How many Stations of the Cross are found in every Catholic Church? How many times does Jesus fall in the stations of the Cross? Finally, how many of the stations depict events in the passion of Jesus that are not explicitly in the scripture but are part of the oral tradition that was handed down to us?
Even if you don't know the answers to all three of these questions, I hope my posing them at least led you to think for a minute or so about something that has long been a part of our Church's tradition in art form and as a means of prayer and reflection on the passion and death of the Lord.
Of course, the Lenten Season has always been seen as the best time to "pray" the stations, though it is appropriate and good to pray them throughout the year, either individually or in a group setting.
The Stations of the Cross are certainly meant to help us grow and be strengthened in our appreciation of what Jesus endured for us from the time of his trial before Pilate to his being laid in the tomb (which of course is the last of the 14 stations). You may be aware that some of the stations of the cross booklets now contain a 15th station, the Resurrection of the Lord. This reminds us that even as we meditate on the love of God for us in his Son's passion and death, that the final word for Jesus (and for those who follow him) is NOT defeat but glory!
Growing up in Hot Springs and being an altar server for the Stations of the Cross for many years, I came to the point of being able to repeat some of the stations by memory which, I think, was good since in those days the congregation did not have booklets to follow along with what the priest said. The reality is that the Stations of the Cross first came into existence at a time when people could not read or write, so the images of each station provided the means of recalling and reflecting on what happened to Jesus during his passion. As time has gone on many authors including saints (like Alphonsus Liguori) have penned reflections on the passion of Jesus and how what Jesus experienced can help us in the crosses we are called to carry in our lives.
We have accumulated a variety of reflections on the Stations of the Cross that we use on the Fridays of Lent at 4:30 p.m. (except next Friday, March 18 when they will be prayed at 4:00 p.m.).
While we often have people coming to the Stations every Friday of Lent, I encourage everyone to make it a priority to participate in at least one version before the Lenten Season is over.
The one for next week will reflect on the stations from what Mary, the mother of Jesus may have been thinking as her Son endured his passion and death. I have to say this is one of my favorites of the ones we present.
Even if you don't know the answers to all three of these questions, I hope my posing them at least led you to think for a minute or so about something that has long been a part of our Church's tradition in art form and as a means of prayer and reflection on the passion and death of the Lord.
Of course, the Lenten Season has always been seen as the best time to "pray" the stations, though it is appropriate and good to pray them throughout the year, either individually or in a group setting.
The Stations of the Cross are certainly meant to help us grow and be strengthened in our appreciation of what Jesus endured for us from the time of his trial before Pilate to his being laid in the tomb (which of course is the last of the 14 stations). You may be aware that some of the stations of the cross booklets now contain a 15th station, the Resurrection of the Lord. This reminds us that even as we meditate on the love of God for us in his Son's passion and death, that the final word for Jesus (and for those who follow him) is NOT defeat but glory!
Growing up in Hot Springs and being an altar server for the Stations of the Cross for many years, I came to the point of being able to repeat some of the stations by memory which, I think, was good since in those days the congregation did not have booklets to follow along with what the priest said. The reality is that the Stations of the Cross first came into existence at a time when people could not read or write, so the images of each station provided the means of recalling and reflecting on what happened to Jesus during his passion. As time has gone on many authors including saints (like Alphonsus Liguori) have penned reflections on the passion of Jesus and how what Jesus experienced can help us in the crosses we are called to carry in our lives.
We have accumulated a variety of reflections on the Stations of the Cross that we use on the Fridays of Lent at 4:30 p.m. (except next Friday, March 18 when they will be prayed at 4:00 p.m.).
While we often have people coming to the Stations every Friday of Lent, I encourage everyone to make it a priority to participate in at least one version before the Lenten Season is over.
The one for next week will reflect on the stations from what Mary, the mother of Jesus may have been thinking as her Son endured his passion and death. I have to say this is one of my favorites of the ones we present.