HOLY MASS READINGS FOR MARCH 1,2024

Friday of the Second Week of Lent  (Purple)

LH: Office the day, Week II

Mass of the day, Preface of Lent

 FIRST READING
“Here comes this dreamer. Come not', let us kill him.”
A reading from the Book of Genesis (Genesis 37:3-4.12-13a.17b-28)

Israel loved Joseph more than any other of his children, because he was the son of his old age; and he made him a long robe with sleeves. But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably to him. Now his brothers went to pasture their father’s flock near Shechem. And Israel said to Joseph, “Are not your brothers pasturing the flock at Shechem? Come, I will send you to them.” So Joseph went after his brothers, and found them at Dothan. They saw him afar off, and before he came near to them they conspired against him to kill him. They said to one another, “Here comes this dreamer. Come now, let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits; then we shall say that a wild beast has devoured him, and we shall see what will become of his dreams.” But when Reuben heard it, he delivered him out of their hands, saying, “Let us not take his life.” And Reuben said to them, “Shed no blood; cast him into this pit here in the wilderness, but lay no hand upon him”- that he might rescue him out of their hand, to restore him to his father. So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe, the long robe with sleeves that he wore, and they took him and cast him into a pit. The pit was empty, there was no water in it. Then they sat down to eat; and looking up they saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead, with their camels bearing gum, balm, and myrrh, on their way to carry it down to Egypt. Then Judah said to his brothers, “What profit is it if we slay our brother and conceal his blood? Come, let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and let not our hand be upon him, for he is our brother, our own flesh.” And his brothers heeded him. Then Midianite traders passed by; and they drew Joseph up and lifted him out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver; and they took Joseph to Egypt.

The word of the Lord.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM 

Psalm 105: 15- 17.18-19.20-21 (R. 5a)

R/. Remember the wonders the Lord has done.

But he called down a famine on the land;
he broke their staff of bread.
He had sent a man ahead of them,
Joseph, sold as a slave. R/.

His feet were weighed down in chains,
his neck was bound with iron,
until what he said came to pass,
and the word of the Lord proved him true. R/.

Then the king sent orders and released him;
the ruler of the peoples set him free.
He made him master of his house
and ruler of all his possessions. R/.

VERSE BEFORE THE GOSPEL 

John 3:16

Glory and praise to you, O Christ. 

God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son; that whoever believes in him should have eternal life. 

Glory and praise to you, O Christ.

GOSPEL
“This is the heir,’ come, let us kill him.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Matthew 21:33-43.45-46)

At that time: Jesus said to the chief priests and the elders of the people, “Hear another parable. There was a householder who planted a vineyard, and set a hedge around it, and dug a wine press in it, and built a tower, and leased it to tenants, and went into another country. When the season of fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants, to get his fruit; and the tenants took his servants and beat one, killed another, and stoned another. Again he sent other servants, more than the first; and they did the same to them. Afterwards he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ “But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, ‘This is the heir; come, let us kill him and have his inheritance.’ And they took him and cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him. When therefore the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?” They said to him, “He will put those wretches to a miserable death, and lease the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the fruits in their seasons.” Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: ‘The very stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes’? Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a nation producing the fruits of it.” When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they perceived that he was speaking about them. But when they tried to arrest him, they feared the multitudes, because they held him to be a prophet.

The Gospel of the Lord.

HOLY MASS READINGS FOR FEBRUARY 29, 2024

Thursday of the Second Week of Lent  (Purple)

LH: Office the day, Week II

Mass of the day, Preface of Lent

FIRST READING
“Cursed is the man who trusts in man, blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord.”
A reading from the Book of Jeremiah (Jeremiah 17:5-10)

Thus says the Lord: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his arm, whose heart turns away from the Lord. He is like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see any good come. He shall dwell in the parched places of the wilderness, in an uninhabited salt land. “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the LORD. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.” The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately corrupt; who can understand it? “I the Lord search the mind and try the heart, to give to every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings.”

The word of the Lord.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM 

Psalm1:1-2.3.4 and 6 (Psalm 40:5ab)

R/. Blessed the man who has placed his trust in the Lord.

Blessed indeed is the man
Who follows not the counsel of the wicked,
Nor stands in the path with sinners,
nor abides in the company of scorners,
but whose delight is the law of the Lord,
and who ponders his law day and night. R/.

He is like a tree that is planted
beside the flowing waters,
that yields its fruit in due season,
and whose leaves shall never fade;
and all that he does shall prosper. R/.

