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The Way of the Cross
These meditations on the Way of the Cross were written to enkindle a flaming love for the Crucified Christ
64 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1933
111 people want to read
About the author
Fulton J. Sheen
521 books741 followersFulton John Sheen was an American bishop of the Catholic Church known for his preaching and especially his work on television and radio. Ordained a priest of the Diocese of Peoria in Illinois, in 1919, Sheen quickly became a renowned theologian, earning the Cardinal Mercier Prize for International Philosophy in 1923. He went on to teach theology and philosophy at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. and served as a parish priest before he was appointed auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of New York in 1951. He held this position until 1966 when he was made bishop of the Diocese of Rochester in New York. He resigned as bishop of Rochester in 1969 as his 75th birthday approached and was made archbishop of the titular see of Newport, Wales.
For 20 years as "Father Sheen", later monsignor, he hosted the night-time radio program The Catholic Hour on NBC (1930–1950) before he moved to television and presented Life Is Worth Living (1952–1957). Sheen's final presenting role was on the syndicated The Fulton Sheen Program (1961–1968) with a format that was very similar to that of the earlier Life Is Worth Living show. For that work, Sheen twice won an Emmy Award for Most Outstanding Television Personality, and was featured on the cover of Time magazine. Starting in 2009, his shows were being re-broadcast on the EWTN and the Trinity Broadcasting Network's Church Channel cable networks. His contribution to televised preaching resulted in Sheen often being called one of the first televangelists.
The cause for his canonization was officially opened in 2002. In June 2012, Pope Benedict XVI officially recognized a decree from the Congregation for the Causes of Saints stating that he lived a life of "heroic virtues," a major step towards beatification, and he is now referred to as venerable. On July 5, 2019, Pope Francis approved a reputed miracle that occurred through the intercession of Sheen, clearing the way for his beatification. Sheen was scheduled to be beatified in Peoria on December 21, 2019, but his beatification was postponed after Bishop Salvatore Matano of Rochester expressed concern that Sheen's handling of a 1963 sexual misconduct case against a priest might be cited unfavorably in a forthcoming report from the New York Attorney General. The Diocese of Peoria countered that Sheen's handling of the case had already been "thoroughly examined" and "exonerated" and that Sheen had "never put children in harm's way".
For 20 years as "Father Sheen", later monsignor, he hosted the night-time radio program The Catholic Hour on NBC (1930–1950) before he moved to television and presented Life Is Worth Living (1952–1957). Sheen's final presenting role was on the syndicated The Fulton Sheen Program (1961–1968) with a format that was very similar to that of the earlier Life Is Worth Living show. For that work, Sheen twice won an Emmy Award for Most Outstanding Television Personality, and was featured on the cover of Time magazine. Starting in 2009, his shows were being re-broadcast on the EWTN and the Trinity Broadcasting Network's Church Channel cable networks. His contribution to televised preaching resulted in Sheen often being called one of the first televangelists.
The cause for his canonization was officially opened in 2002. In June 2012, Pope Benedict XVI officially recognized a decree from the Congregation for the Causes of Saints stating that he lived a life of "heroic virtues," a major step towards beatification, and he is now referred to as venerable. On July 5, 2019, Pope Francis approved a reputed miracle that occurred through the intercession of Sheen, clearing the way for his beatification. Sheen was scheduled to be beatified in Peoria on December 21, 2019, but his beatification was postponed after Bishop Salvatore Matano of Rochester expressed concern that Sheen's handling of a 1963 sexual misconduct case against a priest might be cited unfavorably in a forthcoming report from the New York Attorney General. The Diocese of Peoria countered that Sheen's handling of the case had already been "thoroughly examined" and "exonerated" and that Sheen had "never put children in harm's way".
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
February 24, 2018
A good friend gave me this for Christmas. The plan was to do a different version of the Way of the Cross each Friday of Lent with a view to deepening my love for, and experience of, this traditional devotion. My husband and I used to enjoy going to our parish ‘Stations’ during Lent, especially with our children growing up, but now we have to be content to do so at home. I had never read these by the dear Venerable Fulton Sheen and was prepared to love them anyway, yet surprised to also be catechized by them! We are never finished learning about our faith!
So ... the Three Falls of Our Lord correspond to the Three Temptations: the World, the Flesh and the Devil and the three Persons under the Cross represent all of Humanity: Innocence (the Blessed Mother), Sinners (Magdalene) and Priests (John).
