The Stations of the Cross (also called ‘The way of the Cross’ are the critical events on Jesus’ journey to the Cross on what we now call Good Friday. The History Behind This Tradition It is understood that this form of worship and prayer started as far back as the 4th century. It originally comprised travelling to the actual sites of Jesus’ passion in Jerusalem. However, with wars and natural disasters, this became inconvenient, so that the practice of meditating on visual representations of Jesus’ journey gradually replaced the actual pilgrimages to Jerusalem. By the 14th century, this practice had become a regular form of Christian devotion in monasteries and local parish churches throughout Europe. After the reformation, it was the Catholic stream of the church that preserved this tradition and kept this form of worship alive. How Many Stations Are There? There are some variations in the exact number and subject of the traditional stations. The ones you see on this site (taken from the offline exhibition) largely follow the traditional ones and have been selected from the gospels as the key events in Jesus’ journey to the Cross. Not all the traditional Stations are represented and in some cases more than one artist has submitted artwork for a station. How Do I Approach the Stations of the Cross? We have tried to create the effect of a journey and we invite you to try to enter into the experience of Jesus and His love for all members of the human family as He journeyed to the Cross. As you travel through the stations, you may want to do so in an attitude of prayer and use your imagination as you reflect on each piece of artwork. Our culture and busyness of life often does not provide us with many opportunities to reflect on what we believe or to acknowledge the intuitive side of faith. We trust you’ll find this brief Easter journey online a true blessing to you. Top | Easter Story # zz08/002 |
[ ] [ ] [ Contact Us ] [ Home ]
 |
stations@tcweb.co.uk Phone: +44(0)141 946 5032 mob: 07712 581 061 |