Stations of the CrossWhere did the Stations of the Cross come from? 

After Jesus died and rose from the dead, many people wanted to understand his passion and death.  They began to make visits to Jerusalem and walk in Jesus' footsteps.  The street Jesus walked is still called Via Dolorosa, the way of sorrow. 

People would stop along the way and remember what had happened to Jesus.  It is likely that they marked the places for those who came after them to follow as well.  These people became known as "pilgrims.“

How do we visit these places?

• As Christianity spread throughout the known world, distance made it nearly impossible for people to make the trip to Jerusalem.  That didn't stop people’s need to know and remember. So “stations” were set up in churches to represent those places and events where Jesus suffered, and died in Jerusalem. 

• We have these places in our chapel, too. Let’s begin our way of the Cross by visiting

the Stations in our chapel together.

14 Traditional Stations– the condemnation of Jesus by Pilate; (4 Gospels)– Jesus' acceptance of the cross; (4 Gospels)– his first fall; – the encounter with his mother; (John 19:25-26) – Simon of Cyrene helping Jesus; (Matt. 27:32, Mark 15:21,

Luke 23:26) – Veronica wiping Jesus' face; – his second fall; – the encounter with the women of Jerusalem; (Luke 23:27-

31) – his third fall; – Jesus being stripped of his garments; (Luke 23:34, John

19:23) – the crucifixion; (4 Gospels)– Jesus' death; (4 Gospels)– Jesus' removal from the cross; (4 Gospels)– and the burial of Jesus. (4 Gospels)

Differences in Today’s Stations

• In recent years some changes have been introduced into this prayer. One of these is the addition of a 15th station - the Resurrection of Jesus.

• Another is a series of scriptural stations, which begin with the Agony of Jesus in Gethsemane and omit some of the non-scriptural stations in favor of incidents definitely mentioned in the gospels.

• Pope John Paul II celebrated a series of scriptural Stations on Good Friday in 1991, and again in 1994, in the Coliseum at Rome.

Pope John Paul IIScriptural Stations

Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane

Jesus betrayed by Judas

Jesus condemned by the Sanhedrin

Jesus denied by Peter

Jesus condemned by the people

Jesus crowned with thorns and clothed in purple

Jesus carries the cross

Jesus assisted by Simon of Cyrene

Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem

Jesus is crucified

Jesus speaks to the thief

Jesus speaks to his mother

Jesus dies on the cross

Jesus is buried

How to Pray the Stations

• It is helpful to have movement.

• It is helpful to name each station. (“The First Station is: Jesus is Condemned to Death.”)

• Most people start with this prayer:

“We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you, because by your holy Cross you have redeemed the world.”

“How to” - continued

• We remember what happened.

• We pray together.

• I talk to Jesus in my own words about my sins and my desire to be a better person with his help.

• We sing a short refrain as cross and candles move to the next station.

Short Song (Refrain)

Jesus, remember me when you come intoyour Kingdom. Jesus, …

orBe with me, Lord, when I am in trouble,Be with me, Lord, I pray

orKeep in mind that Jesus Christ has died for us and is risen from the dead. He is our saving Lord. He is joy for all ages.

(These are just a few examples)

Ministries (when we pray the Stations together)

• Cross-bearer• Candle-bearers (2)• Narrator (to tell the story)• All of us (to respond together in prayer)• Each of us (to pray silently in our ownwords)• Song-leader (to start the sung refrain)• All of us – (to sing the refrain together)

The First Station – Jesus Is Condemned to Death We adore you, O Jesus, and we bless youAll: Because by your holy Cross you have redeemed the world.

- Reflection -All:

Dear Jesus,

Help me be grateful for

what you did for me.

Help me to be more like you,

not returning harsh

words and unfairness with the

same bad behavior.

Help me pray for those

who have hurt me and forgive.

The Second Station – Jesus Carries His Cross We adore you, O Jesus, and we bless youAll: Because by your holy Cross you have redeemed the world. - Reflection -

All:

Dear Jesus,

help me to be strong.

