Stating the Stations

https://aleteia.org/2019/03/15/the-fascinating-history-of-the-we-adore-you-o-christ-prayer-from-stations-of-the-cross/

I guess this puts to rest the dispute about whether it's appropriate for mere creatures to bless God, an objection often raised by my students and why they prefer to say '...and we praise you'. Also, the many booklets that say 'saved' instead of 'redeemed' are clearly incorrect:

Whenever he caught sight of a Catholic church in the distance, St. Francis was known to kneel down and give praise to God. Often he would say the following words that he passed on to his friars.

We adore you, O Lord Jesus Christ, in this church and all the churches of the world, and we bless you, because by your holy Cross you have redeemed the world. Amen

This little prayer was used by Franciscans for many centuries and over time it was adapted to become a “standard” prayer in the popular devotion known as the Stations of the Cross. Franciscans were instrumental in spreading this devotion throughout Europe and the United States and so it should come as no surprise that this prayer of St. Francis has become the main prayer for this devotion.

Typically the prayer is shortened to say, “We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you, because, by your holy Cross you have redeemed the world.”