Via Crucis: Stations of the Cross for Lent

From Via-Crucis.net

The search engine keywords that often lead readers to this blog show that, rather often, they come here looking for something I don't have -- namely, info and prayers of meditation for the Via Crucis, the Stations of the Cross (or Way of the Cross) that are observed as a religious rite by a number of Christian traditions (and particularly among Roman Catholics).

Rather than leave you with nothing to read but my theological ramblings, let me at least add this post to the archive with links to some resources, in the hopes that your searches lead you here!  Let me just note that I haven't reviewed the material on these sites, and will not vouch for their theological content.

The Stations of the Cross
This is the main Wikipedia entry, with a good amount of helpful information, history, and art.  Accounts of the Stations vary, as do their number.  Generally, this refers to the key moments from Jesus Christ's passion -- that is, the events leading up to, including, and immediately following his death.  The fourteen traditional stations are:

1. Jesus is condemned to death 

2. Jesus is given his cross 

3. Jesus falls the first time 

4. Jesus meets His Mother 

5. Simon of Cyrene carries the cross

6. Veronica wipes the face of Jesus

7. Jesus falls the second time

8. Jesus meets the daughters of Jerusalem

9. Jesus falls the third time 

10. Jesus is stripped of His garments 

11. Crucifixion: Jesus is nailed to the cross 

12. Jesus dies on the cross 

13. Jesus' body is removed from the cross

14. Jesus is laid in the tomb and covered in incense

As the article linked above indicates, not all of these are directly attested in Scripture (noticeably, Veronica and the daughters of Jerusalem).

As one would expect, the Via Crucis as a contemplative religious observance is most commonly done during Lent, especially during the days that correspond to Christ's own passion leading to Good Friday (when Christ was crucified in Jerusalem) and Easter Sunday (when Christ rose from the dead).

The term "Stations of the Cross" is also used to refer specifically to artistic depictions of these events, which are often collected together (such as paintings hung on a church wall, or stained glass windows in the sanctuary) to display the story of the Lord's Passion.

New Advent: Way of the Cross
The Catholic Encyclopedia's entry for the Way of the Cross, with information and history.

Vatican: Way of the Cross
This looks like a tremendous resource that includes meditations and prayers from the Good Friday celebrations of Popes Benedict XVI and John Paul II over the past two decades.  There are photos, downloadable event booklets, the text of the Pope's address -- all translated into various languages, for the most recent years.

Here, for example, is Benedict XVI's opening prayer from Good Friday, 2010:

Lord God, almighty Father,

you know all things

and you see, hidden within our hearts, our great need for you.

Grant each of us the humility to acknowledge this need.

Free our mind from the pretension,

wrong-headed and even ridiculous,

that we can master the mystery which embraces us.

Free our will from the presumption,

equally naïve and unfounded,

that we can create our own happiness

and the meaning of our lives.

Enlighten and purify our inner eye,

and enable us to recognize, free of all hypocrisy,

the evil which lies within us.

But grant us too,

in the light of the cross and resurrection of your only Son,

the certainty that, united to him and sustained by him,

we too can overcome evil with good.

Lord Jesus,

help us, in this spirit, to walk behind your cross.

Amen.

Via-Crucis.net
This site offers a nice collection of the Stations in nine different languages -- including a Scripture passage, meditation, and prayer for each.  These resources are juxtaposed with black-and-white watercolors (I included a sample, above) to illustrate.

Why Did You Name Your Blog 'Via Crucis?'
I was looking for a new blog name that was simple, christological (since my interests as a student of theology are particularly in the doctrine(s) of Christ's person and work), and reflective of the sort of edification I hope that my writing might occasionally achieve.  (It's also Latin, so it sounds cool.)

May God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit richly bless you as you seek the Lord Jesus Christ in His life and His death.