The Stations of the Cross: A Guide to the Way of the Cross
Walk with Jesus from His condemnation to the tomb. This guide takes you through all 14 traditional stations of the Cross — with a reflection for each and the prayers used — so you can pray the Way of the Cross this Lent and on Good Friday.
The Stations of the Cross — also called the Way of the Cross or the Via Crucis — is one of the most loved devotions in the Catholic Church. It is a prayerful journey through the final hours of Jesus Christ's Passion, from the moment He is condemned to death to the moment He is laid in the tomb. By pausing at each of the 14 stations of the Cross, we accompany Christ to Calvary and let His love for us reshape our own hearts.
The devotion grew from early Christians who walked the streets of Jerusalem along the route of Christ's suffering. Today every Catholic church has the 14 stations on its walls, so the faithful everywhere can make the same pilgrimage in prayer. Below you will find what the Way of the Cross is, when it is prayed, how to pray it, and all 14 stations with a short reflection on each.
When are the Stations of the Cross prayed?
While the Stations of the Cross may be prayed at any time of year, the devotion belongs in a special way to the season of Lent — the forty days of repentance and prayer leading up to Easter.
Fridays in Lent. Most parishes hold a public Way of the Cross on the Fridays of Lent, often in the evening, gathering the community to pray the stations together.
Good Friday. On Good Friday, the day the Church commemorates the crucifixion, the Stations of the Cross are prayed with particular solemnity — including the Pope's own Way of the Cross at the Colosseum in Rome.
Any day, privately. You can pray the stations alone in a quiet church or at home, walking through the 14 stations in your heart with Scripture and reflection.
Looking to join your parish for the Way of the Cross this Lent? Find a Catholic parish near you and check its Lenten schedule for Mass, confession, adoration, and Stations.
How to pray the Stations of the Cross
Praying the stations is simple. At each station the traditional prayer is:
"We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You, because by Your holy cross You have redeemed the world."
- 1
Begin with the Sign of the Cross and an opening prayer
Make the Sign of the Cross and ask God for the grace to walk this Way of the Cross with love, sorrow for sin, and a heart open to His mercy.
- 2
Move to each station in order
Move (in church, from station to station; at home, in your heart) to each of the 14 stations. At each one it is traditional to genuflect and pray: 'We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You, because by Your holy cross You have redeemed the world.'
- 3
Read the Scripture and meditate
Read the brief Gospel passage and the reflection for the station, then pause in silence to meditate on that moment of Christ's Passion.
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Pray after each station
Pray an Our Father, a Hail Mary, and a Glory Be — or a simple prayer such as, 'Lord Jesus, help me to carry my cross with You.' Many use the Stabat Mater hymn between stations.
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Conclude at the tomb — and in the hope of Easter
After the fourteenth station, close with a prayer asking for the fruits of Christ's Passion in your life. Many add an optional fifteenth station, the Resurrection, so the devotion ends in the joy and hope of the empty tomb.
The 14 Stations of the Cross
These are the fourteen traditional stations of the Cross, prayed in order from Christ's condemnation to His burial. Pause at each one, read the reflection, and meditate on what Jesus endured for love of you.
- 1
Jesus is condemned to death
Pilate hands Jesus over to be crucified though he finds no guilt in Him. Christ accepts an unjust sentence in silence, out of love for us.
- 2
Jesus takes up His cross
Jesus receives the heavy wood of the cross and embraces it willingly, beginning the road to Calvary for the salvation of the world.
- 3
Jesus falls the first time
Worn by scourging and exhaustion, Jesus falls beneath the weight of the cross. He rises again, teaching us never to despair after a fall.
- 4
Jesus meets His mother
On the road of sorrow, Jesus meets Mary, His mother. Two hearts united in suffering and trust, sharing the pain of love poured out.
- 5
Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus carry the cross
The soldiers compel Simon to help carry the cross. We are reminded that we, too, are called to help carry the crosses of others.
- 6
Veronica wipes the face of Jesus
A woman steps from the crowd to wipe the bloodied face of Christ. Her small act of mercy leaves His image imprinted on her veil.
- 7
Jesus falls the second time
Again Jesus falls to the ground. Still He rises and presses on, showing us the strength to begin again no matter how often we stumble.
- 8
Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem
Jesus consoles the weeping women, telling them to weep not for Him but for themselves and their children, calling all to true repentance.
- 9
Jesus falls the third time
Nearly at Calvary, Jesus falls a third time. Utterly spent, He still refuses to give up, drawing us onward to the summit with Him.
- 10
Jesus is stripped of His garments
The soldiers strip Jesus of His clothes and cast lots for them. He is left exposed and humiliated, stripped of everything but His love for us.
- 11
Jesus is nailed to the cross
Jesus is nailed to the cross between two thieves. From there He prays, 'Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.'
- 12
Jesus dies on the cross
After three hours of agony, Jesus commends His spirit to the Father and dies. The veil of the Temple is torn; our redemption is accomplished.
- 13
Jesus is taken down from the cross
The lifeless body of Jesus is taken down and placed in the arms of His mother. Mary holds her Son, faithful even in the depth of grief.
- 14
Jesus is laid in the tomb
Jesus is wrapped in a linen cloth and laid in a new tomb, and a stone is rolled across. In the silence we wait in hope for the morning of Easter.
Optional: The Resurrection of Jesus
Many people add an optional fifteenth station — the Resurrection — so the Way of the Cross does not end at the tomb but in the light of Easter morning. The cross is never the final word; Christ is risen, and death is conquered.
Keep your Lenten prayers close
Lent is a time to deepen prayer. Alongside the Way of the Cross, pray along with our Catholic prayers and interactive Rosary — the Our Father, the Hail Mary, the Glory Be, and more — all in one place, with the full prayer text ready whenever you need it.
Open Prayers
Frequently asked questions
What are the Stations of the Cross?
The Stations of the Cross, also called the Way of the Cross or Via Crucis, are a devotion of 14 stations that walk through the final hours of Christ's Passion — from His condemnation to His burial. We pray and meditate at each station to journey with Jesus to Calvary.
When are the Stations of the Cross prayed?
They are traditionally prayed on the Fridays of Lent and especially on Good Friday, when most parishes hold a public Way of the Cross. You can also pray the stations privately at any time of year.
How many Stations of the Cross are there?
There are 14 traditional stations. Many people add an optional fifteenth station — the Resurrection — so the devotion ends in the hope of Easter rather than at the tomb.
What prayer is said at each station?
At each station Catholics genuflect and pray, 'We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You, because by Your holy cross You have redeemed the world.' A Scripture reading, a reflection, and prayers such as the Our Father are usually added.
Grow in faith with your community this Lent
Catholic Connect brings it all together — pray the daily prayers and Rosary, find Mass, confession, and Stations near you, meet Catholics nearby, and join events and groups in your parish.