Tradition features prominently in Holy Week celebrations. The week leading up to Easter Sunday, Holy Week is a sacred time for faithful Christians. The Stations of the Cross are one of the traditions that many Christians feel bolsters their faith and brings them closer to God.
What are the Stations of the Cross?
The Stations of the Cross are a 14-step devotion that commemorates Jesus Christ’s last day on Earth as a man. Each of the 14 stations focus on a specific event of Jesus’s last day as a man.
Where can the Stations of the Cross be found?
Stations of the Cross are typically found in churches. Many times, the Stations adorn the interior wall of a church, and they’re often depicted using small icons or images. Some churches with sizable exterior grounds may arrange larger Stations along footpaths in yards or gardens on the premises.
When do people most commonly pray the Stations of the Cross?
Lent is the most common time to pray the Stations of the Cross, and some churches hold weekly prayer sessions on Wednesdays and Fridays during this time of year.
What are the 14 Stations?
Catholic Online notes the 14 Stations of the Cross are:
1. Jesus is condemned to death
2. Jesus carries the cross
3. Jesus falls for the first time
4. Jesus meets with His Mother
5. Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus carry the cross
6. Veronica wipes the face of Jesus
7. Jesus falls a second time
8. Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem
9. Jesus falls a third time
10. Jesus’s clothes are taken away
11. Jesus is nailed to the cross
12. Jesus dies on the cross
13. The body of Jesus is taken down from the cross
14. Jesus is laid in the tomb
The Stations of the Cross are an important Easter tradition that shed light on Jesus’s resurrection. Individuals interested in praying the Stations of the Cross are urged to contact a local church so they can engage in this moving Christian tradition.
-by Father Montgomery Pederson
