. Whenever I bear false witness in any form, I lie against You and deny You, who is Truth Incarnate. Help me Lord, to accept and proclaim the Truth wherever I might be.
Second Station: Jesus Carries His Cross
You take my sins upon Your shoulders. My sins weigh down Your cross, making Your burden worse. You accept the cross and my sins without complaint so that I might live. Do I accept and offer up my sufferings in love? Do I humbly accept Your will, or do I rebel against it? Help me Lord, to humbly carry my own cross in loving service of you.
Third Station: Jesus Falls the First Time
When I choose my own path, I often stumble and fall. How foolish I am to think that I know better than You what is good for me. Help me Lord, to trust in Your ways, and to follow where You lead me.
Fourth Station: Jesus Meets His Sorrowful Mother
You console Your mother who suffers along with You. How often do I fail to properly respect those You have placed in authority over me? My parents, my employer, my Bishop, my Priest? How often do I mock and even disobey them or Your laws and Your truth? Help me to respect lawful authority and value obedience to those You put above me.
Fifth Station: Simon Helps Jesus Carry His Cross
Simon is forced to help You. How often do I avoid my duties of loving service? Failing to offer help to those in need? Do I remain silent, ignoring my neighbours' need for help? Help me Lord, to reach out to those in need, in whatever way I can.
Sixth Station: Veronica Wipes the Face of Jesus
You are shown mercy by someone who suffers with You. Do I show mercy to those who suffer? Do I make others suffer, just because I am suffering? In my pain and suffering, do I choose to strike out in rudeness and irritability? Help me Lord, to share in the suffering of others with love, extending mercy and kindness to provide them some comfort and compassion.
Seventh Station: Jesus Falls for the Second Time
Do I put others down through my words or actions? Do I rejoice when others stumble and fall? Am I cruel? Inconsiderate? Thoughtless? Vindictive? Resentful? Hateful? Help me Lord, to lift others up and carry them in their need.
Eighth Station: The Women Weep Over Jesus
You comfort Lord, the people I hurt through my own selfishness and ignorance. Sometimes I let living in this world lead me to become selfish, putting myself above You and not caring for those You love. Help me Lord, to see others through Your eyes and love them with Your heart.
Ninth Station: Jesus Falls the Third Time - How often do I hurt others in what I say and do? In my insensitivity and rudeness? In anger? Acting out in violence? In my indifference? In my fears? In my gossip? In my laziness? Help me Lord, not to hurt others, deliberately or accidentally, but rather to act always in love.
Tenth Station: Jesus is Stripped of His Garments
Do I strip others of their dignity and worth? Do I take something that is not mine? Do I long to indulge in luxuries far beyond my needs? Do I envy those who have more than me? Help me Lord, to be satisfied with enough and to use what I have been given for the good of others.
Eleventh Station: Jesus is nailed to the Cross
Do I enjoy hurting someone else in body, mind, or soul? Through my temper? My lack of concern? Or in calculated coldness? Do I think about how my actions and words affect others? Help me Lord, to never intentionally hurt others.
Twelfth Station: Jesus Dies on the Cross - Transform my heart to love as You do. You died for me. Am I willing to live for You? Help me Lord, to die to myself and to live always in You.
Thirteenth Station: Jesus is Taken Down from the Cross
You have been abandoned by most of your followers who ran away in fear. I too abandon You when I give in to fears, anxieties, and worries instead of facing the truth and trusting Your infinite love. Help me Lord, to trust You always, with every aspect of my life.
Fourteenth Station: Jesus is Laid in the Tomb
How often do I hide You from others? And hide myself from Your Presence? In what areas do I not let You into my life? Help me Lord, to open my heart, love You all the time, and allow You to be ever present in my heart, in my thoughts, in my words, and in my deeds.