Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Stations of the Cross with St Anne


I was very blessed to stumble upon a pilgrim's manual to St Anne de Beaupre written in the late 1800's and it has many new prayers and devotions I have not seen before. I look forward to sharing them over the months to come. The only changes I have made to what I share, is changing the very old English 'thee' 'thou' etc to the modern equivalent.

One very special devotion which I am very keen to perform and share here, are prayers and meditations every day with St Anne through her month of July ~ thirty one days.

Today I am sharing The Way of the Cross with St Anne, very suitable for Lent.

THE WAY OF THE CROSS WITH ST ANNE

Jesus will undoubtedly grant our prayer, provided that we only ask for that which

presents no obstacle to our salvation.


PREPARATORY PRAYER.


O God, heavenly Father, your divine Son Jesus has promised us that you will grant us whatever we shall ask in His name; in His name then and through His merits I come before you and confidently ask of you for entire conformity to your holy Will in all the troubles of this life, profound grief for my sins, an ardent zeal in the practice of virtue and, above all, I specially recommend to you (here name the favour you would ask); I come before you in the name of Jesus, I offer you His Passion and Death, and I firmly trust that through these, you will grant me my petition. St. Anne, you were the Grandmother of Him Who, by journeying along the way of sorrows, didst open to me the infinite treasures of His grace, accompany me along this way of the Passion and vouchsafe to present my prayers and sighs to the Eternal Father.


Mary, Daughter of St. Anne and Mother of Jesus, pray for me now, that God may grant my prayer.


O Angel of God, to whose care I am committed, enlighten, protect, direct, and govern me. Amen.


THE FIRST STATION ~ JESUS IS CONDEMNED TO DEATH


V/. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee.


R/. Because by Thy holy Cross Thou hast redeemed the world.


Consider Jesus before the tribunal of Pilate, receiving the sentence which condemned Him to death. What crime had you committed, O my Jesus, that you were so condemned ? My Saviour, it was not you that was guilty, but I who by my sins have renewed your passion. Henceforth I will avoid sin out of love for you. My loving Saviour, since you are so compassionate to us, I approach you with confidence and humbly beg of you to grant me the grace which I ask of you.


St. Anne, consoler of the afflicted, pray for me that Jesus may hear my prayer.


Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory, etc.


Have pity upon us, O Lord, have pity upon us.


May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.


THE SECOND STATION ~ JESUS IS MADE TO BEAR HIS CROSS


V/. We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you.


R/. Because by your holy Cross you have redeemed the world.


My beloved Jesus, I adore the love which urged you to take on your own shoulders the heavy Cross of our sins and weaknesses; I pray you by that love to have pity on me and grant me the grace of My Jesus, I confide in your goodness and love and I trust you will not reject my prayer; for you have said: Because he has hoped in me, I will deliver him: I will protect him, because he has known my name.


St. Anne, help of those who call on you, say to Jesus, that all my confidence is in His Cross and Passion.


Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory, etc.


Have pity upon us, O Lord, have pity upon us.


May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.


THE THIRD STATION ~ JESUS FALLS THE FIRST TIME


V/. We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you.


R/. Because by your holy Cross you have redeemed the world.


My Jesus, how could you love me so? For it was out of love for me that you did fall beneath the Cross, you did fall in order that I might not give way to discouragement after my repeated falls into sin. Who ever trusted in the Lord and was disappointed? Dear Lord, such would be impossible: No one has hoped in the Lord, and has been confounded. My Jesus, all my hope is in the merits of your Passion, and I pray that you grant my prayer.


St. Anne, worthy ancestress of our Saviour, vouchsafe to intercede with Jesus for me, ask Him to listen to my prayer, for in Him is all my hope.


Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory, etc.


Have pity upon us, O Lord, have pity upon us.


May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.


THE FOURTH STATION ~ JESUS MET BY HIS BLESSED MOTHER


V/. We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you.


R/. Because by your holy Cross you have redeemed the world.


Jesus, how great was your grief at the sight of Mary's sufferings, and what a sea of sorrow overwhelmed the heart of your holy Mother when she saw the insults which were heaped on you; but your mutual sufferings inspire me with confidence and hope; for you did suffer out of love for me, in order to turn aside from me the punishments I have deserved and obtain me a share of the divine mercy; sweet Jesus, do not refuse me the favour which I ask of you in all humility and confidence.


St. Anne, Mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary, ask of your Daughter to obtain for me a favourable hearing from Jesus through the sorrows she endured on account of Him. All my hope is in His goodness.

Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory, etc.


Have pity upon us, O Lord, have pity upon us.


May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.


