Stations of the Cross

Stations of the Cross

As we continue our month of prayer, this week I’ll share another form of prayer—Stations of the Cross. This may be a form that Thomas is participating in as many churches, retreat centers and monastic communities have the stations as part of their prayer offerings. A number of retreat centers and churches around Nashville have Stations of the Cross. It is a practice rich in tradition that offers tremendous blessing to the participant.

The stations of the cross are fourteen stations that depict the passion of Christ. They are based on the Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem, the traditional processional of Jesus on his way to the cross. The stations consist of fourteen images depicting Jesus on the day of his crucifixion and serve as a means for believers to make a spiritual mini pilgrimage through contemplation of the passion of Christ.

The images are arranged in order along the walls of a sanctuary or along a path on the grounds. The worshiper goes from image to image stopping at each for a while to reflect and pray based on devotions associated with each. The stations are popular during Lent and especially on Good Friday, but are not limited to these times. Believers pray with them year round.

The themes of the stations are as follows:

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 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

Many versions of the devotions can be found. They are typically in a booklet form that can be carried by the worshiper as they move along the path. As example can be found at the site https://www.catholic.org/prayers/station.php. I’ve included part of the reflection of the 7th station found at this site. The 7th station depicts Jesus falling a second time.

This is the second time you have fallen on the road. As the cross grows heavier and heavier, it becomes more difficult to get up. But you continue to struggle and try until you are up and walking again.

Sometimes I think I should know more than I do. I become impatient with myself and find it hard to believe in myself when I fail. It is easy to despair over small things, and sometimes I do.

Help me when things seem difficult for me.  Even when it’s hard, help me get up and keep trying as you did. Help me do my best without comparing myself  to others.

In January I spent a month at Eastern Point Retreat Center on the east coast in Massachusetts. There is a lovely moss-covered straight path through the woods that dead ends at a wall of boulders. On the other side of the boulders is the Atlantic Ocean. The stations are placed on both sides of this path. It was a moving experience to pray with the stations on this beautiful path and then climb the boulders to sit and watch the crashing waves of the sea. And it took on a different kind of beauty when it snowed that included the muffled stillness of the blanket of snow.

I encourage you to participate in this sacred experience. It offers an experience with Jesus that is unmatched.

--Jackie L. Halstead