During the season of Lent, Our Holy Father, Pope Francis, invites us to enter more fully into the spirit of sacrifice, renewal, and repentance. We can embrace this invitation in various ways such as by praying the “Stations of the Cross”.
The media outlet “Catholic Online” stated, “The Stations of the Cross are a 14-step Catholic devotion that commemorates Jesus Christ’s last day on Earth as a man. The 14 devotions, or stations, focus on specific events of His last day, beginning with His condemnation. The stations are commonly used as a mini pilgrimage as the individual moves from station to station. At each station, the individual recalls and meditates on a specific event from Christ’s last day.” “Catholic Online” further noted, “The Stations of the Cross are commonly found in churches as a series of 14 small icons or images.” They are prayed “…especially on Good Friday, the day of the year upon which the events actually occurred.”
As reported in the publication, “The Catholic World Report”, Pope Francis reflected on the “Stations of the Cross” and stated, “The Cross of Christ bears the suffering and the sin of mankind, including our own. Jesus accepts all this with open arms, bearing on his shoulders our crosses and saying to us: ‘Have courage!
You do not carry your cross alone! I carry it with you! I have overcome death, and I have come to give you hope, to give you life.’”
In another address on World Youth Day, Our Holy Father noted, “the Cross of Christ invites us also to allow ourselves to be smitten by his love, teaching us always to look upon others with mercy and tenderness, especially those who suffer, who are in need of help, who need a word or a concrete action.”
As we reflect on these words of Our Holy Father, we continue each Friday during Lent to come together as a faith community to pray the “Stations of the Cross.” We begin at 7:00 PM with a brief reflection by one of our deacons. The reflection focuses on a theme that addresses our Lenten challenges and concerns. The “Stations” then follow at 7:15 pm.
Praying the “Stations” can provide us with an opportunity to avail ourselves of abundant spiritual graces. Commemorating the Passion of Jesus through the “Stations” can help us to more clearly witness our faith and assist us on our spiritual journey.
We are strongly encouraged to prayerfully consider making the “Stations” an integral part of our Lenten observance.