Biblical Stations of the Cross

On By balaamIn God

Lent 2024 – Introduction

The Stations of the Cross is a thing in the Catholic Church where you think about Jesus from when he got in trouble to when he was buried. Usually, you see it in churches as a bunch of small numbered spots on the wall (sometimes there’s one more that shows Jesus coming back to life).

A statue of Jesus on the cross.
Free image from PxHere

The development of these shrines was initiated by the Franciscans, who embarked on constructing a series of 7 to 30 of these sacred sites in towns or rural areas leading up to a church. Over time, authorization was granted to erect these shrines within a church building, on the condition that the construction was carried out by Franciscans, and the number was eventually established at 14.

There has always been a challenge with the Stations of the Cross, even within Catholicism. Eight of the 14 stations lack basis in Scripture. As for the order of events, the interpretation and significance of each station vary among different traditions and interpretations, offering a rich tapestry of perspectives for believers to draw inspiration from.

The new Scriptural stations mark an important milestone, introduced by Pope John Paul II on Good Friday in 1991. Their significance was further recognized with an edict by Pope Benedict in 2007, allowing them to be erected in churches.

The Stations of the Cross, Traditional and new, look like this:

TRADITIONAL STATIONSSCRIPTURAL STATIONS
1. Jesus prays in the Garden of Gethsemane
2. Jesus is betrayed by Judas and arrested;
3. Jesus is condemned by the Sanhedrin
4. Jesus is denied by Peter 3 times
1. Jesus is condemned to death5. Jesus is judged by Pilate
6. Jesus is scourged and crowned with thorns
2. Jesus takes up his Cross7. Jesus takes up his cross
3. Jesus falls the first time
4. Jesus meets his Mother
5. Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus carry the Cross8. Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus carry the Cross
6. Veronica wipes the face of Jesus
7. Jesus falls for the second time
8. Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem9. Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem
9. Jesus falls for the third time
10. Jesus is stripped of his garments
11. Jesus is nailed to the Cross10. Jesus is crucified
11. Jesus promises his kingdom to the repentant thief
12. Jesus entrusts Mary and John to each other;
12. Jesus dies on the Cross13. Jesus dies on the cross
13. Jesus is taken down from the Cross
14. Jesus is laid in the tomb14. Jesus is laid in the tomb

After this, I’m going to take the weeks between Easter and Pentecost to explore a version of the Stations of the Resurrection.

None of these will have a commentary or mini-sermon from me, just a quick intro, some prayers, a picture, and the scripture passage for you to think about.

One thought on “Biblical Stations of the Cross”

Tell me what you think