Help me to expect little

crosses in my life and

recognize that my crosses

are nothing compared to

yours. Remind me to ask

you for help when I am

worried about the problems

I have.

• Via Dolorosa

The Third Station – Jesus Falls the First time We adore you, O Jesus, and we bless youAll: Because by your holy Cross you have redeemed the world - Reflection -

All:

Dear Jesus,

The heavy burden of our

sins also bears you down.

Help me to know my sins

and to be sorry for them.

Forgive me, Lord, and help

me when I sin to get up

again and try harder to do

what is right.

The Fourth Station – Jesus Meets his Mother We adore you, O Jesus, and we bless youAll: Because by your holy Cross you have redeemed the world. - Reflection -

All:

O Jesus, O Mary, our sins

have caused both of you

such pain! If only I could

love as faithfully as you both

have.

Jesus, help us to be loyal to

family and friends. Mary,

please pray for us!

Mary, Did You Know?

The Fifth StationSimon of Cyrene Helps JesusWe adore you, O Jesus, and we praise youAll: Because by your holy Cross you have redeemed the world.

- Reflection –All:

My Jesus, Simon came to your aid. Blest too shall I be when I help those in need. Help me be more aware of those around me and less concerned with having only my needs met. Jesus, teach me to be generous.

The Sixth Station - Veronica wipes the face of JesusWe adore you, O Jesus, and we praise youAll: Because by your holy Cross you have redeemed the world.

- Reflection –

All:

Veronica wiped your face and

did not care if the crowd made

fun of her. Help me to seek you

no matter what the cost. Print

deep in my soul the memory of

your strength in suffering and

compassion.

Seventh Station: Jesus Falls the Second TimeLeader: We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you.All: Because by your holy cross You have redeemed the world.

- Reflection – All: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 with others.

The Eighth Station: Jesus Meets the Women of JerusalemLeader: We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you.All: Because by your holy cross You have redeemed the world.

- Reflection –All:

Jesus, help me think more

about others. Help me

remember that others

have problems, too.

Help me respond to them

even when I'm busy or

preoccupied with my own

problems.

The Ninth Station: Jesus Falls a Third Time We adore you, O Jesus, and we praise youAll: Because by your holy cross You have redeemed the world.

- Reflection -

All:

Help me think of the

cross you carried.

Help me continue to

hope that I can make

the changes in my life

I need to. You didn't

give up. I can have the

strength to get up

again as well.

Tenth Station: Jesus clothes are taken awayWe adore you, O Christ, and we praise you.All: Because by your holy cross You have redeemedthe world.

-Reflection –All:Create in me, O Jesus, a cleanheart. Help me say things that build up the people around me. Help me overcome words thatstrip others of their dignity.Help me to honor my body and the bodies of others as templesof the Holy Spirit. Help me set a good example for others to follow.

The Eleventh Station: Jesus is Nailed to the Cross We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you.All: Because by your holy cross You have redeemed the world.

- Reflection -

All:

Help me look again at

the people around me.

Help me see the hurt

and pain I have

caused in others. Be

with me to help me

make amends for the

harm I have done.

The Twelfth Station: Jesus dies on the cross We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you.All: Because by your holy cross You have redeemed the world.

- Reflection -

All:

Jesus, let me take a

few moments now to

consider your love for

me. Help me thank

you for your

willingness to go to

your death for me.

Help me express my

love for you!

Jesus Dies on the CrossWe adore you, O Christ, and we praise you.All: Because by your holy cross You have redeemed the world.

- Reflection -All:If only I would tell those around me how much I lovethem, while I still have the opportunity to do so.Help me look for the good in those around me, especially the people youhave given me. Help me live this day as if it were the last. Help me become a more caring person.

The Fourteenth Station: Jesus is Laid in the Tomb We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you.All: Because by your holy cross You have redeemed the world. - Reflection –

All:Help me think of Joseph

of Arimathea, who risked

his own life as he

accepted Jesus' body for

burial. Help me think of

how Joseph loved Jesus

so much that he gave him

his own tomb. Help me to

love you, too.