There is much more as well. As I want to do all the other versions of the Stations this Lent, I hope I haven’t done the best first, thus rendering the others to pale in comparison. Well if so, then back to this. The prayers are so beautiful. Sublime simplicity. Fully five stars+.
So ... the Three Falls of Our Lord correspond to the Three Temptations: the World, the Flesh and the Devil and the three Persons under the Cross represent all of Humanity: Innocence (the Blessed Mother), Sinners (Magdalene) and Priests (John).
There is much more as well. As I want to do all the other versions of the Stations this Lent, I hope I haven’t done the best first, thus rendering the others to pale in comparison. Well if so, then back to this. The prayers are so beautiful. Sublime simplicity. Fully five stars+.
April 4, 2023
I love praying the Stations of the Cross; it is one of my favourite devotions. I enjoy praying along with audio versions, and enjoy praying with a book or booklet like this time, and communally during Fridays at my Parish during Lent. This was one of three different stations I have found published by Fulton J. Sheen. It is the third I have prayed. After some extensive research I believe he only published the three and this was the first one released. I try and pray a Stations every Friday throughout the year, and strive to pray one each day during Lent. This is the longest of the three editions from the pen of Sheen I have been able to track down, it is another excellent version. This is very similar to the 1933 Edition, except that version has a longer introduction including a section on the indulgences partial and full available at the time this volume was published. The font and layout is differed. And this edition has no pictures where the 1933 edition has a full page photo of Stations for each of the Stations.
A Sample station is:
“Third Station
Jesus Falls The First Time.
We adore Thee, 0 Christ, and we praise Thee,
Because by Thy Holy Cross Thou hast redeemed the world.
Three times Our Saviour was tempted on the mountain, and three times He fell on the way to the mountain of Calvary. Thus did He atone for our three falls to the temptations of the flesh, the world, and the devil.
After fasting forty days in the desert, Our Blessed Lord was hungry. Satan tempted Him first on the part of the flesh, by asking Him to do the natural thing when hungry, namely, to use His power and command that the stones be turned into bread. But the Master retorted that the food which satisfies the longings of our heart comes not from the flesh, but from the Spirit of God.
Many times I, too, have been tempted to give way to the demands of my lower nature when the spirit should have been served. But, unlike my Master, I fell by consenting to the promptings of the flesh instead of the urges of Grace, and by doing that which is natural when I should have done that which is supernatural. And alas! I have found it always true that giving away to lower impulses has made hungry where most it satisfies, and that with the bread of lower desires, no man can live.
Pray for us, 0 Holy Mother of God
That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
PRAYER
When my frame rocks beneath the power of Satan, and my flesh is buffeted by the tempter, seal my senses and keep me mindful that my body is a temple of the Holy Ghost, and that only the clean of heart shall see Thee, 0 God! Grant henceforth, that by the merits of this fall under the Cross, I may be saved from falls of the flesh not by bread made from stones, but by Flesh made from the Bread of Life and by Blood made from the Wine that germinates Virgins.”
This book has an introductory prayer that is completely different than the 1933 edition:
“Dedicated to Cherished Virgin Mary, Mother of Jesus, Holy Gateway through which God came to men. In Prayerful supplication and petition that Loving souls seeking Love may find thee: the Door through which men pass back again to God.”
And a concluding prayer:
“Prayer After the Way of The Cross
Offered for the Intention of the Holy Father, Vicar of Jesus Christ.
Dear Jesus, Thou art the Word of God, and the Word of God, Thou hast told us, is a seed which bringeth forth life only on condition that it falleth to the ground. As the seed of everlasting life, Thou didst fall to the earth by Thy death on Good Friday, but Thou didst gloriously rise to Thy new life on Easter Sunday. Thus Thou hast taught us that Christian living means dying to the world in a Calvary of time, as a prelude to an eternity-long Easter in heaven. Grant that on that day when Thou wilt come in the clouds of heaven to judge the living and the dead, bearing Thy Cross as a sign of triumph and Thy scars as pledges of love, that I may show Thee my cross and my scars, and in return be privileged to hear fron1 Thy own lips: "Come, ye blessed of My Father into the Kingdom prepared for you from all eternity." Amen”
There are several gages in the introduction. Most have to do with the indulgences partial and full available at the time this volume was published. That introduction begins with:
“The author of these meditations on the Way of the Cross has a two-fold purpose in offering them in printed form. The first is that they may enkindle in souls a flaming love for the Crucified Christ who, through His passion and death, revealed to us that it is only through the Cross that we are ever ushered into glory and eternal life.
