Information
and introduction
In his/her/its literal sense, the path of the cross is the road
browsed by Notre-Seigneur, the Friday-Saint, when, loaded of
his/her/its cross, it went to Pilate's court to Mount Calvary.
To "make the path of the cross" consists in redoing
this journey, united in mind to Christ's sufferings. To replace
the absence of the places themselves sanctified by the leading
Man-God to the death, the Church permits to erect paths of the
cross in any decent place. The path of the cross is composed
then of fourteen stations marked by crosses of wood; every station
corresponds to one the places where, according to the Gospel
or the tradition, Jesus duti to stop.
To "make the path of the cross" will consist therefore
in the visit of these stations, united in mind to Jesus' sufferings.
II History:
Considered like meditation of the Passion, the path of the cross
is as old as the church. As pilgrimage to the holy places, a
devout tradition assigns the origin of it to the Virgin Marie.
Since the first centuries, the supporters believed to possess
an imperfect faith so much that they had not visited Palestine.
As oneself practices it today, the path of the cross has an
origin a little more recent. He/it first makes himself/itself
in Earth Saint as pilgrimage whose itinerary undergoes the influence
of the circumstances. The number of the stations varies according
to the piety of each or the director of the pilgrimage.
To the XIV ième century, the Bx Henri Suso accomplishes
every night, in the cloisters, the garden and the church of
the convent, the pilgrimage of prayers supposed to represent
the pilgrimage in the holy places. To determined places, he/it
stops, meditate a scene of the Passion endeavoring to follow
in mind the traces of Jesus and Marie; this exercise spills
quickly same among the supporters.
To the XIV ième century, Alvaro, upon his/her/its return
of Earth Saint, builds in his/her/its convent of the small chapels,
representing the scenes of the Passion and visits them assiduously.
Here and there, devout people imitate it and paths of cross
almost everywhere rise same in full air. The number and the
topic of the stations vary however. One possesses all elements
of our present cross path, it is sufficient to unite them and
to order them. This work is first the work of Jean Van Paeschen,
then of a Dutch scientist: Acrichomiuns. In the beginning of
the XVIII ième century finally, our fourteen present
stations are accepted and widespread in the Christian world.
The Church approves them and enriches the practice of the path
of the cross of numerous indulgences. The biggest promoter of
this devotion is without contradicts Saint Leonardo of Port-Maurice
who erected six hundred paths of the cross very near in twenty
years of ministry.
III.
EXCELLENCE AND UTILITY:
A devotion, that has the Virgin Saint herself for initiatrice,
doesn't have to prove his/her/its excellence.
Besides, the path of the cross is before a whole exercise of
meditation on the Savior's Passion. However, this meditation
is the most efficient invitation to follow the Christ, to carry
the cross with it,; nothing better that this convenient saint
to bring back the sinners to the virtue, to resuscitate and
to warm the tepid, to perfect just, to force the men to think
on the end of the human life, God's love for us, the price of
a soul and the enormity of the sin. "Someone wants him
to withdraw from vice, to make some progress in the virtue,
and to arrive in a short time to perfection, that he/it kisses
with devotion this holy exercise, and he/it will feel some soon
in his/her/its soul the admirable effects". In our century
more that in all other, the exercise of the path of the cross
appears eminently useful. While forcing to the meditation and
the reflection, he/it goes directly against one the most serious
pains of the present world; the thoughtlessness and the lightness
of mind.
IV INDULGENCES:
a) An indulgence to win toties quoties, that means every time
that one makes the exercise in whole, was this several times
the same day.
b) Another plenary indulgence if, the day where one makes the
path of the cross in whole, one receives the holy Eucharist.
If one cannot receive communion the very day where one makes
the exercise, one will be able to win this plenary indulgence
under the condition to approach of the saint Counts in the month
that will follow ten whole exercises of the path of the cross.
c) A partial indulgence of ten years for every station in the
event, after having begun the exercise, one would not finish
it for a reasonable reason.
V Conditions:
To win the indulgences of the path of the cross to fill the
four following conditions in addition to the desire at least
general to win the is necessary
indulgences:
a) to Be in state of grace. The confession and the communion
are not required.
b) to Meditate on the passion. This meditation can be very short
and according to the faculty of each, it is sufficient that
it is general, that is to say that it is not required a special
meditation for every station.
c) to move to every station, even though the exercise makes
itself in public; this local movement is necessary unless it
causes the mess.
d) to Visit the fourteen stations without considerable moral
interruption. To stop the excercice to hear the holy Mass, to
make the communion or to confess doesn't constitute a considerable
moral interruption. One doesn't have whereas to continue where
one was returned before the interruption.
VI. METHOD:
Immediately notice that no particular attitude is prescribed.
One can make the path of the cross while being held on the knees,
standing or even seated before every station so long as one
observes what is prescribed for the visit of the statons.
Let's distinguish three kinds of paths of the cross.
a) The path of the cross deprives. Nothing is simple as the
method to follow to make the path of the cross privément.
