The Stations of the Cross
The Stations or Way of the Cross is one of the most traditional and identifiable devotional practices of Catholicism. The devotional prayer can be traced to early Christian pilgrims who would visit the various historical sites in Jerusalem associated with the suffering and death of Jesus. Known as the "Via Dolorosa", each station represented a significant place where Jesus had walked on his way to crucifixion.
When the Franciscans became custodians of the historical sites in Jerusalem and the Holy Land in 1342, they began to popularise the devotion and the practice quickly spread to other parts of western Europe. Through the centuries, the number of stations varied, with some versions including up to 40 stations. From around the sixteenth century, there have been fourteen stations, many of which can be identified in parish churches today.
In 1975, the Vatican produced a revised list of the Stations of the Cross, with each station linking closely to the gospel accounts of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. This version begins with the Last Supper and concludes with the Resurrection. This revised version was used by St John Paul II, who reinforced their role in contemplating the life and death of Jesus:
What does it mean to have a part in the Cross of Christ? It means to experience, in the Holy Spirit, the love hidden within the Cross of Christ. It means to recognise, in the light of this love, our own cross. It means to take up that cross once more and, strengthened by this love, to continue our journey... To journey through life, in imitation of the one who “endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God” (Heb 12:2).
Pope John Paul II, Stations of the Cross at the Colosseum, Good Friday 2000
The Stations are most commonly prayed during Lent on Wednesdays and Fridays, and especially on Good Friday, the day of the year upon which the events actually occurred.
At the links below, Bishop Robert Barron provides a video reflection on the Stations of the Cross. The text is also provided in booklet form.
The Stations of the Cross with Bishop Robert Barron
Booklet for the Stations of the Cross with Bishop Robert Barron (PDF 900.7KB)
The included booklet images for the Stations of the Cross are from the Church of All Saints in Blato, Korcula Island, Croatia.