Not so are the wicked, not so!
For they, like winnowed chaff,
shall be driven away by the wind.
For the Lord knows the way of the just,
but the way of the wicked will perish. R/.

VERSE BEFORE THEGOSPEL

 Luke 8:15

Glory and praise to you, O Christ. 

Blessed are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bring forth fruit with patience. 

Glory and praise to you, O Christ.

GOSPEL
Good things came to you and bad things to Lazarus, now he is comforted while you are in agony.
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Luke 16:19-31)

At that time: Jesus said to the Pharisees, “There was a rich man, who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, full of sores, who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man’s table; moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried; and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes, and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus in his bosom. And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy upon me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am in anguish in this flame.' “But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that you in your life time received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.’ And he said, 'Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father’s house, for I have five brothers, so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.’ But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.’ And he said ‘No, father Abraham; but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.”’

The Gospel of the Lord.

HOLY MASS READINGS FOR FEBRUARY 28, 2024

 Wednesday of the Second Week of Lent  (Purple)

LH: Office the day, Week II

Mass of the day, Preface of Lent

FIRST READING
“Come, let us strike him.”
A reading from the Book of Jeremiah (Jeremiah 18: 18-20)

They said, “Come, let us make plots against Jeremiah, for the law shall not perish from the priest, nor counsel from the wise, nor the word from the prophet. Come, let us strike him with the tongue, and let us not heed any of his words.” Give heed to me, O Lord, and listen to my plea. Is evil a recompense for good? Yet they have dug a pit for my life. Remember how I stood before you to speak good for them, to turn away your wrath from them.

The word of the Lord.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM 

Psalm 31:5-6.14.15-16 (R. see17b)

R/. Save me, O Lord, in your merciful love.

Release me from the snare they have hidden,
For you indeed are my refuge.
Into your hands I commend my spirit.
You will redeem me, O Lord, O faithful God. R/.

I have heard the slander of the crowd;
terror all around me,
as they plot together against me,
as they plan to take my life. R/.

But as for me, I trust in you, O Lord;
I say, “You are my God.
My lot is in your hands, deliver me
from the hands of my enemies and those
who pursue me.” R/.

VERSE BEFORE THE GOSPEL 

John 8:12

Glory and praise to you, O Christ. 

I am the light of the world, says the Lord; he who follows me will have the light of life. 

Glory and praise to you, O Christ.

GOSPEL
“They will condemn him to death.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew  (Matthew 20: 17-28)

At that time: As Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside, and on the way he said to them, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man will be delivered to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death, and deliver him to the Gentiles to be mocked and scourged and crucified, and he will be raised on the third day.” Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came up to him, with her sons, and kneeling before him she asked him for something. And he said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Command that these two sons of mine may sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.” But Jesus answered, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the chalice that I am to drink?” They said to him, “We are able.” He said to them, “You will drink my chalice, but to sit at my right hand and at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.” And when the Ten heard it, they were indignant at the two brothers. But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you; but whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave; even as the Son of man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

HOLY MASS READINGS FOR FEBRUARY 27, 2024

Tuesday of the Second Week of Lent  (Purple)

LH: Office the day, Week II

Mass of the day, Preface of Lent

St. Gregory of Narek optional memorial may be observed as a commemoration

FIRST READING
“Learn to do good, seek justice.”
A reading from the Book of Isaiah (Isaiah 1:10.16-20)

Hear the word of the Lord, you rulers of Sodom! Give ear to the teaching of our God, you people of Gomorrah! Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your doings from before my eyes; cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; defend the fatherless, plead for the widow. “Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool. If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured by the sword; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

The word of the Lord.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM 

Psalm 50:8-9.16bc-17.21 and 23 (R. 23bc)

R/. To one whose way is blameless, I will show the salvation of God.

“I do not rebuke you for your sacrifices;
your offerings are always before me.
I do not take more bullocks from your farms,
nor goats from among your herds.” R/.

“How can you recite my commandments,
and take my covenant on your lips,
you who despise correction,
and cast my words behind you.” R/.

“You do this, and should I keep silence?
Do you think that I am like you?
I accuse you, lay the charge before you.
A sacrifice of praise gives me honour,
and to one whose way is blameless,
I will show the salvation of God.” R/.

VERSE BEFORE THE GOSPEL 

Ezekiel 18:31

Glory and praise to you, O Christ. 

Cast away from you all the transgressions which you have committed, says the Lord, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. 

Glory and praise to you, O Christ.