THE FIFTH STATION ~ THE CROSS IS LAID ON SIMON OF CYRENE


V/. We adore you, O Christ and we bless you


R/. Because by your holy Cross you have redeemed the world.


My Jesus, I adore the great love which made you sink beneath the weight of your Cross. I pray to you by that love to have pity on me, to hear my prayer. Dear Jesus, I hope you will have compassion on me, even as your heavenly Father had compassion on you, when He sent you Simon to help you to bear the Cross. Sweet Saviour, you know what is afflicting me... refuse me not your assistance. I come to you with the greatest confidence, for St. Bernard assures us that divine mercy is an inexhaustible fountain.


St. Anne, filled with grace, pray to Jesus to listen to me.


Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory, etc.


Have pity upon us, O Lord, have pity upon us.


May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.


THE SIXTH STATION ~ VERONICA WIPES THE FACE OF JESUS


V/. We adore you, O Christ and we bless you


R/. Because by your holy Cross you have redeemed the world.


My Jesus, through the love you showed to Veronica by imprinting your sacred Face on her handkerchief, I beg of you to bestow on me likewise the marks of Thy goodness. Veronica had sufficient confidence in God to enable her to overcome all obstacles in order to reach you. I come before you with similar confidence, trusting that you will remove all obstacles to the fulfilment of my desire.


St. Anne, ark of alliance, I trust to your intercession; ask of Jesus to hear my prayer.

Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory, etc.


Have pity upon us, O Lord, have pity upon us.


May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.


THE SEVENTH STATION ~ JESUS FALLS THE SECOND TIME


V/. We adore you, O Christ and we bless you


R/. Because by your holy Cross you have redeemed the world.


Behold, my Jesus, the second time you fell beneath the Cross out of love for me. Such goodness inspires in me the greatest confidence that you will hear my prayers and show forth your infinite mercy on me. My Jesus, I cast myself before the throne of your mercy: have pity on me and reject not my sighs and tears.


St. Anne, joy of angels, would you but intercede for me, I am certain of my prayer being granted.


Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory, etc.


Have pity upon us, O Lord, have pity upon us.


May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.


THE EIGHTH STATION ~ JESUS SPEAKS TO THE WOMEN OF JERUSALEM


V/. We adore you, O Christ and we bless you


R/. Because by your holy Cross you have redeemed the world.


My Jesus, great indeed was the love you showed these women when you said to them: Weep not for me, but weep for yourselves and your children. Your goodness, my Jesus, emboldens me to hope that you will not leave me comfortlessin my need and that you will not reject my prayer, for you are of infinite goodness. You desire that I should come to you, since you have said : Ask and you shall receive; seek and you shall find ; knock and it shall be opened unto you. I come before you filled with hope that you will grant me the favour which I ask of you.


St. Anne, mother of the sick, I have recourse to you in all confidence: pray to Jesus for me and I shall be saved.

Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory, etc.


Have pity upon us, O Lord, have pity upon us.


May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.


THE NINTH STATION ~ JESUS FALLS THE THIRD TIME


V/. We adore you, O Christ and we bless you


R/. Because by your holy Cross you have redeemed the world.


Merciful Jesus through the love where you did support the pains and insults you met with when you fell the third time beneath the Cross, I pray that you inflame my heart with love of you, so that I may bear all my sufferings with a desire of being pleasing to you, and may I always conform myself to your holy will in all the trials and crosses you send me. But, above all, I recommend to you the favour of which I implore your all-powerful assistance. My Jesus, I am filled with confidence in your goodness; You overwhelm me with benefits even when I have not loved you. How then could you refuse to bestow your grace on me now that I love and desire to love you always more and more?

St. Anne, mirror of patience, obtain for me from Jesus that I may always suffer the miseries of this life with resignation..

Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory, etc.


Have pity upon us, O Lord, have pity upon us.


May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.


THE TENTH STATION ~ JESUS IS STRIPPED AND RECEIVES GALL TO DRINK



V/. We adore you, O Christ and we bless you


R/. Because by your holy Cross you have redeemed the world.


My Jesus, by that patience where you submitted to being stripped of your garments and given gall to drink, I beg of you to inflame my heart with your love, to detach it from all worldly affections and to give me the grace of supporting patiently all trials and humiliations which may happen to me. I also pray that you grant me, that which I ask of you with filial confidence, but only on condition that my demand should be agreeable to you and conducive to my salvation. I now say and ever will say: Father, not my will but yours be done.


St. Anne, mirror of obedience, obtain me the grace of always doing the Will of God.


Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory, etc.


Have pity upon us, O Lord, have pity upon us.


May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.


THE ELEVENTH STATION ~ JESUS IS NAILED TO THE CROSS


V/. We adore you, O Christ and we bless you


R/. Because by your holy Cross you have redeemed the world.


