The Way of the Cross

Scripture and Prayers on the
Passion and Death of
Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ

Source: The Rev. Thomas L. Weitzel
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

.

INTRODUCTION

The Stations of the Cross combine art, sculpture and movement to recreate Christ's walk to Calvary within the walls of the church, allowing the faithful to make a "pilgrimage to Jerusalem" and be drawn closer to the Christ who walked there.

The stations tradition developed during the time of the Crusades (12-13th cent.).  Their number and subject matter have varied  widely, from as many as 30 to as few as five.  The 14 of current practice first appeared in the 16th century and were fixed in 1731 by Pope Clement XII, consisting of nine gospel scenes and five scenes from popular tradition.

While many have found the stations from tradition questionable, I have chosen to include them all.  These stations are like parables with a message, much as Jesus taught in parables.  The falls of Christ (stations 3, 7, 9) while not scriptural, could well have occurred in fact, given his all night interrogation, scourgings and loss of blood.  Theologically, the falls witness to the weight of our sin which crushed Christ.  Jesus' encounter with Mary on the road to Calvary (station 4) simply expands on the same encounter at the crucifixion as recorded in John's gospel.

The woman wiping Jesus' face (station 6) likely derives from the veil with Christ's image (i.e., vera icon, true image, hence the name Veronica) which has been kept in the Vatican since the 8th century.  Without debating the veil's authenticity, the station teaches that the true image of Christ occurs in our loving one another.  To illustrate this, I have retitled the station and included the story of Jesus' anointing by the woman of Bethany which begins the Passion narrative in all four gospels. The five stations from tradition may be omitted if desired.

The Stations of the Cross are intended to be a devotion that is prayed and walked by one or more persons, traditionally on Fridays, and especially during Lent.  The stations themselves may be as simple as black paper crosses and Roman numerals along the walls of the nave, or as elaborate as the great artistic renderings available in church supply catalogs.

NOTE FOR THE LEADER:  At each station, announce the number of the station and its title, then read the parts marked (L:), following kneel/stand/bow rubrics as indicated.  Allow a significant amount of time during the reflection at each station for personal prayer.  Do not rush this reflection time.  It is the heart of the devotion.  A crucifer may lead the people from station to station, beginning and ending at the altar.

TLW, Good Friday 1992

The Stations Of The Cross: . .

OPENING PRAYER
Before the Altar

THE FIRST STATION
Jesus Is Condemned to Death

THE SECOND STATION
Jesus Carries His Cross

THE THIRD STATION
Jesus Falls the First Time

THE FOURTH STATION
Jesus Meets His Afflicted Mother

THE FIFTH STATION
Simon Helps Jesus Carry His Cross

THE SIXTH STATION
A Woman Offers Comfort to Jesus

THE SEVENTH STATION
Jesus Falls a Second Time

THE EIGHTH STATION
Jesus Meets the Women of Jerusalem

THE NINTH STATION
Jesus Falls a Third Time

THE TENTH STATION
Jesus Is Stripped of His Clothes

THE ELEVENTH STATION
Jesus Is Nailed to the Cross

THE TWELFTH STATION
Jesus Dies on the Cross

THE THIRTEENTH STATION
Jesus Is Taken Down from the Cross

THE FOURTEENTH STATION
Jesus Is Laid in the Tomb

Closing Prayer
Before the Altar

.