What are the Stations of the Cross?
These are 14 paintings, or icons, or small sculptures, (each church has its own), which are placed on the walls of the church in chronological order, to depict the journey of Christ from the moment He is condemned to death to the time of His burial.
The depictions are always the same, as is the order in which they are hung on the wall. What is different are the paintings or icons of each image. Some are in full colour oil paintings, others are stone, or wooden, sculptures and so on.
During Holy Week, (usually on Good Friday), the congregation gather at the foot of each image and reflect for a few moments on what it depicts and they pray before moving on to the next Station. The whole process takes about half-an-hour.
Here below I have a short five minutes video which depicts the 14 Stations of the Cross which you may wish to meditate upon.
Thank you for this post, Victor. I recall doing this at a Catholic church I visited. It was a very moving experience.
ReplyDeleteThanx Sandi. Usually, Catholics pray the Stations of the Cross on Good Friday. But it can be done at other times of the year too.
DeleteGod bless.
A few years ago, I had the opportunity to experience an interactive dramatic narrative that walked through similar, though not identical stations. I believe the expectation and impact was quite similar. With each station was an opportunity to reflect and pray. Quite moving!
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean, Ryan. Years ago a number of churches of various denominations got together and re-enacted the various scenarios on the way to Calvary in different places throughout town. It started with the Pontius Pilate scene and ended with the Crucifixion. A large crowd, many in period costumes, followed Jesus to Calvary.
DeleteGod bless.
Thank you.
ReplyDeleteGod bless, Kathy.
DeleteI remember these. I used to be amazed at the life sized statues when we did the Stations of the Cross. Each and every one was so real and I always wondered what the person who made them was thinking. I still can see them in my mind today.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Victor.
I too remember visiting a church where they had life-size Stations of the Cross on the grounds of the church. They held the prayers in open-air at Easter.
DeleteGod bless, Bill.
I was unaware of this custom, Victor … but nonetheless, I'm moved. Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Mevely.
DeleteGod bless you.
This moved me to tears, Victor, as well it should. Thank you for sharing this with us, reminding us of the pain our Lord suffered in order to save us from our sins.
ReplyDeleteBlessings, my friend!
It is a moving service on Good Friday when the priest stands by each image/statue and reminds us of what Jesus must have felt at the time.
DeleteGod bless you always, Martha.
Victor, this is just beautiful. I have never heard of this and am so thankful you explained it. You are a blessing.
ReplyDeleteThank you Cheryl. The Stations of the Cross are one of our traditional services on Good Fridays. Although sometimes they are prayed at different times of the year.
DeleteGod bless you and yours.
Thank you.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
Mmmmm. I remember as a little girl being walked around our church with my ccd teacher showing us the different stations of The Cross. This clip is very moving and the art is beautiful. I like Jesus' face in these. Compassionate and Loving.
ReplyDeleteThis also reminds me of my Italian grandparents, I miss them. On Friday one year when I was a teenager, I was stuffing artichokes with my Italian grandma and it was very dark and cloudy outside. I mentioned it...She said it was always like that on Good Friday. Many times it is. My grandparents weren't even huge church goers.
Have a nice Easter Victor. Do you know that Bocelli is doing a live concert for Easter on youtube? I hope to catch that if our internet is working.
God bless.
Now you mention it, I remember many Good Fridays used to be dark and cloudy. Thank you for sharing your memories with us, Amelia. I'll look out for the Bocelli concert on You Tube.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
It's a very deeply moving custom, thank you for sharing it.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Mimi.
DeleteGod bless you.