The Way of the Cross

The Stations :

The Way of the Cross 01 The Way of the Cross 02 The Way of the Cross 03 The Way of the Cross 04 The Way of the Cross 05
The Way of the Cross 06 The Way of the Cross 07 The Way of the Cross 08 The Way of the Cross 09 The Way of the Cross 10
The Way of the Cross 11 The Way of the Cross 12 The Way of the Cross 13 The Way of the Cross 14 The Way of the Cross 15

Acknowledgment:

This devotion of The Way of the Cross was initially created by Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori, Doctor of the Church, Bishop of St. Agatha dei Goti and Founder of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer. My rendition is based in part on a booklet edited by Rev. Louis F. Hartman, C.Ss.R., which was printed with the approbation of the Redemptorist Fathers, dated August 2, 1955. This author's prayers and thanks are extended to all who have contributed to and have promoted this devotion to The Way of the Cross.

THE WAY OF THE CROSS

Prelude:

D uring the late Middle Ages, when the Turkish occupation of the Holy Land prevented pilgrims from visiting its sacred sites, the custom arose of making simple replicas of them in Europe where the faithful might come to pray. This gave the appearance of being right there at the actual holy places in Palestine. One of the most popular of these "pilgrimages at home" was to pray the stations of the cross, which were erected in imitation of the stations (or stopping places of prayer) on the street in Jerusalem that led from the judgment hall of Pilate to Calvary. By the end of the sixteenth century the present fourteen stations, which had gradually become the fixed form, were erected in almost all Catholic churches. Only recently has a fifteenth station been added: "The Resurrection."

The Popes transferred to these Stations of the Way of the Cross outside of Jerusalem the rich indulgences which had originally been attached to a pious visit to the actual sites along the Via Dolorosa (or "Sorrowful Road") in Jerusalem. According to the present law of the Church, the necessary conditions for a person in the state of grace to gain all the indulgences are:
1) to meditate, according to one's ability, on the Passion of Christ;
2) to move from one Station to another, in so far as the presence of other people performing the same devotion or the nature of the place permits;
3) to visit the fourteen Stations in one continuous act without any notable interruption.

Although no special prayers are prescribed for gaining the indulgences of the Way of the Cross, nevertheless, in order to meditate with proper devotion on the sufferings of our Savior, most people find it useful to follow some set form of prayers composed for this purpose. Among the best known are the prayers for the Way of the Cross that St. Alphonsus de Liguori published in 1761, which are here presented in a new, revised translation, based on the original Italian edition. The popularity of St. Alphonsus' Stations is due, no doubt, to their charming simplicity and ardent piety. For each Station, the Saint presents one leading consideration, which is followed by a prayer based on this consideration and concluded with acts of perfect contrition and perfect love. Whatever revision is most appropriate to the devotee in order to make it more modern, it is strongly advisable to stick to St Alphonsus' form of prayer which has been proven "top of the line" for over two hundred years.

In his short introduction to this little masterpiece, St. Alphonsus says: "The pious exercise of the Way of the Cross represents the sorrowful journey that Jesus Christ made with the cross on his shoulders, to die on Calvary for love of us. We should, therefore, practice this devotion with the greatest possible fervor, placing ourselves in spirit beside our Savior as he walked this sorrowful way, uniting our tears with his, and offering to him both our compassion and our gratitude."

------Thank you Father in Heaven------