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.
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!
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.
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