We observe Lent by
praying, fasting, and giving alms. Our favorite Lenten prayer is Stations of
the Cross. Every Friday we join other members of our Catholic Community in a
pilgrimage following our Lord's steps in His Passion, Death, and
Resurrection. Our favorite meditation is Everyone's Way of the Cross  .
- Jesus is condemned to death
- Jesus takes up His cross
- Jesus falls the first time
- Jesus meets His mother
- Simon of Cyrene helps carry the cross
- Veronica wipes the face of Jesus
- Jesus falls a second time
- Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem
- Jesus falls the third time
- Jesus is stripped of His garments
- Jesus is nailed to the cross
- Jesus dies on the cross
- Jesus' body is taken down from the cross and laid in the arms of His
mother
- Jesus' body is placed in the tomb
History of the Stations of the Cross
Did you know that St. Francis of Assisi is credited with creating the
Stations of the Cross? In the Middle Ages Christians were encouraged to
visit the Holy Land. The Middle East was as dangerous back then as it is
today, and many people were reluctant to make the expensive, dangerous trip.
Yet they still wanted to experience a pilgrimage in memory of the Lord's
Passion. St. Francis, or at least his followers, put wooden crosses in
parish churches to assist the faithful in this effort. Pilgrims could journey
from cross to cross and meditate on the events of Jesus' death. To this day
you should be able to see a cross on each of the fourteen stations hanging
in your church.
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