Comparison of the Gospel Narratives >>
Overview:
For Roman Catholics throughout the world, the Stations of the Cross are synonymous with Lent, Holy Week and, especially, Good Friday. This devotion is also known as the "Way of the Cross", the "Via Crucis", and the "Via Dolorosa." It commemorates 14 key events on day of Christ's crucifixion. The majority concern His final walk through the streets of Jerusalem, carrying the Cross.
History:
The Stations of the Cross are a Catholic devotion which commemorates the Passion and death of our Lord Jesus Christ. Each of the fourteen stations represents an event which occurred during Jesus' Passion and death at Calvary on Good Friday.
The Stations of the Cross were originally performed many centuries ago by Christian pilgrims who visited the Holy Land and the sites of Jesus' Passion. Promotion of the devotion to the Stations began in earnest with the Franciscans, who were given custody of the Holy Places in the Holy Land in the 1300s. Countless Catholics have all enriched their spiritual lives with this powerful devotion.
Devotion to the Stations of the Cross spread rapidly throughout the Roman Catholic world in the 18th century, largely as a result of the preaching of the Franciscan, St. Leonard of Port -Maurice, who erected stations and promoted the devotion in over five hundred churches and places throughout Italy. His work was supported by the popes of his time, who saw the devotion as a means of strengthening faith.
Another 18th
century saint, St. Alphonsus Liguori, wrote a brief work on the stations
that is still in use today. Religious communities like the Jesuits and
the Passionsts made the devotion part of their missions and retreats. By
the l9th century, the Stations of the Cross had become a staple in
Catholic prayer books and in churches throughout England, Ireland, and
North America.
(excerpt from Catholic Center at UGA )
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Stations of the Cross and suggested biblical
Readings:
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First Station: John
19: 13-16 (NIV)
13 When Pilate heard this, he brought Jesus out and sat down
on the judge's seat at a place known as the Stone Pavement (which in
Aramaic is Gabbatha). 14
It was the day of Preparation of Passover Week, about the sixth hour.
15
But they shouted, "Take him away! Take him away! Crucify him!"
16 Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified.
Second
Station: John 19: 17. (NIV) So the soldiers took charge of Jesus. 17 Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha).
Third
Station:
Isaiah 50: 6 (NIV)
6
I offered my back to those who beat me,
or (Phil 2,6-11)
Fourth
Station: Luke 2: 35 (NIV) 35 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too."
Fifth
Station: Luke 23: 26 (NIV) 26 As they led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus.
Sixth
Station: Isaiah 52:
14 (NIV) 14
Just as there were many who were appalled at him —
Seventh
Station: Isaiah 53:
4 (NIV)
4
Surely he took up our infirmities
or (Job 16,11.9b.10b)
Eighth
Station: Luke 23 (NIV) 1 Then the whole assembly rose and led him off to Pilate. 2 And they began to accuse him, saying, "We have found this man subverting our nation. He opposes payment of taxes to Caesar and claims to be Christ, a king." 3 So
Pilate asked Jesus, "Are you the king of the Jews?" 4 Then Pilate announced to the chief priests and the crowd, "I find no basis for a charge against this man." 5 But they insisted, "He stirs up the people all over Judea[ by his teaching. He started in Galilee and has come all the way here." 6 On hearing this, Pilate asked if the man was a Galilean. 7 When he learned that Jesus was under Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem at that time. 8 When Herod saw Jesus, he was greatly pleased, because for a long time he had been wanting to see him. From what he had heard about him, he hoped to see him perform some miracle. 9 He plied him with many questions, but Jesus gave him no answer. 10 The chief priests and the teachers of the law were standing there, vehemently accusing him. 11 Then Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked him. Dressing him in an elegant robe, they sent him back to Pilate. 12 That day Herod and Pilate became friends—before this they had been enemies. 13 Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers and the people, 14and said to them, "You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined him in your presence and have found no basis for your charges against him. 15 Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us; as you can see, he has done nothing to deserve death. 16 Therefore, I will punish him and then release him." 18 With one voice they cried out, "Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us!" 19 (Barabbas had been thrown into prison for an insurrection in the city, and for murder.) 20 Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate appealed to them again. 21 But they kept shouting, "Crucify him! Crucify him!" 22 For the third time he spoke to them: "Why? What crime has this man committed? I have found in him no grounds for the death penalty. Therefore I will have him punished and then release him." 23 But with loud shouts they insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed. 24 So Pilate decided to grant their demand. 25He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, the one they asked for, and surrendered Jesus to their will.
The Crucifixion 26 As
they led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, who was on his
way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him
carry it behind Jesus. 27 A
large number of people followed him, including women who mourned
and wailed for him. 28 Jesus
turned and said to them, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for
me; weep for yourselves and for your children.
29 For the time will
come when you will say, 'Blessed are the barren women, the wombs
that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!'
30 Then 32 Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. 33 When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified him, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. 34 Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." And they divided up his clothes by casting lots. 35 The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, "He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One." 36 The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar 37 and said, "If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself." 38 There was a written notice above him, which read:|sc THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. 39 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: "Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!" 40 But the other criminal rebuked him. "Don't you fear God," he said, "since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong." 42 Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." 43 Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise."
Jesus' Death44 It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour, 45 for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46 Jesus called out with a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." When he had said this, he breathed his last. 47 The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, "Surely this was a righteous man." 48 When all the people who had gathered to witness this sight saw what took place, they beat their breasts and went away. 49 But all those who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.
Jesus' Burial50 Now there was a man named Joseph, a member of the Council, a good and upright man, 51 who had not consented to their decision and action. He came from the Judean town of Arimathea and he was waiting for the kingdom of God. 52 Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus' body. 53 Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen cloth and placed it in a tomb cut in the rock, one in which no one had yet been laid. 54 It was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was about to begin. 55 The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. 56 Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment.
Ninth
Station: Matthew 11: 28-29 (NIV) 28"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
Tenth
Station: Matthew
27: 33 (NIV) 33 They
came to a place called Golgotha (which means The Place of the Skull). or (Psalm 22,7-19)
Eleventh
Station: Luke 23: 34 (NIV) 34J esus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing."And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.
Twelfth
Station: Luke 23: 44-46 (NIV) 44 It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour, 45 for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46 Jesus called out with a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." When he had said this, he breathed his last.
Thirteenth Station: Luke 23: 50-53 (NIV) 50 Now there was a man named Joseph, a member of the Council, a good and upright man, 51 who had not consented to their decision and action. He came from the Judean town of Arimathea and he was waiting for the kingdom of God. 52 Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus' body. 53 Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen cloth and placed it in a tomb cut in the rock, one in which no one had yet been laid.
Fourteenth Station: Matthew 27: 59-60 (NIV) 59 Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60 and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away.
O God,
Who by the precious blood of Thine only-begotten Son
Jesus rises
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Later
versions of the story from the 4th or 5th century say that
Veronica possessed a cloth imprinted with the face of Jesus.
Western pilgrims returning to Europe passed her story on. As
the Stations of the Cross developed in late medieval times,
Veronica was remembered at the 6th Station: she wipes the face
of Jesus on his way to Calvary and he leaves an image of his
face on her veil. A healing relic, impressed with the image of
Jesus' face, which came to be known as "Veronica's Veil," was
honored in St. Peter's Church in Rome as early as the 8th
century.