What are "Stations of the Cross" in the Catholic Church?

 I live in a small town with only one Catholic Church and about 80 other Christian churches of different names.  Some people would call us a minority in the Bible Belt of the Midwest.  There are far more Baptist church's around and many people who are not Catholic never want to know or learn anything about the Catholic Church.

However, one of my non-catholic friends, a wonderful Christian lady of 65 years old, recently asked me about the 'Stations of the Cross' in our church.  So after I spent some time explaining it to her, she suggested I tell others who may not know.  I think being educated about other religions is a wonderful thing.  If people would really try to get past the fact that they think we are so different, they just might find out we are really a lot the same.

Now, for a detailed explaination about the Stations of the Cross in the Catholic Church.

The Bible tells us that Jesus Christ walked from Pilate's Praetorian to Golgotha, which was also known as the Place of the Skull.  There is a devotion in the Church known as "the way", or the Stations of the Cross, which originated with pilgrims who walked the  'way of tears' (Via Dolorosa) in Jerusalem. 

Our Church believes that the idea of life is that of a journey or pilgrimage, and a passage from our earthly exile to our true home in Heaven.  Walking this pilgrimage indicates we have a deep desire to be conformed to the Passion of Christ, which means we, like the disciples, must follow behind our Lord on a daily basis, carrying our own crosses (Luke 9, 23).

In our Church we have some beautiful 3-D type ceramic pictures on the walls around the sanctuary, depicting the Stations of the Cross...or the way the cross traveled from the time it was given to Christ after he was condemned to death until it was placed in the ground, and he was taken to the tomb.  When we have a service for this, we all stand and face each 'station' as we hear words read from our priest, and say prayers.  It is done at Easter time and done for us to remind us of his path and to put ourselves on that path and realize how great indeed it was for Him to give His life for us.

Station One:  This station is about Jesus being condemned to death.  When we reflect on this station our prayer is that Christ will help us to lead a better life and to seek His will.

Station Two; This stations is where the cross is given to Jesus to carry...to bear.  Our prayer here is : Lord, we join you on your journey of suffering.

Station Three:  This one is where Jesus falls the first time while trying to carry His cross. Our prayer: Christ, help us who fall into sinful way; teach us to rise with you.

Station Four:  Jesus meets his mother at this point.  Our prayer: Lord, we implore your mother to console us who morn.

Station Five; Jesus gets help from Simon.  Our prayer: Christ, help us as we try to do your work in our world.

Station Six: Veronica wipes the face of Jesus.  Our prayer:  Lord, help us as we help others.

Station Seven: Jesus falls down a second time.  Our prayer:  Christ, teach us the healing power of penance.

Station Eight: Jesus speaks to the woman.  Our prayer: Lord, help us to comfort those who have no one to help them.

Staton Nine:  Jesus falls down a third time.  Our prayer: Christ, teach us the joy of obedience.

Station Ten: Jesus is stripped of his garments.  Our prayer: Lord, help us to model your life of holiness.  

Station Eleven: Jesus is nailed to the cross.  Our prayer: Christ, draw us closer to you from this day forward.

Station Twelve:  Jesus dies on the cross.  Our prayer: Lord, we pray that you will be with us at our of death.

Station Thirteen:  Jesus is taken down from the cross.  Our prayer: Christ, open our hearts to the beauty of your love for us.

Station Fourteen:  Jesus is laid in the tomb.  Our prayer: Lord, help us to walk in your ways all the days of our lives.

This is a very nice service and actually goes pretty fast.  I try to be very involved when it is being done so that, even as many times as we have heard the story of the death of Christ, we still need to be reminded of his great sacrifice.

There is a great website online where you can read more in-depth descriptions of each Stations if you'd like.  Check it out at www.catholiconline.com

Thanks for reading and feel free to leave a comment.