The Way of the Cross (or Stations of the Cross)

Translations © by Michael P Rosewall

Song Cycle by Franz (Ferenc) Liszt (1811 - 1886)

View original-language texts alone: Via Crucis

1. Einleitung
Language: Latin 
Vexilla Regis prodeunt;
fulget Crucis mysterium,
Qua vita mortem protulit
Et morte vitam protulit.

 ... 

Impleti sunt que concinit
David fideli carmine,
dicendo nationibus:
regnavit a ligno Deus. 

 ... 

O Crux ave, spes unica,
hoc Passionis tempore!
piis adauge gratiam,
reisque dele crimina.
Amen.

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by Venantius Fortunatus, Saint (c530 - c609)
1. Introduction
Language: English 
The royal standard advances;
The radiant, mystical cross where
The flesh in which he was incarnate
Was hanged and crucified.

[ ... ]



Fulfilled is all that was chanted
In David’s true songs,
Announcing to the nations
That God reigns from a tree.

[ ... ]



Hail, o cross, our sole hope
In this time of passion!
Increase grace to the faithful,
And efface the offenses of the guilty.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from Latin to English copyright © 2016 by Michael P Rosewall, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
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Translation of title "Einleitung" = "Introduction"


This text was added to the website: 2016-07-13
Line count: 19
Word count: 71

Translation © by Michael P Rosewall
2. Statio I (Jesus wird zum Tode verdammt)
 (Sung text)
Language: Latin 
Innocens ego sum a sanguine justi hujus

Text Authorship:

  • by Anonymous / Unidentified Author

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by Anonymous / Unidentified Author
2. Station 1. Jesus is condemned to die
Language: English 
I am innocent of this righteous man’s blood.

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This text was added to the website: 2015-08-24
Line count: 1
Word count: 9

Translation Michael P Rosewall
3. Statio II (Jesus trägt sein Kreuz)
 (Sung text)
Language: Latin 
Ave, ave crux !

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3. Station 2. Jesus takes up the Cross
Language: English 
Hail, hail, Cross!

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This text was added to the website: 2015-08-24
Line count: 1
Word count: 3

Translation Michael P Rosewall
4. Statio III (Jesus fällt zum ersten Mal)
 (Sung text)
Language: Latin 
Jesus cadit.
Stabat Mater dolorosa
Juxta crucem lacrimosa
Dum pendebat filius.

Text Authorship:

  • by Anonymous / Unidentified Author [an adaptation]

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by Anonymous / Unidentified Author
4. Station 3. Jesus falls for the first time
Language: English 
Jesus falls.
His anguished mother stands, 
Weeping, next to the cross
Upon which her Son hangs.

Text Authorship:

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Translations of titles:
"Statio III (Jesus fällt zum ersten Mal)" = "Station 3. Jesus falls for the first time"
"Statio VII (Jesus fällt zum zweiten Mal)" = "Station 7. Jesus falls for the second time"
"Statio IX (Jesus fällt zum dritten Mal)" = "Station 9. Jesus falls for the third time"



This text was added to the website: 2015-08-24
Line count: 4
Word count: 16

Translation Michael P Rosewall
5. Statio IV (Jesus begegnet seiner heiligen Mutter)
— Tacet —

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Translation to English of title: "Station 4. Jesus greets his holy mother"

5.
[Translation not yet available]
6. Statio V (Simon von Kyrene hilft Jesus das Kreuz tragen)
— Tacet —

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Translation to English of title: "Station 5. Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus by carrying the cross"

6.
[Translation not yet available]
7. Statio VI (Sancta Veronica)
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
O Haupt voll Blut und Wunden,
Voll Schmerz und voller Hohn,
O Haupt, zum Spott gebunden
Mit einer Dornenkron',
O Haupt, sonst schön gezieret
Mit höchster Ehr' und Zier,
Jetzt aber höchst beschimpfet:
Gegrüßet sei'st du mir!

 ...

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by Paul Gerhardt (1606 - 1676)
7. Station 6. Saint Veronica wipes Jesus' face
Language: English 
O head, covered with blood and wounds,
Full of pain and utterly scorned,
O head, bound to derision
By a crown of thorns,
O head, apart from these, 
wonderfully adorned 
with greatest honor and splendor,
But now most greatly [shamed]:
I greet you in veneration!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2015 by Michael P Rosewall, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
    Contact: 

Based on:

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This text was added to the website: 2015-08-24
Line count: 9
Word count: 45

Translation © by Michael P Rosewall
8. Statio VII (Jesus fällt zum zweiten Mal)
 (Sung text)
Language: Latin 
Jesus cadit.
Stabat Mater dolorosa
Juxta crucem lacrimosa
Dum pendebat filius.