The second purpose is that those who meditate on the great love of Our Lord for sinners will be kind enough to say a prayer for the author that increase of years may bring increase of intimacy with the Love which is God.”
I prefer the 1933 edition because of the full page photos os stations. There have been several reprints of this one over the years with various images for the stations. Our Sunday Visitor has a Giant print edition from 1982, Pauline Books and Media has jointly published with Alba House in 2006, and reprinted again in 2014Forgotton books has an edition from 2018, Refuge of Sinners Press has a 2015 booklet edition. But I cannot find an eBook edition of either this of the 1933 edition which is a great pity. I really wish there was an eBook edition so I could have this version with my at all times. When I pray this station I pray for the cause of Canonization of Sheen. I really enjoyed this version of this devotion. It is an excellent edition for personal, home, or church use. I can easily recommend it.
This book is part of a series of reviews: 2023 Catholic Reading Plan!
A Sample station is:
“Third Station
Jesus Falls The First Time.
We adore Thee, 0 Christ, and we praise Thee,
Because by Thy Holy Cross Thou hast redeemed the world.
Three times Our Saviour was tempted on the mountain, and three times He fell on the way to the mountain of Calvary. Thus did He atone for our three falls to the temptations of the flesh, the world, and the devil.
After fasting forty days in the desert, Our Blessed Lord was hungry. Satan tempted Him first on the part of the flesh, by asking Him to do the natural thing when hungry, namely, to use His power and command that the stones be turned into bread. But the Master retorted that the food which satisfies the longings of our heart comes not from the flesh, but from the Spirit of God.
Many times I, too, have been tempted to give way to the demands of my lower nature when the spirit should have been served. But, unlike my Master, I fell by consenting to the promptings of the flesh instead of the urges of Grace, and by doing that which is natural when I should have done that which is supernatural. And alas! I have found it always true that giving away to lower impulses has made hungry where most it satisfies, and that with the bread of lower desires, no man can live.
Pray for us, 0 Holy Mother of God
That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
PRAYER
When my frame rocks beneath the power of Satan, and my flesh is buffeted by the tempter, seal my senses and keep me mindful that my body is a temple of the Holy Ghost, and that only the clean of heart shall see Thee, 0 God! Grant henceforth, that by the merits of this fall under the Cross, I may be saved from falls of the flesh not by bread made from stones, but by Flesh made from the Bread of Life and by Blood made from the Wine that germinates Virgins.”
This book has an introductory prayer that is completely different than the 1933 edition:
“Dedicated to Cherished Virgin Mary, Mother of Jesus, Holy Gateway through which God came to men. In Prayerful supplication and petition that Loving souls seeking Love may find thee: the Door through which men pass back again to God.”
And a concluding prayer:
“Prayer After the Way of The Cross
Offered for the Intention of the Holy Father, Vicar of Jesus Christ.
Dear Jesus, Thou art the Word of God, and the Word of God, Thou hast told us, is a seed which bringeth forth life only on condition that it falleth to the ground. As the seed of everlasting life, Thou didst fall to the earth by Thy death on Good Friday, but Thou didst gloriously rise to Thy new life on Easter Sunday. Thus Thou hast taught us that Christian living means dying to the world in a Calvary of time, as a prelude to an eternity-long Easter in heaven. Grant that on that day when Thou wilt come in the clouds of heaven to judge the living and the dead, bearing Thy Cross as a sign of triumph and Thy scars as pledges of love, that I may show Thee my cross and my scars, and in return be privileged to hear fron1 Thy own lips: "Come, ye blessed of My Father into the Kingdom prepared for you from all eternity." Amen”
There are several gages in the introduction. Most have to do with the indulgences partial and full available at the time this volume was published. That introduction begins with:
“The author of these meditations on the Way of the Cross has a two-fold purpose in offering them in printed form. The first is that they may enkindle in souls a flaming love for the Crucified Christ who, through His passion and death, revealed to us that it is only through the Cross that we are ever ushered into glory and eternal life.
The second purpose is that those who meditate on the great love of Our Lord for sinners will be kind enough to say a prayer for the author that increase of years may bring increase of intimacy with the Love which is God.”
