The Stations of the Cross or The Way of the Cross is a series of images depicting the passion and death of Our Lord Jesus Christ. These images are usually placed in Catholic church’s nave where the faithful come to pray during the Lenten season.
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:
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.
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.
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.