GOSPEL

“They preach, but do not practice.”
A reading from the ho y Gospel according to Matthew  (Matthew 23:1-12)

At that time: Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat; so practice and observe whatever they tell you, but not what they do; for they preach, but do not practice. They bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with their finger. They do all their deeds to be seen by men; for they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long, and they love the place of honour at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues, and salutations in the market places, and being called rabbi by men. But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brethren. And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. Neither be called masters, for you have one master, the Christ. He who is greatest among you shall be your servant; whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

HOLY MASS READINGS FOR MONDAY, 26 FEBRUARY, 2024

Monday of the Second Week of Lent  (Purple)

LH: Office the day, Week II

Mass of the day, Preface of Lent

St. Alexander of Alexandria's optional memorial may be observed as a commemoration.

FIRST READING
“We have sinned and done wrong.”
A reading from the Book of the Prophet Daniel (Daniel 9:4b-10)

O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and merciful love with those who love him and keep his commandments, we have sinned and done wrong and acted wickedly and rebelled, turning aside from your commandments and ordinances; we have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land. To you, O Lord, belongs righteousness, but to us confusion of face, as at this day, to the men of Judah, to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to all Israel, those that are near and those that are far away, in all the lands to which you have driven them, because of the treachery which they have committed against you. To us, O Lord, belongs confusion of face, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against you. To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness; because we have rebelled against him, and have not obeyed the voice of the Lord our God by following his laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets.

The word of the Lord.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM 

Ps 79:8.9.11.13(R.seePs103:10a)

R/. O Lord, do not treat us according to our sins.

Do not remember against us the guilt of former times.
Let your compassion hasten to meet us;
For we have been brought very low. R/.

Help us, O God our saviour,
for the sake of the glory of your name.
Free us and forgive us our sins,
Because of your name. R/.

Let the groans of the prisoners come before you,
Your strong arm reprieve those condemned to die. R/.

Then we, your people, the flock of your pasture,
will give you thanks forever and ever.
From age to age we will recount your praise. R/.

VERSE BEFORE THE GOSPEL 

John 6:63c.68c

Glory and praise to you, O Christ. 

Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life; you have the words of eternal life. 

Glory and praise to you, O Christ.

GOSPEL

“Forgive, and you will be forgiven.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Luke 6:36-38)

At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, “Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful. Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For the measure you give will be the measure you get back.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

HOLY MASS READINGS FOR FEBRUARY 25, 2024

Second Sunday of Lent  (Purple)

LH: Office of the Second Sunday of Lent, Week II

Mass of the Second Sunday of Lent, Creed

Preface of the Second Sunday of Lent

FIRST READING
“The sacrifice of Abraham, our Father in faith. ”
A reading from the Book of Genesis (Genesis 22: 1-2.9a.10-13.15-18)

In those days: God tested Abraham, and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here am I.” He said, “Take your son, your only- begotten son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering upon one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order. Then Abraham put forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son. But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven, and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here am I.” He said, “Do not lay your hand on the lad or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only-begotten son, from me.” And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns; and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. And the angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time from heaven, and said, “By myself I have sworn, says the Lord, because you have done this, and have not withheld your son, your only-begotten son, I will indeed bless you, and I will multiply your descendants as the stars of heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore. And your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies, and by your descendants shall all the nations of the earth bless themselves, because you have obeyed my voice.”

The word of the Lord.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM 
Ps 116: 10 and 15.16-17.18-19 (R. 9)

R/. I will walk in the presence of the Lord in the land of the living.

I trusted, even when I said,
“I am sorely afflicted.”
How precious in the eyes of the Lord
is the death of his faithful. R/.

Your servant, Lord, your servant am I,
the son of your handmaid;
you have loosened my bonds.
A thanksgiving sacrifice I make;
I will call on the name of the Lord. R/.

My vows to the Lord I will fulfil
before all his people,
in the courts of the house of the Lord,
in your midst, O Jerusalem. R/.

SECOND READING
God did not spare his own Son.
A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Romans (Romans 8: 31b-34)

Brethren: If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, will he not also give us all things with him? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies; who is to condemn? Is it Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised from the dead, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us?

The word of the Lord.

VERSE BEFORE THE GOSPEL

Glory and praise to you, O Christ. 

From the shining cloud the Father’s voice is heard: this is my beloved Son, hear him.

 Glory and praise to you, O Christ.