My Jesus, I adore the love which impelled you to stretch yourself on the Cross and to present your hands and feet to be pierced with nails: by this love I beg of you to inflame my heart with love of you, so that I may bear my crosses with resignation. I adore also the love which impelled you to retain the marks of the five wounds in your glorified body after your resurrection, whereby to plead for mercy with God the Father in our behalf. Beloved Jesus, I unite my prayers with yours, and it is by this union that I hope to obtain the favour which I solicit.


St. Anne, mirror of piety, unite your prayers to those of your holy Daughter Mary, so that Jesus may hear me.

Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory, etc.


Have pity upon us, O Lord, have pity upon us.


May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.


THE TWELFTH STATION ~ JESUS DIES ON THE CROSS


V/. We adore you, O Christ and we bless you


R/. Because by your holy Cross you have redeemed the world.


My Jesus, you died between two thieves in order to merit the grace of God for me! All my hope is in this incomprehensible goodness. You only wish for my happiness, for you have said : Come to me all you that labour, and are burdened, and I will refresh you. My Jesus, I pray that by your goodness and by the merits of your death to have pity on me and to hear my prayer.


St. Anne, bulwark of the Church, ask of God to listen favourably to my prayer and, through the merits of Jesus, to have pity on me.

Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory, etc.


Have pity upon us, O Lord, have pity upon us.


May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.


THE THIRTEENTH STATION ~ THE BODY OF JESUS IS TAKEN DOWN


V/. We adore you, O Christ and we bless you


R/. Because by your holy Cross you have redeemed the world.


My God, look down on your beloved Son, Who, out of love for me, is now lying in the arms of His afflicted Mother. Behold, O my God, this Head crowned with thorns, these Hands and Feet pierced by the cruel nails, this Side transfixed by the lance, the whole Body torn by scourges. By all these wounds, received through love of me, I pray that you have have mercy on me and grant me the favours I beg of you. My Jesus, I know that you will hear my prayer, for you have said : Verily, verily, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in my Name, shall be given to you.


St. Anne, light of the blind, pray your Daughter Mary to present her beloved Son to His heavenly Father, and then the light of grace will be granted to me.

Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory, etc.


Have pity upon us, O Lord, have pity upon us.


May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.


THE FOURTEEN STATION ~ JESUS IS LAID IN THE SEPULCHRE


V/. We adore you, O Christ and we bless you


R/. Because by your holy Cross you have redeemed the world.


My God, on beholding Jesus borne to the sepulchre, how can I give way to discouragement and doubt your intention of coming to our assistance? My faith and hope are redoubled when I see this same Jesus rise again glorious on the third day. Yes, my God, I hope in you, for you have disposed of all things for my happiness and salvation.


St. Anne, port of the traveller, obtain me the grace, that during my journey through this perishable world I may always have recourse to the goodness of God.

Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory, etc.


Have pity upon us, O Lord, have pity upon us.


May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.


PRAYER AFTER THE WAY OF THE CROSS.


God of goodness and mercy, prostrate before the throne of your infinite Majesty, I adore your love. your goodness to us is so great, that St. Augustine does not hesitate to assure us, that you are even happier in bestowing than we are in receiving your benefits; and that you desire still more ardently to deliver us from our miseries than we to be delivered from them. Encouraged by such goodness, I come before you filled with confidence! My God, my hope is not in myself, nor in my own merits, but in your goodness and in the merits of Jesus Christ. God of goodness cast a favourable glance on your well-beloved Son Jesus; behold all that He has suffered out of love for me. My God, since it was for my sake that He humbled Himself to die between two thieves, could you refuse to have pity on me? If, after gaining a brilliant victory, a general covered with wounds were to present himself before his king to demand a favour, could that king refuse to grant it? My God, Jesus presents Himself before you, covered with wounds and interceding for me; can you refuse to grant what He asks of Thee? My trust is in your mercy and I know I shall obtain what I ask. In you, O Lord, have I trusted, I shall never be confounded.


Then recite five times Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory, etc., in honour of the five wounds of Our Lord, in order to gain the indulgences attached to the Way of the Cross ; then say the following prayer before the statue of St. Anne.


PRAYER TO ST ANNE OBTAIN SOME SPECIAL FAVOUR.


Glorious St. Anne, filled with compassion for those who invoke you and with love for those who suffer, heavily laden with the weight of my troubles, I cast myself at your feet and humbly beg of you to take the present affair which I recommend to you, under your special protection. Vouchsafe to recommend it to your Daughter, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and to lay it before the throne of Jesus, so that He may bring it to a happy issue. Cease not to intercede for me until my request is granted. Above all, obtain for me the grace of one day beholding my God. Amen

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