Stations of the Cross Statues

At Holy Angels Catholic Church

Sidney, OH

The Stations of the Cross statues are hung along the eastern and western walls of the church in elaborate wooden frames. These 14 traditional Stations of the Cross are identified by Roman numerals above the statues and a brief explanation on the bottom of the frame. The first station is to the left of the sanctuary, near the connector, and they continue to the back of church then on the opposite wall at the back of the church. They conclude at the right side of the sanctuary.

The traditional Stations call to mind specific Biblical references to the Passion of Christ, except for four of The Stations that are based on devotional tradition. Three stations have Jesus falling as He carries the cross. While there is no Biblical record of the three falls, scripture is clear that Jesus was struggling under the weight of the crossbeam; so much so that a passerby named Simon was forced to help Jesus carry the beam. The 6th station gives the account of a woman, historically known as Veronica, who approached Jesus, wiping the blood and sweat from His Holy Face which was permanently imprinted on the cloth according to legend. Catholics are not bound to belief in the account, but many believe the cloth or veil of Veronica exists still. Known as the Image of Edessa, scientists have determined that the image is not made by human hands.

Many prayer booklet versions of The Stations of the Cross – usually including relevant Bible verses – have been published to aid in praying The Stations. Several versions are available at Holy Angels Church.

Praying The Stations of the Cross is an age-old tradition for Christians, drawing attention to the last day of Jesus’s life before the Resurrection: beginning with being sentenced to death; concluding with His burial in the tomb. This devotion can be done individually or with a group. While The Stations of the Cross are most often prayed during Lent, these prayers are also appropriate during the ordinary seasons of the liturgical year. The beautifully restored Stations of the Cross statues are a meaningful aid to participation in this devotion; and especially relevant during this time of growing religious persecution, helping us to focus on the Way Of Christ.

Of all the images restored at Holy Angels Church, The Stations were the ones most vividly brought to life by returning them to color. While The Stations of the Cross are in many ways self explanatory, these scenes are well crafted and have many aspects worthy of meditation. Everyone will have their own interpretations of the expressions, but the artist’s work is worth studying.

Meditating on the Stations of the Cross

A simple prayer for each Station: “We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You; because by Your Holy Cross, You have redeemed the world.” (Genuflect or bow.) Other prayers along with meditation upon these events in Jesus’ life can conclude with: “Jesus Christ, crucified, have mercy on us.”

Station I

Jesus is condemned to death.

Jesus is bound by rope, as the Gospels note, before being brought to Pilate. Here Pontius Pilate is seen washing his hands, saying to the crowds, “I am innocent of this just

man’s blood.” (Mt 27:24)

Station II

Jesus is laden with the Cross.

As men place the cross on Jesus’ shoulder, a chief priest, holding a scroll, exchanges an intense look with Jesus. The elder leans angrily toward Jesus, who gazes back with

meek sadness. This is the first of six stations that portray a chief priest or elder of the Jewish people. Each appears to reprimand Jesus when brought lowest by the cross: first

as Jesus takes up the cross, then each time He falls, and when He was nailed to the cross. Finally, however, two elders who were disciples of Jesus, help place Him in the tomb.

Station III

Jesus falls the first time.

A second high priest (with a scroll) is seen with Jesus.

Station IV

Jesus meets His holy Mother.

Mary is pictured here with another woman. The women recorded in the Gospels as being with Mary during the Passion were: Mary Magdalene, Mary the wife of Clopas

(Jesus’ aunt), and Salame or “the wife of Zebedee.” The young man holding Jesus’ rope seems to be surprised or concerned by the reactions of these women.

Station V

Simon helps Jesus carry the Cross.

With Jesus stumbling, Simon (forced to help) lifts the beam while another man stands ready to whip either Jesus or Simon.

Station VI

Veronica Wipes the face of Jesus.

A Roman soldier (one of only two seen in the stations) steadies Jesus as Veronica

kneels at the feet of Jesus. The soldier’s expression is mild (perhaps even concerned) while the man holding the rope looks on aggressively, as if to hold back the crowds.

Station VII

Jesus falls the second time.

The chief priest looming over Jesus’ second fall appears to be a particularly important elder. Another man has taken Jesus’ lead rope and raises his hand to whip Jesus while a

man steps in to bring Jesus to His feet.

Station VIII

Jesus consoles the weeping women.

While the script under this station says that Jesus consoles the women, the words of Jesus recorded in scripture are little consolation: “Weep not for me; but for yourselves and for your children,” He says continuing with a warning of future trials (Lk 23:27).

Jesus’ escort seems bewildered by the scene.

Station IX

Jesus falls the third time.

Here we have a fourth elder to chastise Jesus at His third fall. The elder with his finger raised toward heaven is perhaps invoking the judgment of Yahweh upon Jesus whom the elders

accused of blasphemy.

Station X

Jesus is stripped of His garments.

Before being crucified at the “Place of the Skull,” they stripped Jesus and gave Him wine to drink mixed with gall (myrrh), but He would not take it (Mt. 27:34; also Mk. 15:22); so here we

see a boy with a wine barrel on his back, pouring something into another flask. While Jesus hung on the cross, spectators cast lots for the clothes and again offered Jesus wine which He

refused. At the last supper Jesus said He would not drink again of the fruit of the vine until the Kingdom of God. (Mk. 14:25).

Station XI

Jesus is nailed to the Cross.

When Jesus is brought to the ground again (this time to be fixed to the cross by nails) another scribe is there with scroll in hand to lecture Jesus.

Station XII

Jesus dies on the Cross.

Mary and Mary Magdalene are the only figures (with the exception of Jesus) found in more than one of these scenes. Jesus’ mother, Mary, stood at the foot of the cross with two other women: Mary Magdalene and either: Mary the wife of Clopas or Salome or the mother of Zebedee’s sons. (The second woman varies depending on the Gospel account.) Some women stood at a

distance watching, as seen in the background. (Luke).

The inscription of Pontius Pilate: INRI (Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews) hangs on the cross.

Station XIII

Jesus is taken from the Cross.

Here we note the open tomb in the background and the burial cloth draped on the cross. The man with the nails points in a different direction away from the tomb; perhaps to a path.

Presumably, the person kneeling with Mary is John, the youngest Apostle. (He is not bearded like most of the other men are, but is distinguished from the women by the absence of a veil.) Before Jesus died, He spoke from the cross to this disciple whom He loved (Jn. 19:26), asking

John to take Mary as his own mother.

Station XIV

Jesus is laid in the Sepulchre.

The man wearing the turban of the elders is presumably either Joseph of Arimathea (whose tomb they used for Jesus’ burial) or Nicodemus, (another high ranking follower of Jesus, cf. Jn.

3, 7 and 19). The flowers in front of the tomb remind us that it was near a living garden.

Depicting the increasing blanch of death, in this final image the strikingly white Body of Jesus blends with the linin used as a litter. It resembles the whiteness of the Eucharistic Host, which

by the infinite Will of God, is transformed into the living Corpus Christi – an eternal offering in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. We who receive the Host are in some ways like the empty tomb

which can be transformed into a place of resurrection by the light of Christ’s saving act.