What are the Stations of the Cross?

Stations of the Cross

Stations of the Cross

The Stations of the Cross, also known as the Way of the Cross, Via Crucis, and Via Dolorosa (Latin for Way of Sorrows), is a devotion that reflects on Jesus’ final days on Earth—from being condemned to death to dying on the cross and being placed in the tomb. The Stations of the Cross consist of a series of 14 artistic renderings that typically line the interior walls of every Catholic Church. These illustrations capture key moments during Jesus’ journey to His death on Good Friday. It’s often said that you must walk a mile in someone’s shoes to understand what they are going through. The goal of this devotion is to “walk” in Jesus’ shoes by praying and meditating on each of the events (stations) that Jesus experienced.

History of the Stations of the Cross

The history of the Stations of the Cross dates back to the 4th century when Christians were allowed to legally practice their faith in the Roman Empire after 250 years of persecution. In 335 AD, Emperor Constantine built the Church of the Holy Sepulcher at what is believed to be Jesus’ burial site. Soon after, worshippers began taking pilgrimages to the Holy Land and to the church on Good Fridays to retrace the final journey of Jesus.

Pilgrims developed stops along the way to Calvary to note specific events that took place (Jesus falls the first time; Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem, etc.) Pilgrims could only guess where some of the incidents took place because Jerusalem had been almost completely destroyed by Roman armies in 70 AD.

The practice of incorporating artistic renderings of the Stations of the Cross in churches didn’t begin until around 1686, when Pope Innocent XI allowed Franciscan friars to adorn their churches with the different stations. In 1731, Pope Clement XII allowed all churches to have stations and to practice this devotion.

The Stations of the Cross are typically practiced on Fridays during the Lenten season, but can be performed any time of year at home.

What Do We Get From Praying the Stations of the Cross?

The Stations of the Cross continue to be a vital Catholic devotion 1,681 years later and counting, and according to Pope Francis, there are many reasons why praying the Stations of the Cross matters.

They involve us in the story

“How many people were with Jesus on the way to Calvary: Pilate, Simon of Cyrene, Mary, the women? Sometimes we can be like Pilate, who did not have the courage to go against the tide to save Jesus’ life, and instead washed his hands…The Cross of Christ teaches us to be like Simon of Cyrene, who helped Jesus to carry that heavy wood; it teaches us to be like Mary and the other women, who were not afraid to accompany Jesus. Who are you like? Like Pilate? Like Simon? Like Mary?”

They allow us to place our trust in Him

“The Cross of Christ contains all the love of God, His immeasurable mercy. This is a love in which we can place all our trust, in which we can believe…let us bring to Christ’s Cross our joys, our sufferings and our failures. There we will find a Heart that is open to us and understands us, forgives us, loves us, and calls us to bear this love in our lives, to love each person, each brother and sister, with the same love."

They remind us God triumphs over all evil

“With Him, evil, suffering, and death do not have the last word, because He gives us hope and life: He has transformed the Cross from an instrument of hate, defeat, and death into a sign of love, victory, and life.”

They show us how much God loves us

“It (the Cross) gives us a treasure that no one else can give: the certainty of the unshakable love which God has for us. A love so great that it enters into our sin and forgives it, enters into our suffering and gives us the strength to bear it.” St. Paul put it best in his letter to the Romans, “you might sacrifice your life for someone who was good or just. Yet, Christ sacrificed His life while we were sinners for our salvation.” (Romans 5:7-8)

Jesus led by example and the Stations of the Cross are one of the great many tools for living Jesus leaves for us. By meditating on each of the stations we increase both our sorrow for our sins against God and our need for His help in bearing our own crosses. When we meditate on the Stations of the Cross, we can learn the true meaning of love, perseverance, obedience, humility, and patience.

Stations of the Cross

Station 1: Jesus is condemned.

Consider how Pilate condemned the innocent Jesus to death, and how my Redeemer submitted to this sentence, to free me from the sentence of everlasting death.

Station 2: Jesus receives the cross.

Consider how Jesus took the cross upon His shoulders, which my many sins made so heavy.

Station 3: Jesus falls for the first time.

Consider how Jesus, overcome by weariness and pain, fell to the ground under the weight of the cross.

Station 4: Jesus meets his mother.

Consider the anguish which filled the hearts of Jesus and Mary at this sorrowful meeting. It is my sin which caused the Son and the Mother of this pain.

Station 5: Simon helps Jesus carry the cross.

Consider how His enemies, seeing that he was no longer able to drag his cross, compelled Simon of Cyrene to carry it after him.

Station 6: Veronica wipes the face of Jesus.

Consider how this woman tried to lessen the sufferings of Jesus, and how he rewarded her by leaving the print of his Sacred face on the towel she had in her hands.

Station 7: Jesus falls the second time.

Consider the sufferings Jesus endures in this second fall. I have been the cause of them, by my frequent relapses into sin.

Station 8: Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem.

Consider how Jesus exhorts these women to weep, not for Him but for themselves; teach me to weep more for my sins than for His sufferings.

Station 9: Jesus falls the third time.

Consider how Jesus falls the third time, enduring excruciating pain, to atone for my obstinacy in continually committing new sins.

Station 10: Jesus is stripped of his clothing.

Consider the shame Jesus endured in being stripped of his garments, and the bitterness of the wine mixed with myrrh and gall, which they caused Him to drink. In this He atone for my immodesty and my intemperance in eating and drinking.

Station 11: Jesus is nailed to the cross.

Consider the dreadful suffering Jesus endured, when His enemies stretched His bleeding body and fastened it to the cross with nails through His sacred hands and feet.

Station 12: Jesus dies.

Consider how Jesus, after three hours of agony, dies on the cross for my salvation.

Station 13: Jesus is taken down from the cross.

Consider the grief of the Mother of God when she received in her arms the body of her divine son, all pale, covered with blood, and void of life.

Station 14: Jesus is laid in the tomb.

Consider how the most sacred body of Jesus was laid, with the greatest reverence, in the new grave prepared for it.

Sources:

http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/stations_of_the_cross_date_back_to_the_fourth_century/

https://focusoncampus.org/content/why-pray-the-stations-of-the-cross-8-reasons-from-pope-francis

http://www.catholicworldreport.com/Blog/2452/pope_francis_prays_stations_of_the_cross_at_wyd_full_text.aspx

  • Elizabeth says:

    Wow, thank your for this. Especially now at this time of Lent, this article is so relevant and does a great job of putting the stations not just into a religious context, but a historical one as well!

  • PHILETUS EBUBECHI says:

    Life changing message….inspiring

  • DAVID says:

    Historically, the so called “stations of the cross” according to your article stated that the practice started in the 17th century and your so called history tries to tie it back to Constantine of the 4th century? Another example of roman revisionism NOT of the TRUE Christian Church. Goes to prove that when the Western church unilaterally went into the 11th century schism then they seem to be motivated to change early Christian history with no facts. You want us Christians to buy into revision that 13 centuries passed than all of a sudden its a historical belief? Face the 2000 yr old Christian history FACT that His Apostolic Church NEVER EVER accepted this 17th century revisionism.

    • No salvation outside of The Church says:

      So what is The true Christian Church David? It can’t be any of the heretical Protestant sects, they are of Satan, for the purpose of scattering the sheep.


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