GOSPEL
“This is my beloved Son.”
A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Mark (Mark 9:2-10)

At that time: Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves; and he was transfigured before them, and his garments became glistening, intensely white, as no fuller on earth could bleach them. And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses; and they were talking to Jesus. And Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is well that we are here; let us make three booths, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” For he did not know what to say, for they were exceedingly afraid. And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is my beloved Son; listen to him.” And suddenly looking around they no longer saw any one with them but Jesus only. And as they were coming down the mountain, he charged them to tell no one what they had seen, until the Son of man should have risen from the dead. So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what the rising from the dead meant.

The Gospel of the Lord.

HOLY MASS READINGS FOR FEBRUARY 24, 2024

Saturday of the First Week of Lent  (Purple)

LH: Office the day, Week I

Morning Mass of the day, Preface of Lent

FIRST READING
“You shall be a people holy to the Lord your God.”
A reading from the Book of Deuteronomy (Deuteronomy 26:16-19)

Moses spoke to the people, saying: “This day the Lord your God commands you to do these statutes and ordinances; you shall therefore be careful to do them with all your heart and with all your soul. You have declared this day concerning the Lord that he is your God, and that you will walk in his ways, and keep his statutes and his commandments and his ordinances, and will obey his voice; and the Lord has declared this day concerning you that you are a people for his own possession, as he has promised you, and that you are to keep all his commandments, that he will set you high above all nations that he has made, in praise and in fame and in honour, and that you shall be a people holy to the Lord your God, as he has spoken.”

The word of the Lord.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM 

Psalm 119:1-2.4-5.7-8 (R. 1b)

R/. Blessed are those who walk in the law of the Lord!

Blessed are those whose way is blameless,
who walk in the law of the Lord!
Blessed are those who keep his decrees!
With all their hearts they seek him. R/.

You have laid down your precepts
to be carefully kept.
May my ways be firm
in keeping your statutes. R/.

I will thank you with an upright heart,
as I learn your just judgements.
I will keep your statutes;
do not ever forsake me. R/.

VERSE BEFORE THE GOSPEL 

2 Corinthians 6:2b

Glory and praise to you, O Christ. 

Behold, now is the acceptable time, behold, now is the day of salvation. 

Glory and praise to you, O Christ.

GOSPEL
“Be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Matthew 5:43-48)

At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbour and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you salute only your brethren, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

HOLY MASS READINGS FOR FRIDAY, 23 FEBRUARY, 2024

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Friday - Lenten Weekday  (Purple)

LH: Office the day, Week I

Mass of the day, Preface of Lent

The optional memorial of St. Polycarp may be celebrated as a commemoration.

FIRST READING
“Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, and not rather that he should turn from his way and live?”
A reading from the Book of the Prophet Ezekiel (Ezekiel 18:21-28)

Thus says the Lord God: “If a wicked man turns away from all his sins which he has committed and keeps all my statutes and does what is lawful and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die. None of the transgressions which he has committed shall be remembered against him; for the righteousness which he has done he shall live. Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, says the Lord God, and not rather that he should turn from his way and live? But when a righteous man turns away from his righteousness and commits iniquity and does the same abominable things that the wicked man does, shall he live? None of the righteous deeds which he has done shall be remembered; for the treachery of which he is guilty and the sin he has committed, he shall die. Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ Hear now, O house of Israel: Is my way not just? Is it not your ways that are not just? When a righteous man turns away from his righteousness and commits iniquity, he shall die for it; for the iniquity which he has committed he shall die. Again, when a wicked man turns away from the wickedness he has committed and does what is lawful and right, he shall save his life. Because he considered and turned away from all the transgressions which he had committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die.”

The word of the Lord.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM 

Psalm 130:1-2.3-4.5-7a.7bc-8(R.3)

R/. If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities, Lord, who could stand?

Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord;
Lord, hear my voice!
O let your ears be attentive
to the sound of my pleading. R/.

If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities,
Lord, who could stand?
But with you is found forgiveness,
that you may be revered. R/.

I long for you, O Lord,
my soul longs for his word.
My soul hopes in the Lord
more than watchmen for daybreak.
More than watchmen for daybreak,
let Israel hope for the Lord. R/.

For with the Lord there is mercy,
in him is plentiful redemption.
It is he who will redeem Israel
from all its iniquities. R/.

VERSE BEFORE THE GOSPEL 

Ezekiel 18:31

Glory and praise to you, O Christ. 

Cast away from you all the transgressions which you have committed, says the Lord, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. 

Glory and praise to you, O Christ.

