The Stations of the Cross began in Jerusalem when early Christians traveled along the path to commemorate the Passion of Our Lord, from the house of Pontius Pilate to Mount Cavalry. According to tradition, it was inspired from the Blessed Virgin Mary who started the practice.
The word “stations” was credited from a pilgrim named William Wey, an English traveler and author. He observed the manner by which pilgrims recollect the passion of Jesus Christ on His way to Calvary. Popularized by the Franciscans, who are tasked with keeping the Holy Land. Since only a few can travel to the Holy Land, Pope Blessed Innocent XI granted the Franciscans permission to recreate the stations in their churches through images. It became popular during the reign of Pope Clement XII in 1731, when he allowed the construction of stations for all churches.
The Stations of the Cross contains fourteen images that depict the Passion of Our Lord. Each image contains prayers and the most frequently used were composed by St. Alphonsus Liguori. The list of fourteen stations were as follows:
- Jesus is condemned to death
- Jesus takes up His Cross
- Jesus falls the first time
- Jesus meets His Mother
- Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus carry the Cross
- Veronica wipes the face of Jesus
- Jesus falls for the second time
- Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem
- Jesus falls for the third time
- Jesus is stripped of His garments (sometimes called the “Division of Robes”)
- Jesus is nailed to the Cross
- Jesus dies on the Cross
- Jesus is taken down from the Cross
- Jesus is laid in the tomb
However, in 1991, Pope John Paul II introduced a new set of Stations of the Cross called ‘Scriptural Way of the Cross’. In 2007, Pope Benedict XVI gave his approval for its use.
- The Last Supper
- The Agony in Gethsemane
- Jesus Before the Sanhedrin
- Jesus is scourged and crowned with thorns
- Jesus Receives His Cross
- Jesus Falls under the weight of the Cross
- Simon of Cyrene Helps Jesus carry the Cross
- Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem
- Jesus is nailed to the Cross
- The Repentant Thief
- Mary and John at the Foot of the Cross
- Jesus dies on the Cross
- Jesus is laid in His Tomb
- Jesus rises from the Dead
Also, another set of the New Way of the Cross was made by the Catholic Church in the Philippines to be used during Holy Week.
- The Last Supper
- The Agony in Gethsemane
- Jesus Before the Sanhedrin
- Jesus is scourged and crowned with thorns
- Jesus Receives His Cross
- Jesus Falls under the weight of the Cross
- Simon of Cyrene Helps Jesus carry the Cross
- Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem
- Jesus is nailed to the Cross
- The Repentant Thief
- Mary and John at the Foot of the Cross
- Jesus dies on the Cross
- Jesus is laid in His Tomb
- Jesus rises from the Dead
Now, which set should we use? We suggest the first one inspired from early tradition before Vatican II. It was practiced by early Christians to follow the sorrowful path how Mary, the Mother of God remembered her Son. The Way of the Cross she walked where her Son suffered and died to save us.