I
Jesus is condemned to Death
(Genuflecting) We adore you, O Christ, and praise you.
Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
Jesus, it was not Pilate alone, but my sins and the sins of all that condemned you to die. I am sorry for the contribution that my sins have made to your sufferings and death.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
II
Jesus takes up his cross
(Genuflecting) We adore you, O Christ, and praise you.
Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
Jesus help me take up my cross and follow you. That cross may be for me ill-health, financial difficulties or having to suffer from the defects of others. Help me to accept my cross and carry it with you so that my feet may be then surely set on the road to salvation.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
III
Jesus falls the first time
(Genuflecting) We adore you, O Christ, and praise you.
Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
Jesus, it was not the weight of the cross alone but of my sins which caused you to fall. Help me never to fall into serious sin but to watch and pray so that I may be delivered from the power of the evil one.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
IV
Jesus meets his mother
(Genuflecting) We adore you, O Christ, and praise you.
Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
Mary, my mother, it was prophesied that Jesus was to be a sign that would be rejected. If I have ever rejected him in any way I now confess my sorrow. Grant me grace to repent of my sins, and to be truly reconciled to the love of your Son.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
V
Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus to carry his cross
(Genuflecting) We adore you, O Christ, and praise you.
Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
Jesus, your apostle Paul has said: “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.” (Gal.6, 2.) Grant that I may always try to bear with the faults of others. May I do all in my power to ease the burden of those who carry the cross after you. Let my sharing in their burdens be the fulfilling of your law.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
VI
Veronica wipes the face of Jesus
(Genuflecting) We adore you, O Christ, and praise you.
Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
Jesus, help me to love and serve you in loving and serving the poor, the hungry, the sick and the distressed. Let me remember your words: “As you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me”. Matt. 25. 40.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
VII
Jesus falls the second time
(Genuflecting) We adore you, O Christ, and praise you.
Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
Jesus, if I should fall beneath the cross of suffering or of sorrow, give me the courage to rise again and to follow bravely after you.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
VIII
The women of Jesusalem weep for our Lord
(Genuflecting) We adore you, O Christ, and praise you.
Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
In your suffering, Jesus, you did not think of yourself, but of those who were to suffer on your behalf. Help me to rid myself of excessive self-love and self-pity.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
IX
Jesus falls the third time
(Genuflecting) We adore you, O Christ, and praise you.
Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
Jesus, if I should ever fall into serious sin grant that I may not remain in that miserable state. May I, like you, rise to my feet and return to be reconciled to your loving forgiveness.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
X
Jesus is stripped of his clothes
(Genuflecting) We adore you, O Christ, and praise you.
Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
Jesus, fill me with a spirit of true Christian shame and modesty. Grant that I, who am made in your image and likeness and whose body is the temple of your Holy Spirit, may always have respect and reverence for my own body and the bodies of others.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
XI
Jesus is nailed to the cross
(Genuflecting) We adore you, O Christ, and praise you.
Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
Jesus, because you were like us in all things but sin, your body was sensitive to the slightest physical pain. When I have to suffer physical pain, help me to bear it by remembering your being nailed to the cross.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
XII
Jesus dies on the cross
(Genuflecting) We adore you, O Christ, and praise you.
Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
Jesus, death has not been abolished in the world, but you by your death have transformed it. May your death be for me and for all, the gateway to eternal life. When my life on earth is ended, may I die in your love. Grant that you may receive my soul into your hands.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
XIII
Jesus is taken down from the cross
(Genuflecting) We adore you, O Christ, and praise you.
Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
Mary, my Mother, you suffered with your Son in the work of our Redemption. May that Redemption bear fruit in our lives. May we, like the wheat grain that falls to the ground and dies, yield a harvest rich in works of faith and love.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
XIV
Jesus is placed in the tomb
(Genuflecting) We adore you, O Christ, and praise you.
Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
Jesus, you suffered and died, but you rose again on the third day. You said: “I am the Resurrection and the Life”. Grant that I, having shared in you suffering and death, may be worthy to share in the joy and the glory of your Resurrection. “Dying you destroyed our death, rising your restored our life.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Knock Prayer Book by Fr Richard Gibbons is available for purchase here.