GOSPEL
Go first and be reconciled to your brother.
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Matthew 5:20-26)

At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, “Unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. You have heard that it was said to the men of old, ‘You shall not kill; and whoever kills shall be liable to judgement.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be liable to judgement; whoever insults his brother shall be liable to the council, and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be liable to the hell of fire. So if you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Make friends quickly with your accuser, while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison; truly I say to you, you will never get out till you have paid the last penny.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

THE WAY OF THE CROSS BY ST. FAUSTINA KOWALSKA

"You must follow Me along the Way of the Cross so that you can make restitution for the sins of mankind." (Divine Appeal 17)

"... pray the Holy Rosary and the Stations of the Cross daily. Many swords will wound your heart." (Divine Appeal 281)

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen

While kneeling before the altar, express an Act of Contrition, and intend to obtain indulgences, whether for yourself, for sinners, or for the souls in purgatory.

Act of Contrition: 

O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended you. I detest all my sins because of your just punishments, but most of all because they offend you, my God, who are all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of your grace, to sin no more and to avoid the occasions of sin. Amen.

Opening prayer

Merciful Lord, my Master, I want to follow You faithfully. I want to imitate You in my life in an ever more perfect way. That is why I ask that by meditating on Your Passion, You would grant me the grace of a deeper understanding of the mysteries of the spiritual life. 

Mary, Mother of Mercy, always faithful to Christ, lead me in the footsteps of the sorrowful Passion of your Son and ask for me the necessary graces for a fruitful making of this Way of the Cross. 

The First Station

Jesus is Condemned to Death (Mt. 26:59-60)

V. We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You.
R. Because by Your Holy Cross, You have redeemed the world.

Meditation: 

“Now the chief priests and the whole council sought false testimony

against Jesus that they might put him to death, but they found none,

though many false witnesses came forward. At last two came forward”

(Mt. 26:59-60)

Jesus: 

Do not be surprised that you are sometimes unjustly

accused. I myself first drank this cup of undeserved suffering for

the love of you (Diary 289). When I was before Herod, I obtained a

grace for you: namely, that you would be able to rise above human

scorn and follow faithfully in My footsteps (1164).

St. Faustina: 

We are sensitive to words and quickly want to

answer back, without taking any regard as to whether it is God’s

will that we should speak. A silent soul is strong: no adversities

will harm it if it perseveres in silence. The silent soul is capable of

attaining the closest union with God (477)

Prayer:

Merciful Jesus, help me to know how to accept every human judgment and do not allow me ever to render a condemnatory judgment on You in my neighbors. 

V. You, who suffered wounds for us, 

R. Christ Jesus, have mercy on us

Our Father…Hail Mary…Glory Be…

The Second Station

Jesus Carries His Cross (Jn. 19:1-6)

V. We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You.
R. Because by Your Holy Cross, You have redeemed the world.

Meditation: 

“Then Pilate took Jesus and scourged him. And the soldiers plaited a

crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and arrayed him in a purple

robe; they came up to him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and

struck him with their hands. Pilate went out again, and said to them,

“Behold, I am bringing him out to you, that you may know that I find

no crime in him.” So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and

the purple robe. Pilate said to them, “Here is the man!” When the chief

priests and the officers saw him, they cried out, “Crucify him, crucify

him!” Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and crucify him, for I

find no crime in him.’” (Jn. 19:1-6)

Jesus: 

Do not be afraid of sufferings; I am with you (151). The

more you will come to love suffering, the purer your love for Me

will be (279).

St. Faustina:  

Jesus, I thank you for the little daily crosses, for

opposition to my endeavors, for the hardships of life, for the

misinterpretation of my intentions, for humiliations at the hands

of others, for the harsh way in which we are treated, for false

suspicions, for poor health and loss of strength, for self-denial,

for dying to myself, for lack of recognition in everything, for the

upsetting of all my plans (343).

Prayer:

Merciful Jesus, teach me to value life’s toil, sicknesses, and every suffering,

and with love to carry my daily crosses.

V. You, who suffered wounds for us, 

R. Christ Jesus, have mercy on us

Our Father…Hail Mary…Glory Be…

The Third Station
Jesus falls for the first time (Is.53:6,12)

V. We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You.
R. Because by Your Holy Cross, You have redeemed the world.

Meditation: 

“All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his

own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.… yet he

bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors” 

(Is. 53:6,12)

Jesus: 

Involuntary offenses of souls do not hinder My love for them or 

prevent Me from uniting Myself with them. But voluntary offenses,

even the smallest, obstruct My graces, and I cannot lavish 

My gifts on such souls (1641).

St. Faustina:  

My Jesus, despite Your graces, I see and feel all the misery 

... O my Jesus, how prone I am to evil, and this forces

me to be constantly vigilant. But I do not lose heart. I trust God’s

grace, which abounds in the worst misery (606).

