We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You, because by Your Holy Cross You have redeemed the world.
This second station represents the place where your most amiable Redeemer is clad in his usual attire, after His inhumane executioners had striped Him of the purple garment of derision with which He was clothed, when as a visionary king they crowned Him with plaited thorns. The heavy brethren of the cross is violently placed on His mangled shoulders.
Behold your gracious Savior, though torn with wounds, covered with blood, a man of griefs, abandoned by all--with what silent patience He bears the taunts and injuries with which the [crowd] insults Him. He stretches out His bleeding arms, and tenderly embraces the Cross. Reflect with confusion on that sensitive pride which is fired with impatience at the very shadow of contempt--on your discontented murmurs in your lightest afflictions--and your obstinate resistance to the will of heaven in the crosses of life, which are calculated to conduct you, not to a Calvary of Crucifixion, but to joys of eternal glory and from your heart unite in the following:
Meek and humble Jesus, my iniquity and perverseness loaded Thy shoulders with the heavy burden of the Cross. Yet I... flee even the appearance of mortification, and everything which would check the violence of my passions and if I suffered, it was with a murmuring reluctance. I now, O Savior of the world detest my [wrongs], and by Thy grace am determined no more to offend You [with grave sin]. Let me only glory in the Cross of my Lord, by whom the world is crucified to me, and I to the world. Lay then on my stubborn neck the cross of true penance; let me, for the love of You, bear the adversities of this life, and [cling] inseparably to You in the bonds of perpetual [love]. Amen, Jesus
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
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.
Jesus Christ crucified, have mercy on us.
No pity for the Lamb was to he found;
As a mock King my loving Lord they crown'd;
To bear the heavy cross He does not tire,
To save my soul from everlasting fire.
