Developed in popular Christian culture during the late 13th and 14th centuries. the Stations of the Cross was made popular by
St. Francis of Assisi and
St. Dominic (the founders of the
mendicant orders that bear their names.) The Stations served as a form of prayer and of catechesis about the sufferings of Jesus.
As many devotions have done over the centuries, the Stations have as well: they once included
seven falls under the cross instead of the three that are included today. Another form had a total of 43 separate stations. But the 14 stations as we know them were promulgated by Pope Clement XII in 1731. Recently, many publishers of guide booklets for the devotion have included a 15th station (also known as a meditation), calling to mind Christ's victory over death at the Resurrection; this station is often omitted if the Stations are prayed on Good Friday.
How historically accurate are the Stations of the Cross? When Jerusalem was besieged and
destroyed in AD 70, it became impossible to determine the precise locations of the events reported on the way to
Calvary. The markings of the 14 stations along the
Via Dolorosa (Latin for "the sorrowful way") that can be found in modern-day Jerusalem are a relatively modern innovation. However, the Stations remain one of the richest ways to reflect our tradition of reflecting on the Lord's suffering and death.
Although at first accepted as a method of prayer by many of the leaders of the Protestant Reformation, it was soon viewed suspiciously by the ecclesial communities which taught against the use of images in worship and prayer (
Reformation iconoclasm). Also, many Reformers contended that the Stations include incidents which come out of Christian tradition but are not scriptural. For example, the modern fourth Station - Jesus meets his mother (pictured above) - is not specifically mentioned in the Gospels. Luke notes that Jesus stopped along his way to Calvary to speak to "many women who mourned and lamented him" (
Lk. 23:27) but doesn't say that Mary was among them. John places Mary at the foot of the Cross - not on the road - in his Gospel (
Jn. 19:25). In addition, there is no biblical reference for the sixth Station - Veronica wipes the face of Jesus. Under the Protestant doctrine of
sola scriptura ("Scripture alone") it became difficult for communities many to retain this popular devotion in their spirituality. However, some groups, such as the
Methodists, have been considering and in some instances have actually revived their observance of this Lenten practice.
The modern Stations of the Cross are:
- 1st Station: Jesus is condemned to death
- 2nd Station: Jesus carries His cross
- 3rd Station: Jesus falls the first time
- 4th Station: Jesus meets his mother
- 5th Station: Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus to carry his cross
- 6th Station: Veronica wipes the face of Jesus
- 7th Station: Jesus falls the second time
- 8th Station: Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem
- 9th Station: Jesus falls a third time
- 10th Station: Jesus clothes are taken away
- 11th Station: Jesus is nailed to the cross
- 12th Station: Jesus dies on the cross
- 13th Station: The body of Jesus is taken down from the cross
- 14th Station: Jesus is laid in the tomb
- 15th Station: The Resurrection (optional - see above)
Different methods (such as that of
St. Francis and
St. Alphonsus Liguori as well as more contemporary such as
Stations of the Cross for Our Times) while having slight differences in prayers and format, generally follow this 14-step pattern and often include a variation of the hymn
Stabat Mater (the "sorrowful mother" Mary).
While certainly not a requirement for Lent, adding the Stations of the Cross to Lenten observance - from once during the season to going every week - can offer a meaningful dimension and appreciation to the suffering which Jesus underwent for our sins, providing insight into the gratitude we should have because of his complete self-giving so that salvation could be made available for us.
At Visitation, we offer Contemporary Stations on Wednesdays at 7PM in the Rectory Chapel and Traditional Stations on Fridays at 4PM in the main church. We'd love to have you join us!WANT TO SEE OTHER PARISH EVENTS GOING ON THIS LENT?