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The Stations of the Cross - 11/17/2008 Print E-mail
Sunday, 12 February 2006
The Stations of the Cross are made of beautiful mosaic tile. Fourteen individual stations present an opportunity for one to reflect on Jesus' Sacred Passion, beginning with His encounter with Pilate. This tradition began as a result of the tension that existed between Christians and Muslims during the Crusades when it was no longer possible for Christians to make a pilgrimage to the Holy Land to follow in the actual footsteps of Jesus. Since that time, Catholics throughout the world have displayed these fourteen stations throughout their churches in order to show their desire to pick up and unite their cross to the unique Cross of Christ and to prayerfully meditate upon His Passion and Death.
 

1. Jesus is condemned to death
Jesus, you stand all alone before Pilate. Nobody speaks up for you. Nobody helps defend you. You devoted your entire life to helping others, listening to the smallest ones, caring for those who were ignored by others. They don't seem to remember that as they prepare to put you to death.

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2. The cross is laid upon Him
Jesus, as you accepted your cross, you knew you would carry it to your death on Calvary. You knew it wouldn't be easy, but you accepted it and carried it just the same.

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3. Jesus falls for the first time
Jesus, the cross you have been carrying is very heavy. You are becoming weak and almost ready to faint, and you fall down. Nobody seems to want to help you. The soldiers are interested in getting home, so they yell at you and try to get you up and moving again.

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4. Mary meets Jesus
Jesus, you feel so alone with all those people yelling and screaming at you. You don't like the words they are saying about you, and you look for a friendly face in the crowd. You see your mother. She can't make the hurting stop, but it helps to see that she is on your side, that she is suffering with you. She does understand and care.

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5. Simon of Cyrene is made to help Jesus bear the Cross
, the soldiers are becoming impatient. This is taking longer than they wanted it to. They are afraid you won't make it to the hill where you will be crucified. As you grow weaker, they grab a man out of the crowd and make him help carry your cross. He was just watching what was happening, but all of a sudden he is helping you carry your cross.

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6. Veronica wipes the face of Jesus
Jesus, suddenly a woman comes out of the crowd. Her name is Veronica. You can see how she cares for you as she takes a cloth and begins to wipe the blood and sweat from your face. She can't do much, but she offers what little help she can.

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7. Jesus falls for the second time
This is the second time you have fallen on the road. As the cross grows heavier and heavier it becomes more difficult to get up. But you continue to struggle and try until you're up and walking again. You don't give up.

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8. Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem
Jesus, as you carry your cross you see a group of women along the road. As you pass by you see they are sad. You stop to spend a moment with them, to offer them some encouragement. Although you are have been abandoned by your friends and are in pain, you stop and try to help them.

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9. Jesus falls for the third time
Jesus, your journey has been long. You fall again, beneath your cross. You know your journey is coming to an end. You struggle and struggle. You get up and keep going.

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10. Jesus is stripped of his garments
The soldiers notice you have something of value. They remove your cloak and throw dice for it. Your wounds are torn open once again. Some of the people in the crowd make fun of you. They tease you and challenge you to perform a miracle for them to see. They're not aware that you'll perform the greatest miracle of all!

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11. Jesus is crucified
You are stretched out on the cross you have carried so far. The soldiers take big nails and drive them into your hands and feet. You feel abandoned by the people you loved so much. People seem to have gone mad. You have done nothing but good, yet they drive nails through your hands and feet. 

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12. Jesus dies on the Cross
As Jesus hung on the cross, he forgave the soldiers who had crucified him, and prayed for his mother and friends. Jesus wanted all of us to be able to live forever with God, so he gave all he had for us.

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13. Jesus is taken down from the cross
Jesus, how brutally you were put to death. How gently your are taken from the cross. Your suffering and pain are ended, and you are put in the lap of your mother. The dirt and blood are wiped away. You are treated with love.

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14. Jesus is laid in the tomb
Jesus, your body is prepared for burial. Joseph gave you his own tomb. He laid your body there and rolled a large stone in front of it, then went home. What a sad day it has been for so many people.

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The Way of the Cross excerpts came from http://www.catholic.org/prayers/station.php  


 

Last Updated ( Tuesday, 18 November 2008 )
 
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