It is sufficient to visit without considerable interruption,
each of the fourteen stations, while meditating on the Savior's
Passion. It is necessary to go from a station to the other,
in permit it as much as the narrowness of the local and the
place and the big number of those that make this same exercise.
b) The path of the cross public: It is the one that is made
by several people like public sacred function; in this case,
it is necessary that the supporters browse the stations of the
manner indicated above. But if this movement of a station to
the other during the public exercise of the path of the cross
can cause the mess, it is necessary, according to the very opinion
of Consecrated it Community of the Indulgences, to follow the
method proposed by Leonardo saint of Port-Maurice: " That
every supporter stays to her place and that the only priest,
with two servers or cantors, goes from a station to the other,
and that to each of her recites the particular prayers of use,
to which answer all the aid". One advises the supporters
however to kneel and to rise every time with the priest.
c) The path of the cross in common: it is the one that is made
together by several people by fashion of private function. Here
the displacement of a station to the other is required again;
but, as in the previous case, if this displacement must cause
the mess, only one person browses the stations to recite the
prayers of use there, and the other behave of the manner indicated
for the path of the cross public.
VII
Crucifix with indulgences of the path of the cross:
As a lot of supporters, for multiple valid reasons, cannot go
every day to a place where is a path of the cross, the holy
Church, in his/her/its maternal solicitude, gives to these Christian
the means to win the indulgences of the path of the cross to
the following conditions:
a) a crucifix indulgencié is necessarily necessary to
this effect by a priest who has the power of it. So that a crucifix
can be indulgencié, the cross must be of strong matter
(brass, copper, however, money, iron, ivory…). The matter
of the cross is without importance, because the only Christ
is provided with the indulgences. However, in the countries
of mission where, according to a special permission, these indulgences
can be attached to a cross, this one should also be of strong
matter. The Christ of this crucifix must have a human shape,
to be fixed to the cross or nailed in relief in metal and measure
at least, an inch and half. Otherwise, indeed, it will be difficult
that he/it has a human shape.
b) It is necessary to hold in hands the crucifix indulgencié.
If several people are together, one only is obliged to hold
the crucifix. With a sufficient reason, it will be sufficient
to carry it on oneself, suspended to the neck, placed in the
pocket or fixed to his/her/its garment.
c) to Recite contrite heart, while thinking religiously about
the Christ's Passion, twenty Lord Prayer, I greet you, Marie,
Glory to the Father, either fourteen for the stations, five
in honor of the five Wounds of Notre-Seigneur, to the intentions
of the Sovereign Pontiff. This recitation must be morally continuous
and must only permit a short interruption.
d) For the sick people, in the impossibility to recite these
prayers and to hold the crucifix indulgencié, it is sufficient
to kiss or to watch, with a contrite heart, this crucifix and
to recite a short prayer jaculatoire in memory of the passion
or the Savior's Death.
e) If the state of extreme tires or the danger of death prevents
to recite this prayer jaculatoire, the only kiss or look of
contrition is sufficient.
Note: The fact to lend this crucifix doesn't make him lose his/her/its
indulgences. Those to that he/it has been lent in benefit also.
One can therefore use it by the patients and make win them these
precious indulgences of the path of the cross.
VIII.
ASSOCIATION OF THE PATH OF THE PERPETUAL CROSS:
A) NOTION:
Association of people committing to make the Path of the Cross
once the week, or once the month.
B) Goal:
This association has, as general end, to make more frequent
the practice of the Path of the Cross,; to recall us the Savior's
Passion more often; of us in appliquerà ourselves and
to the other the merits in a larger measure.
As particular ends, to repair the made outrages, every day,
to God and to Christ, to ask especially for the conversion of
the sinners, to relieve the souls of the Purgatory, those that
were part of the ASSOCIATION, to ask for our Mother's triumph
the Saint Church.
C) Seats:
The main seat of the Association is the church of the Franciscans,
of the macaw-Coeli, in Rome.
Of right, secondary seats of the Association exist in all churches
or oratorical public that are annexed to convents, residences
or subject houses, in some manner that it is, to the jurisdiction
of the general of the Franciscans.
e) Advantages:
1 - involvement to the prayers and to the good œuvres of
all partners.
2 - insurance to be relieved in the Purgatory by the prayers
and the Paths of Cross of the partners.
3 - in addition to the indulgences attached by the Sovereign
Pontiff to the exercise of the Path of the Cross, a plenary
indulgence is conceded to the following days; the day of the
admission; at death's door; September 15, feast of Notre-Dame
of the Seven Pains,; October 4, feast of François saint
of Foundation,; November 26, feast of Leonardo saint of Port-Maurice,
the big propagator of the Path of the Cross.
f) Obligations:
1 - to commit to make the Path of the Cross every week or each
month, to one day chosen by the partner or by the one that admits.
2 - to make, if one can, the Path of the Cross, to the following
days: The Friday-Saint; the Invention of the Cross May 3, to
the Exaltation of the Saint Cross September 14; the first Friday
of March, feast of the Mysteries of the Path of the Cross,;
Sunday of the Passion and the first Sunday of November. This
compilation of" Path of the Cross", that only asked
for a work of compilation, popularization and adaptation, would
like to help the souls to meditate on the Passion and the Death
of our divine Redeeming. Can Our Lord Christ, the Savior of
the souls, to have it for pleasant and to bless the diffusion
of it. If this first set of "Twenty Exercises" receives
a favorable welcome, under, little, God helping, it will be
followed of one second set.
