Spiritual significance of the Stations of the Cross

Q My bulletin advertises the Stations of the Cross each Friday during Lent.  What are the Stations of the Cross and what is some of the history behind it?

A The Stations of the Cross are a communal prayer where we make a spiritual pilgrimage to the sights of Jesus’ last few hours of his life.  It follows Jesus from his sentence to death by Pontius Pilate through his burial in his tomb.  Some believe that our Blessed Virgin Mary visited the scenes of our Lord’s Passion every day that she was in Jerusalem.  The Stations of the Cross allow us to do the same, to participate in his passion and death through meditation, contemplation and prayers.

The early Christians suffered persecution from the Roman Empire for more than two centuries after Christ.  Finally, in the year 313, the emperor Constantine ended persecution by legalizing Christianity.  This opened the way for Christians to visit the Holy Land and the places of Jesus’ last few hours.  However, not everyone could visit the Holy Land; it was expensive and, possibly dangerous.  So, in the fifth century, an interest developed to “reproduce” the holy places of Jesus’ passion in other areas, so that many could make a spiritual pilgrimage.

This spiritual pilgrimage is called the Stations (or Way) of the Cross.  During this spiritual pilgrimage there are various stops (or “stations”) along the way depicting various scenes of Jesus’ passion and death (such as Jesus is condemned to death, Jesus carries his cross, and the final one, Jesus is laid in the tomb).  Each station usually has pictures or images portraying each event.  In 1731, Pope Clement XII permitted stations to be created in all churches and fixed the number at 14.  Some devotional booklets include a 15th station – Jesus’ resurrection.

A plenary indulgence can be obtained by those who prayerfully exercise the Stations of the Cross.  Even though all of our sins may have been forgiven during our lifetime, consequences still remain, our soul still needs to be purified before we can enter heaven.  Temporal punishment, either here on earth or in purgatory, purifies our soul.  A plenary indulgence removes all temporal punishment that is required.   

The Manual of Indulgences states, “According to common custom, the pious exercise consists of 14 devotional readings, to which some vocal prayers are added. To make the Way of the Cross, however, it is sufficient to meditate devoutly on the Lord’s Passion and death, and therefore reflection on the particular mysteries of the individual stations is not necessary.”

The Manual goes on to state, “Progression from one station to the next is required.  If the pious exercise is made publicly, and moving from station to station by all participants is not possible without inconvenience, it is sufficient that at least the one conducting the Way of the Cross progress from station to station, while the others remain in their place.  Those legitimately impeded can acquire the same indulgence, if they spend some time, e.g., at least a quarter of an hour, in reading and meditating on the Passion and death of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

To obtain the plenary indulgence one must also have a complete detachment from sin (including venial sins) and fulfill the following three conditions: sacramentally confess your sins, receive Holy Communion, and pray for the intentions of the pope.  These three conditions may be fulfilled either several days before or after attending the Stations of the Cross.  However, it is suggested that Communion be received and the prayer for the Holy Father be completed on the same day that you attend the Stations.

The Stations of the Cross usually last only about 30 minutes.  What a beautiful gift Jesus has given us through the intervention of our church, the ability to wipe out all temporal punishment needed to obtain heaven.  This indulgence can be applied either to ourselves or to one who has passed away.  Think about it; if you offer this indulgence for a deceased loved one, for only 30 minutes you may be the one to get them into heaven.

Deacon Hooper is a deacon assistant at Immaculate Conception Church in Denham Springs. He can be reached at [email protected].