Prayer:

Merciful Lord, preserve me from every, even the tiniest but voluntary and conscious infidelity.

V. You, who suffered wounds for us, 

R. Christ Jesus, have mercy on us

Our Father…Hail Mary…Glory Be…

The Fourth Station

Jesus Meets His Mother (Lk 2:34-35)

V. We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You.
R. Because by Your Holy Cross, You have redeemed the world.

Meditation: 

“Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and

for a sign that is spoken against (and a sword will pierce through your

own soul also), that thoughts out of many hearts may be revealed” 

(Lk. 2:34-35)

Jesus: 

Listen, although all the works that come into being by My

will are exposed to great sufferings, consider whether any of them

has been subject to greater difficulties than that work which is

directly Mine — the work of Redemption. You should not worry

too much about adversities (1643).

St. Faustina: 

I saw the Blessed Virgin, unspeakably beautiful. She held me close to herself and said to me, I am Mother to you all, thanks to the unfathomable mercy of God. Most pleasing to me is that soul which faithfully carries out the will of God. Be courageous. Do not fear apparent obstacles, but fix your gaze upon the Passion of my Son, and in this way you will be victorious (449).

Prayer:

Mary, Mother of Mercy, be near me always, especially in suffering as you were on your Son’s way of the cross.

V. You, who suffered wounds for us, 

R. Christ Jesus, have mercy on us

Our Father…Hail Mary…Glory Be…

The Fifth Station
Symon Cyrene Helps Jesus Carry His Cross (Lk 23:26)

V. We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You.
R. Because by Your Holy Cross, You have redeemed the world.

Meditation: 

“And as they led him away, they seized one Simon of Cyrene, who was

coming in from the country, and laid on him the cross, to carry it

behind Jesus.” (Lk. 23:26)

Jesus: 

By day and by night My gaze is fixed upon him, and I permit these adversities in order to increase his merit. I do not reward for good results but for the patience and hardship undergone for My sake (86)

St. Faustina: 

O my Jesus, You do not give a reward for the successful

performance of a work, but for the good will and labour undertaken.

Therefore, I am completely at peace, even if all my undertakings and

efforts should be thwarted or should come to naught. If I do all that

is in my power, the rest is not my business (952).

Prayer:

Jesus, my Lord, let my every thought, word, and deed be undertaken exclusively out of love for You. Keep on cleansing my intentions.

V. You, who suffered wounds for us, 

R. Christ Jesus, have mercy on us

Our Father…Hail Mary…Glory Be…

The Sixth Station

Veronica Wipes the Face of Jesus (Is 53:2-3)

V. We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You.
R. Because by Your Holy Cross, You have redeemed the world.

Meditation: 

“For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of

dry ground; he had no form or comeliness that we should look at

him, and no beauty that we should desire him. He was despised and

rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and

as one from whom men hide their faces, he was despised, and we

esteemed him not.” (Is. 53:2-3)

Jesus: 

Know that whatever good you do to any soul, I accept it as if

you had done it to Me (1768).

St. Faustina:  

I am learning how to be good from Jesus, from Him

who is goodness itself, so that I may be called a daughter of the

heavenly Father (699). Great love can change small things into great

ones, and it is only love, which lends value to our actions (303).

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, my Master, grant that my eyes, my hands, my lips, and my heart may always be merciful. Transform me into mercy.

V. You, who suffered wounds for us, 

R. Christ Jesus, have mercy on us

Our Father…Hail Mary…Glory Be…

The Seventh Station

Jesus Falls for the Second Time (Is. 53:4)

V. We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You.
R. Because by Your Holy Cross, You have redeemed the world.

Meditation: 

“Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we

esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.” (Is. 53:4)

Jesus: 

The cause of your falls is that you rely too much upon yourself and too little on Me. But let this not sadden you so much. You are dealing with the God of mercy (1488). Know that of yourself you can do nothing (639). Without special help from Me, you are not even capable of accepting My graces (738) .

St. Faustina:  

Jesus, do not leave me alone… You know, Lord, how

weak I am. I am an abyss of wretchedness, I am nothingness itself;

so what will be so strange if You leave me alone and I fall? (1489)

So You, Jesus, must stand by me constantly like a mother by a

helpless child — and even more so (264).

Prayer:

May Your grace assist me, Lord, that I may not keep falling continuously into the same faults; and when I fall, help me to rise and glorify Your mercy.