I prefer the 1933 edition because of the full page photos os stations. There have been several reprints of this one over the years with various images for the stations. Our Sunday Visitor has a Giant print edition from 1982, Pauline Books and Media has jointly published with Alba House in 2006, and reprinted again in 2014Forgotton books has an edition from 2018, Refuge of Sinners Press has a 2015 booklet edition. But I cannot find an eBook edition of either this of the 1933 edition which is a great pity. I really wish there was an eBook edition so I could have this version with my at all times. When I pray this station I pray for the cause of Canonization of Sheen. I really enjoyed this version of this devotion. It is an excellent edition for personal, home, or church use. I can easily recommend it.
This book is part of a series of reviews: 2023 Catholic Reading Plan!
March 13, 2020
A solemn beauty. I was totally had.
April 1, 2020
First time doing the Stations sincerely and devoutly, taking about 2.5 hours in an outside monastic stations setting. It gets the job done with reflections, reading, scripture and prayers - as well as some original wisdom from Msgr. Fulton J. Sheen. It feels almost complete, though I do feel like there could be something even more comprehensive. I have not done the stations with another book yet, but will soon and then hope to have a better comparison.
April 10, 2020
A wonderful little book to take to church to do the Stations or just for meditation at home. Very short, one could spend two minutes (or two hours) on each. Contains a very brief meditation and a prayer for each Station.
March 20, 2023
I love praying the Stations of the Cross; it is one of my favourite devotions. I enjoy praying along with audio versions, and enjoy praying with a book or booklet like this time, and communally during Fridays at my Parish during Lent. This was one of three different stations I have found published by Fulton J. Sheen. It is the second I have prayed. After some extensive research I believe he only published the three and this was the second one released. I try and pray a Stations every Friday throughout the year, and strive to pray one each day during Lent. This is the longest of the three editions from the pen of Sheen I have been able to track down, it is another excellent version.
A Sample station is:
“First Station
Jesus Falls The First Time.
We adore Thee, 0 Christ, and we praise Thee,
Because by Thy Holy Cross Thou hast redeemed the world.
Three times Our Saviour was tempted on the mountain, and three times He fell on the way to the mountain of Calvary. Thus did He atone for our three falls to the temptations of the flesh, the world, and the devil.
After fasting forty days in the desert, Our Blessed Lord was hungry. Satan tempted Him first on the part of the flesh, by asking Him to do the natural thing when hungry, namely, to use His power and command that the stones be turned into bread. But the Master retorted that the food which satisfies the longings of our heart comes not from the flesh, but from the Spirit of God.
Many times I, too, have been tempted to give way to the demands of my lower nature when the spirit should have been served. But, unlike my Master, I fell by consenting to the promptings of the flesh instead of the urges of Grace, and by doing that which is natural when I should have done that which is supernatural. And alas! I have found it always true that giving away to lower impulses has made hungry where most it satisfies, and that with the bread of lower desires, no man can live.
Pray for us, 0 Holy Mother of God
That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
PRAYER
When my frame rocks beneath the power of Satan, and my flesh is buffeted by the tempter, seal my senses and keep me mindful that my body is a temple of the Holy Ghost, and that only the clean of heart shall see Thee, 0 God! Grant henceforth, that by the merits of this fall under the Cross, I may be saved from falls of the flesh not by bread made from stones, but by Flesh made from the Bread of Life and by Blood made from the Wine that germinates Virgins.”
This book has an introductory prayer:
“DEDICATION Mary Mediatrix of all graces who at the foot of the cross didst bring forth in sorrow thine other children which we are. As thou didst bring forth in joy thy First Child at the crib. I offer Thee these prayers in loving gratitude and hope that as Our Mother sweet and kind thou mayest always be with us on the Royal Road of the Cross.”
And a concluding prayer:
“Prayer After the Way of The Cross
Offered for the Intention of the Holy Father, Vicar of Jesus Christ.
Dear Jesus, Thou art the Word of God, and the Word of God, Thou hast told us, is a seed which bringeth forth life only on condition that it falleth to the ground. As the seed of everlasting life, Thou didst fall to the earth by Thy death on Good Friday, but Thou didst gloriously rise to Thy new life on Easter Sunday. Thus Thou hast taught us that Christian living means dying to the world in a Calvary of time, as a prelude to an eternity-long Easter in heaven. Grant that on that day when Thou wilt come in the clouds of heaven to judge the living and the dead, bearing Thy Cross as a sign of triumph and Thy scars as pledges of love, that I may show Thee my cross and my scars, and in return be privileged to hear fron1 Thy own lips: "Come, ye blessed of My Father into the Kingdom prepared for you from all eternity." Amen”
There are several gages in the introduction. Most have to do with the indulgences partial and full available at the time this volume was published. That introduction begins with:
“The author of these meditations on the Way of the Cross has a two-fold purpose in offering them in printed form. The first is that they may enkindle in souls a flaming love for the Crucified Christ who, through His passion and death, revealed to us that it is only through the Cross that we are ever ushered into glory and eternal life.