Text Authorship:

  • by Anonymous / Unidentified Author [an adaptation]

Based on:

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by Anonymous / Unidentified Author
8. Station 7. Jesus falls for the second time
Language: English 
Jesus falls.
His anguished mother stands, 
Weeping, next to the cross
Upon which her Son hangs.

Text Authorship:

Based on:

Based on:

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Translations of titles:
"Statio III (Jesus fällt zum ersten Mal)" = "Station 3. Jesus falls for the first time"
"Statio VII (Jesus fällt zum zweiten Mal)" = "Station 7. Jesus falls for the second time"
"Statio IX (Jesus fällt zum dritten Mal)" = "Station 9. Jesus falls for the third time"



This text was added to the website: 2015-08-24
Line count: 4
Word count: 16

Translation Michael P Rosewall
9. Statio VIII (Die Frauen von Jerusalem)
 (Sung text)
Language: Latin 
Nolite flere super me, sed super
ipsas flete et super filios vestros !

Text Authorship:

  • by Anonymous / Unidentified Author

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by Anonymous / Unidentified Author
9. Station 8. Jesus greets the women of Jerusalem
Language: English 
Do not weep over me,
But weep for yourselves and your children!

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This text was added to the website: 2015-08-24
Line count: 2
Word count: 12

Translation Michael P Rosewall
10. Statio IX (Jesus fällt zum dritten Mal)
 (Sung text)
Language: Latin 
Jesus cadit.
Stabat Mater dolorosa
Juxta crucem lacrimosa
Dum pendebat filius.

Text Authorship:

  • by Anonymous / Unidentified Author [an adaptation]

Based on:

Go to the general single-text view

by Anonymous / Unidentified Author
10. Station 9. Jesus falls for the third time
Language: English 
Jesus falls.
His anguished mother stands, 
Weeping, next to the cross
Upon which her Son hangs.

Text Authorship:

Based on:

Based on:

Go to the general single-text view

Translations of titles:
"Statio III (Jesus fällt zum ersten Mal)" = "Station 3. Jesus falls for the first time"
"Statio VII (Jesus fällt zum zweiten Mal)" = "Station 7. Jesus falls for the second time"
"Statio IX (Jesus fällt zum dritten Mal)" = "Station 9. Jesus falls for the third time"



This text was added to the website: 2015-08-24
Line count: 4
Word count: 16

Translation Michael P Rosewall
11. Statio X (Jesus wird entkleidet)
— Tacet —

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Translation to English of title: "Jesus is stripped"

11.
[Translation not yet available]
12. Statio XI (Jesus wird ans Kreuz geschlagen)
 (Sung text)
Language: Latin 
Crucifige, crucifige !

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12. Station 11. Jesus is nailed to the Cross
Language: English 
Crucify Him!

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This text was added to the website: 2015-08-24
Line count: 1
Word count: 2

Translation Michael P Rosewall
13. Statio XII (Jesus stirbt am Kreuze)
 (Sung text)
Language: Multiple Languages 
Eli, Eli, lama sabacthani?
In manus tuas commendo
spiritum meum.
Consummatum est.

O Traurigkeit, o Herzeleid,
Ist das nicht zu beklagen ?
Gott des Vaters einzigs Kind
Wird zu Grab getragen.
O Traurigkeit, o Herzeleid !

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by Johann Rist (1607 - 1667)
13. Station 12. Jesus dies on the Cross
Language: English 
God, God, why have you forsaken me?
Into your hands I commend my spirit.
It is completed.
O sorrow, O heartache,
Is this not a reason to mourn?
The only Child of God the Father
Will be carried to His grave.
O sorrow, O heartache.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from Multiple Languages to English copyright © 2015 by Michael P Rosewall, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
    Contact: 

Based on:

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This text was added to the website: 2015-08-24
Line count: 8
Word count: 45

Translation © by Michael P Rosewall
14. Statio XIII (Jesus wird vom Kreuz genommen)
— Tacet —

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Translation to English of title: "Station 13. Jesus is taken off the Cross"

14.
[Translation not yet available]
15. Statio XIV (Jesus wird ins Grab gelegt)
 (Sung text)
Language: Latin 
Ave crux, spes unica
Mundi salus et gloria,
Auge piis justitiam,
Reisque dona veniam,
Ave crux !

Text Authorship:

  • by Anonymous / Unidentified Author

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by Anonymous / Unidentified Author
15. Station 14. Jesus is laid in the tomb
Language: English 
Hail, Cross, our only hope. 
Salvation and glory of the world. 
Increase holy justice, 
Grant forgiveness to the condemned. 
Hail, Cross.

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This text was added to the website: 2015-08-24
Line count: 5
Word count: 21

Translation Michael P Rosewall