V. You, who suffered wounds for us, 

R. Christ Jesus, have mercy on us

Our Father…Hail Mary…Glory Be…

The Eighth Station

Jesus Consoles the Women of Jerusalem (Lk 23:27-28)

V. We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You.
R. Because by Your Holy Cross, You have redeemed the world.

Meditation: 

Meditation: 

“And there followed him a great multitude of the people, and of

women who bewailed and lamented him. But Jesus turning to them

said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for

yourselves and for your children’” (Lk. 23:27-28)

Jesus: 

O how pleasing to Me is living faith! (1420) I desire that you

would all have more faith at the present time (352) .

St. Faustina: 

I fervently beg the Lord to strengthen my faith, so

that in my drab, everyday life I will not be guided by human

dispositions, but by those of the spirit. Oh, how everything drags

man towards the earth! But lively faith maintains the soul in the

higher regions and assigns self-love its proper place; that is to say,

the lowest one (210).

Prayer:

Merciful Lord, I thank You for holy Baptism and the grace of faith. Continuously, I call: Lord, I believe, increase my faith.

V. You, who suffered wounds for us, 

R. Christ Jesus, have mercy on us

Our Father…Hail Mary…Glory Be…

The Ninth Station

Jesus Falls for the Third Time (Is. 53:7,10)

V. We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You.
R. Because by Your Holy Cross, You have redeemed the world.

Meditation:

“He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth;

like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before

its shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth... Yet it was the will

of the Lord to bruise him; he has put him to grief; when he makes

himself an offering for sin, he shall see his offspring, he shall prolong

his days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand” (Is. 53:7,10).

Jesus: 

My child, know that the greatest obstacles to holiness are

discouragement and an exaggerated anxiety. These will deprive

you of the ability to practice virtue… I am always ready to forgive

you. As often as you beg for it, you glorify My mercy (1488) .

St. Faustina:  

My Jesus, despite Your graces, I see and feel all my

misery. I begin my day with battle and end it with battle. As soon

as I conquer one obstacle, ten more appear to take its place. But

I am not worried, because I know that this is the time of struggle,

not peace (606).

Prayer:

Merciful Lord, I give over to You that which is my exclusive property, that is, my sin and my human weakness. I beg You, may my misery drown in Your unfathomable mercy.

V. You, who suffered wounds for us, 

R. Christ Jesus, have mercy on us

Our Father…Hail Mary…Glory Be…

The Tenth Station

Jesus is Stripped of His Garments (Jn. 19:23-24)

V. We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You.
R. Because by Your Holy Cross, You have redeemed the world.

Meditation:

“When the soldiers had crucified Jesus they took his garments and

made four parts, one for each soldier; also his tunic. But the tunic was

without seam, woven from top to bottom; so they said to one another,

“Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it shall be.” This was

to fulfil the scripture, “They parted my garments among them, and for

my clothing they cast lots.” (Jn. 19:23-24)

St. Faustina: 

Jesus was suddenly standing before me, stripped of

His clothes, His body completely covered with wounds, His eyes

flooded with tears and blood, His face disfigured and covered with

spittle. The Lord then said to me:

Jesus: The bride must resemble her Betrothed. 

St. Faustina:  I understood these words to their very depth. There

is no room for doubt here. My likeness to Jesus must be through

suffering and humility (268).

Prayer:

Jesus, meek and humble of heart, make my heart like unto Your heart.

V. You, who suffered wounds for us, 

R. Christ Jesus, have mercy on us

Our Father…Hail Mary…Glory Be…

The Eleventh Station

Jesus is Nailed to the Cross (Mt. 27:39-43)

V. We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You.
R. Because by Your Holy Cross, You have redeemed the world.

Meditation:

“And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads and saying,

“You who would destroy the temple and build it in three days, save

yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.” So also

the chief priests, with the scribes and elders, mocked him, saying, “He

saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him

come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. He trusts

in God; let God deliver him now, if he desires him; for he said, ‘I am

the Son of God.’” (Mt. 27:39-43).

Jesus: 

My pupil, have great love for those who cause you suffering.

Do good to those who hate you (1628).

St. Faustina:  

Oh my Jesus, you know what efforts are needed to

live sincerely and unaffectedly with those from whom our nature

flees, or with those who, deliberately or not, have made us suffer.

Humanly speaking, this is impossible. At such times more than at

others, I try to discover the Lord Jesus in such a person and for this

same Jesus, I do everything for such people (766).

Prayer:

O purest Love, rule in all Your plenitude in my heart and help me to do Your holy will most faithfully (328).