Montreal. Lent 1945
Ritual for the exercise of the Path of the Cross
a) Act of contrituin:
or the plain formula
My God, I have an extreme regret of you to have offended because
you are infinitely good, infinitely agreeable and that the sin
displeases you; forgive me by Jesus' merits - Christ my Savior;
I intend, in return for your saint grace, of more to offend
you and to make penitence.
or the fomule of Leonardo saint of Port-Maurice
Oh very lenient Jesus, infinitely good and merciful, I like
you over all things. Me me repends of you to have offended,
you, my sovereign well. I offer you this Path of the Cross,
in honor of the painful journey that you accomplished for the
atonement of my sins. I want to win the indulgences that there
is attached, and to pray to the intentions that carried the
Souvenrains Pontiffs to concede them. Oh my Jesus, I implore
of it to you humbly, make that this holy exercise serves me
to get your mercy in this life and the eternal glory in the
other. So either it.
b) preparatory Prayer:
My Lord Jesus, you that, about to die, recommended us to keep
the memory of your pains, come to engrave them in my heart,
while I am going to try to meditate your Passion. Alas! I know
it, in my heart, you have been immolated in a guiltier manner
than on Mount Calvary. I ask you for forgiveness of it, oh my
Jesus!
You, oh Marie, you browsed the first this painful way, that
drove my Savior in Mount Calvary. Allow me to walk on your steps,
to follow you by the affections of the heart. Take me by the
hand. Let's walk together. You will speak to my soul, and you
will tell him all your pains, all those of my Jesus.
Information of the author
Same manner to proceed.
V. We adore you, oh Jesus, and we bless you,
R. because you purchased us the world by your holy cross. (to
every station)
- Lord Prayer
- I greet you, Marie,
- Glory to the Father…
- Have mercy of us
- That the souls…
To the demand of the R.P. Serge. Mr. Lefebvre, o.f.m. Commissioner
Provincial of the Third Franciscan Order, we agree to publish
this third set of Twenty-five exercises of the Path of the Cross.
As in the first two sets, we are first anxious to give a brief
preview on the gain of the indulgences and on the manner to
make the path of the cross.
Gain of the indulgences:
Pope Magpie XII by a decree of October 20, 1931, abrogated all
indulgences of the path of the cross, conceded before him, and
replaced them by the following:
a) A plenary indulgence every time that one makes the exercise
in whole, was this several times the same day.
b) Another plenary indulgence while receiving communion the
very day where one makes the path of the cross, or in the delay
of one month after having made this exercise 10 times.
c) A partial indulgence of 10 years for every station in the
event, after having begun the exercise, one would not finish
it for a reasonable reason.
d) These indulgences are applicable to oneself, or to the souls
of the purgatory, it is in general the meditation on the Passion
of Our Lord Christ, or according to the picture of each of the
14 stations.
Prayer
after the exercise
a) Prayer:
Oh my good Jesus, while finishing this holy exercise, I would
like to expose arrangements of my soul once again.
When you will grant me a little happiness, a little consolation
in your service, I will accept it with humility and recognition,
oh my God.
If you send me a few print, some parcel of your cross, with
resignation I will submit to your holy will.
If you allow the temptation to attack me, me imporerai your
grace for in to be victorious. So, alas! I succumb, I will stand
up so quickly that your mercy will have forgiven me this temporary
disloyalty soon.
There is my firm résolution,ô my good Jesus. Bless
it! This blessing will give me strength to be you faithful jsuque
last au of my days. Ainisi is him!
b) Station of the T.S.Sacrement
After the exercise of the Path of the Cross, one can recite
the Station of the T.S.Sacrement is:
5 Lord Prayer, I greet you, Marie, Glory to the Father, in honor
of the 5 Plaienses of Notre-Seigneur,;
1 Lord Prayer, I greet you, Marie, Glore to the Father, to the
intentions of the Sovereign Pontiff.
c) Reverence of the crucifix or a relic of the true Cross; Finally,
at the time of a more solemn circumstance, as the Friday-Saint
or the Feast of the Saint's exaltation - Cross, one can have
the crucifix or a relic of the true Cross venerated.
For the public exercise of the path of the cross, for the path
of the cross in common, some prayers are of use;
Here
are those that we suggest.
| Before
the exercise: One can réciter,à high voice
with the supporters, the act of contrition. |
R: Because…. |
Que
the souls… |
|
Before every station |
After
every station: |
Have
mercy of us, Lord, |
V:
we adore you… |
Glory to God. |
Our
father. |
We
are anxious to thank all those that, by their encouragements,
their advice, by their work, collaborated to the publication
of these three sets of 25 exercises of the Path of the Cross.
Can the Savior of the world to have for pleasant this first
set and to bless the diffusion of it. P.B.o.f.m.
