Our Lady of the Holy Rosary — St. Richard Catholic Church

Our Lady of the Holy Rosary-St. Richard Catholic Church

MARCH 17, 2019 - SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE SAFE RELEASE OF LEAH SHARIBU AND OTHERS WHO ARE HELD CAPTIVE BECAUSE THEY REFUSE TO RENOUNCE THEIR CHRISTIAN FAITH

“Christ be with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ on my right, Christ on my left, Christ where I lie, Christ where I sit, Christ when I arise, Christ in the heart of every one who thinks of me, Christ in the mouth of every one who speaks of me, Christ in every eye that sees me, Christ in every ear that hears me….” (St. Patrick)

STATIONS OF THE CROSS

Do you pray the Stations of the Cross?

The “Stations of the Cross” is an ancient prayer practice whereby pilgrims who traveled to Jerusalem would follow Jesus’ footsteps from the site of his condemnation by Pontius Pilate to his death on the Cross at Calvary. This journey would take them along the “Way of the Cross ” or “Via Crucis,” also known as the “Way of Sorrow” or “Via Dolorosa,“ pausing to pray at certain sites marking particular events of Jesus’ Passion and death as recounted in Scripture and Tradition.

Due to the inability of many to journey to the Holy Land, around the fifteenth century the Franciscans promoted the practice of encouraging people to reenact this prayer practice and devotion through replicas of the Way of the Cross. Each “station” is identified with a cross and an image mounted on the walls of the church-es or at other locations, depicting one of the particular scenes of Jesus’ Passion, Crucifixion, and death. Eventually, this led to the traditional practice of fourteen stations currently found in most churches.

These stations traditionally depict the following scenes: First Station: Jesus is condemned to death; Second Station: Jesus carries his Cross; Third Station: Jesus falls for the first time; Fourth Station: Jesus meets his Mother; Fifth Station: Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus carry his Cross; Sixth Station: Veronica wipes Jesus’ face; Seventh Station: Jesus falls the second time: Eighth Station: Jesus meets the pious women of Jerusalem; Ninth Station: Jesus falls the third time; Tenth Station: Jesus is stripped of his garments; Eleventh Station: Jesus is nailed to the Cross; Twelfth Station: Jesus dies on the Cross; Thirteenth Station: Jesus is taken down from the Cross; Fourteenth Station: Jesus is laid in the Tomb. Pope John Paul II proposed a Fifteenth Station: Jesus’ Resurrection.

The Stations of the Cross, like other practices and devotions, call us to a time of prayer and an imaginative experience. We are invited to reflect and meditate on what Jesus experienced and suffered for us, opening our hearts to experience his unconditional love and, in turn, calling us to respond in gratitude and love.

Usually the guide leading the journey begins with offering a traditional prayer on approaching each Station: “We adore you, O Christ and we bless you, “ after which, all respond: “Because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.” The guide offers a scriptural passage or short reflection of the scene depicted at each Station.. A verse from a traditional hymn may be sung while walking to the next station. At the conclusion of this journey, a concluding prayer is offered.

Please join us on Friday evenings during Lent, at 7:00 p.m., to pray the Stations of the Cross with other members of our Parish community. 

Reflect on Your Experience

How can participating in the prayer practice of the Stations of the Cross help you to grow in experiencing a more loving and deeper relationship with
Jesus Christ?

"The Stations of the Cross" (Bishop Robert Barron)

"Stations of the Cross" (Catholic Online)

"The Way of the Cross - Stations of the Cross" (Divine Mercy Rosary)

"Stations of the Cross" (Dominican Sisters of Peace"

"The Way of the Cross" (by Francis of Assisi)

Other Videos for Lent (See Journey of Faith, March 3, 2019)

"Via Dolorosa"

"Glory in the Cross"

"At the Cross"

"Tantum Ergo"

"The Stations of the Cross" (Creighton University)

"A Scriptural Way of the Cross for Lent" (USCCB)

"Praying the Stations of the Cross for Victims of Human Trafficking" (USCCB)

Stations of the Cross (Catholic Relief Services)

"Scriptural Stations of the Cross" (USCCB)

"Stations of the Cross" (Loyola Press)

"Stations of the Cross" (Catholic News Agency"

Lenten Resources

"Catholic Spirituality in Practice" (C 21 - Boston College)

Other Prayer and Spiritual Practices

Social Services and Other Charitable Resources

Other Resources on Catholic Social Teaching