V. You, who suffered wounds for us, 

R. Christ Jesus, have mercy on us

Our Father…Hail Mary…Glory Be…

The Twelfth Station

Jesus Dies on the Cross (Lk. 23:44-46) (Jn. 19:33-34)

V. We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You.
R. Because by Your Holy Cross, You have redeemed the world.

Meditation:

“It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the

whole land until the ninth hour, while the sun’s light failed; and

the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, crying with

a loud voice, said, “Father, into thy hands I commit my spirit!” And

having said this he breathed his last.” (Lk. 23:44-46). “But when they

came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break

his legs. But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at

once there came out blood and water.”(Jn. 19:33-34).

Jesus: 

All this is for the salvation of souls. Consider well what you

are doing for their salvation (1184).

St. Faustina:  

Then I saw the Lord nailed to the cross. When He

had hung on it for a while, I saw a multitude of souls crucified

like Him. Then I saw a second multitude of souls, and a third. The

second multitude were not nailed to [their] crosses, but were

holding them firmly in their hands. The third were neither nailed

to [their] crosses, nor holding them firmly in their hands, but were

dragging [their] crosses behind them and were discontent.

Jesus: 

Do you see these souls? Those who are like Me in the pain

and contempt they suffer will be like Me also in glory. And those

who also resemble Me less in pain and contempt will also bear less

resemblance to Me in glory (446).

Prayer:

Jesus, my Savior, hide me in the depth of Your heart that, fortified by Your grace, I may be able to resemble You in the love of the Cross and have a share in Your glory..

V. You, who suffered wounds for us, 

R. Christ Jesus, have mercy on us

Our Father…Hail Mary…Glory Be…

The Thirteenth Station

Jesus is Taken Down From the Cross (Lk. 23:47-49)

V. We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You.
R. Because by Your Holy Cross, You have redeemed the world.

Meditation:

“Now when the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God,

and said, “Certainly this man was innocent!” And all the multitudes

who assembled to see the sight, when they saw what had taken place,

returned home beating their breasts. And all his acquaintances and

the women who had followed him from Galilee stood at a distance

and saw these things.” (Lk. 23:47-49).

Jesus: 

Most dear to Me is the soul that strongly believes in My

goodness and has complete trust in Me. I heap My confidence upon

it and give it all it asks (453).

St. Faustina: 

I fly to Your mercy, Compassionate God, who alone

are good. Although my misery is great, and my offenses are many, I

trust in Your mercy, because You are the God of mercy; and, from

time immemorial, it has never been heard of, nor do heaven or

earth remember, that a soul trusting in Your mercy has been

disappointed (1730). 

Prayer: 

Merciful Jesus, daily increase my trust in Your mercy that always and everywhere I may give witness to Your boundless goodness and love.

V. You, who suffered wounds for us, 

R. Christ Jesus, have mercy on us

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be…

The Fourteenth Station

Jesus is Laid in the Tomb (Jn 19:40-42)

V. We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You.
R. Because by Your Holy Cross, You have redeemed the world.

Meditation: 

“They took the body of Jesus, and bound it in linen cloths with the spices,

as is the burial custom of the Jews.  Now in the place where he was

crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb where no

one had ever been laid.  So because of the Jewish day of Preparation,

as the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there.” (Jn 19:40-42).

Jesus: 

You are not yet in your homeland; so go, fortified by My grace,

and fight for My kingdom in human souls; fight as a king’s child

would; and remember that the days of your exile will pass quickly,

and with them the possibility of earning merit for heaven. I expect

from you… a great number of souls who will glorify My mercy for

all eternity (1489).

St. Faustina: 

Every soul You have entrusted to me, Jesus, I will try to

aid with prayer and sacrifice, so that Your grace can work in them. O

great lover of souls, my Jesus, I thank You for the immense confidence

with which You have deigned to place souls in our care (245)

Prayer: 

Grant, Merciful Lord, that not even one of those souls which You have entrusted to me be lost.

V. You, who suffered wounds for us, 

R. Christ Jesus, have mercy on us

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be…

Closing Prayer

My Jesus, my only hope, I thank You for this prayer which You opened to the eyes of my soul. Your Passion was out of love for me. Happy the soul that has come to understand the love of the heart of Jesus

For the intentions of the Holy Father.

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be…

Prayer in Honour of the Holy Cross

God our Father, in obedience to You Your only Son accepted death on the cross for the salvation of mankind. We acknowledge the mystery of the cross on earth. May we receive the gift of redemption in heaven. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, Who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.