The second purpose is that those who meditate on the great love of Our Lord for sinners will be kind enough to say a prayer for the author that increase of years may bring increase of intimacy with the Love which is God.”
When I pray this station I pray for the cause of Canonization of Sheen. I really enjoyed this version of this devotion. It is an excellent edition for personal, home, or church use. I can easily recommend it.
This book is part of a series of reviews: 2023 Catholic Reading Plan!
A Sample station is:
“First Station
Jesus Falls The First Time.
We adore Thee, 0 Christ, and we praise Thee,
Because by Thy Holy Cross Thou hast redeemed the world.
Three times Our Saviour was tempted on the mountain, and three times He fell on the way to the mountain of Calvary. Thus did He atone for our three falls to the temptations of the flesh, the world, and the devil.
After fasting forty days in the desert, Our Blessed Lord was hungry. Satan tempted Him first on the part of the flesh, by asking Him to do the natural thing when hungry, namely, to use His power and command that the stones be turned into bread. But the Master retorted that the food which satisfies the longings of our heart comes not from the flesh, but from the Spirit of God.
Many times I, too, have been tempted to give way to the demands of my lower nature when the spirit should have been served. But, unlike my Master, I fell by consenting to the promptings of the flesh instead of the urges of Grace, and by doing that which is natural when I should have done that which is supernatural. And alas! I have found it always true that giving away to lower impulses has made hungry where most it satisfies, and that with the bread of lower desires, no man can live.
Pray for us, 0 Holy Mother of God
That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
PRAYER
When my frame rocks beneath the power of Satan, and my flesh is buffeted by the tempter, seal my senses and keep me mindful that my body is a temple of the Holy Ghost, and that only the clean of heart shall see Thee, 0 God! Grant henceforth, that by the merits of this fall under the Cross, I may be saved from falls of the flesh not by bread made from stones, but by Flesh made from the Bread of Life and by Blood made from the Wine that germinates Virgins.”
This book has an introductory prayer:
“DEDICATION Mary Mediatrix of all graces who at the foot of the cross didst bring forth in sorrow thine other children which we are. As thou didst bring forth in joy thy First Child at the crib. I offer Thee these prayers in loving gratitude and hope that as Our Mother sweet and kind thou mayest always be with us on the Royal Road of the Cross.”
And a concluding prayer:
“Prayer After the Way of The Cross
Offered for the Intention of the Holy Father, Vicar of Jesus Christ.
Dear Jesus, Thou art the Word of God, and the Word of God, Thou hast told us, is a seed which bringeth forth life only on condition that it falleth to the ground. As the seed of everlasting life, Thou didst fall to the earth by Thy death on Good Friday, but Thou didst gloriously rise to Thy new life on Easter Sunday. Thus Thou hast taught us that Christian living means dying to the world in a Calvary of time, as a prelude to an eternity-long Easter in heaven. Grant that on that day when Thou wilt come in the clouds of heaven to judge the living and the dead, bearing Thy Cross as a sign of triumph and Thy scars as pledges of love, that I may show Thee my cross and my scars, and in return be privileged to hear fron1 Thy own lips: "Come, ye blessed of My Father into the Kingdom prepared for you from all eternity." Amen”
There are several gages in the introduction. Most have to do with the indulgences partial and full available at the time this volume was published. That introduction begins with:
“The author of these meditations on the Way of the Cross has a two-fold purpose in offering them in printed form. The first is that they may enkindle in souls a flaming love for the Crucified Christ who, through His passion and death, revealed to us that it is only through the Cross that we are ever ushered into glory and eternal life.
The second purpose is that those who meditate on the great love of Our Lord for sinners will be kind enough to say a prayer for the author that increase of years may bring increase of intimacy with the Love which is God.”
When I pray this station I pray for the cause of Canonization of Sheen. I really enjoyed this version of this devotion. It is an excellent edition for personal, home, or church use. I can easily recommend it.
This book is part of a series of reviews: 2023 Catholic Reading Plan!
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews