INTRODUCTION TO THE
STATIONS OF THE CROSS

An older priest once growled, “The stations of the cross are a cross! Up and down! Up and down! Up and down.”

Then he added, “And I can’t stand these new stations. Why can’t they use the traditional, St. Alphonsus’ Stations of the Cross? They’re short and they get right to the point.”

The following “Stations of the Cross” are new. They are also longer than St. Alphonsus’ Stations of the Cross. And at times they also fit the older priest’s third objection of not getting right to the point.

Instead of up and down, up and down, quick prayers, when using these stations of the cross, I urge slow, quiet reflection. At home, in a quiet spot or at the computer say one or two of a few of them quietly. At Church, just sit under one or two of the stations and reflect on the scene. That’s how I wrote these stations -- just sitting there under each station and picturing what was happening. Through imagery and example, I try to evoke feelings that will bring Jesus’ stations of the cross right into everyday life.

However, my goal is the same as that of St. Alphonsus: to help all of us make the journey to Calvary with Jesus, to help us discover that Jesus is with us in our journey to Calvary, to realize that we are still crucifying Christ today in the ways we hurt our neighbor, and to realize how much Jesus loves and forgives us in spite of all the hurt.

These stations of the cross can be used alone or with a group, in Church or in your house. They can also be used while traveling to and from work in the bus or on the train. And who said that we have to use all 14 stations of the cross in one trip?

The Stations of the Cross are a cross. 14 stations. It’s a long train ride. 14 stations. We rather take the express train and get home faster.

The Stations of the Cross are a cross. 14 stops. It’s a long bus ride. 14 stops. Yet, it’s good to stop to reflect on all that God has done for us in sending us his Son, Jesus.

Jesus walked the road to Calvary alone surrounded by people. Since then, millions of people have walked with him by making the stations of the cross. If these new stations of the cross help you in your prayer along the way of the cross, then my prayers and my hopes will have been met. I will have done what St. Alphonsus did. He wrote stations of the cross to try to put the Good News of Jesus Christ in simple terms to help the people of his day.

© Andy Costello, Stations  2009
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FIRST STATION:
JESUS IS CONDEMNED TO DEATH

LEADER: We adore you, O Christ,
and we praise you.

ALL: Because by your holy cross
you have redeemed the world.

LOOKING AT JESUS

Jesus, just when you were getting started, everything ends. Everything goes wrong. Judas betrays you. Peter denies you. Your friends desert you. A crowd yells at you. Pilate, a puppet, whose strings could be pulled by fear or public pressure, sentences you to death in your early 30’s.

Jesus, you are condemned to death in the prime of your life. Unfair! Unjust! Who of us wants to die in our early 30’s? Imagine what might have happened, if you, Jesus, had 30 more years of life to live? Imagine the stories, the parables and the sayings? Imagine the healings?

1st STATION PRAYER – JUDGING OTHERS

Lord, too many times I’m like Pilate. I act as if I am on a balcony, overlooking life. I judge and condemn others without knowing their story.

Then I spend time and energy trying to wash the guilt off my hands because of the times I didn’t make an effort to discover the truth about another. Because of fear, I can be a puppet at times. I allow myself to be manipulated by the gossip or comments or fear of others. I keep on forgetting you came to put fear, judgment and rock throwing to death.

SECOND STATION:
JESUS IS MADE TO BEAR HIS CROSS

LEADER: We adore you, O Christ,
and we praise you.

ALL: Because by your holy cross
you have redeemed the world.

LOOKING AT JESUS

Jesus, you are made to carry a cross. Jesus, you are caught, trapped, forced, given no choice in the matter. Jesus, you are pushed and shoved out the gate and onto the street. Jesus, you are walled in by people on all sides who have no idea about who you are. All they want to see is news, as if you were an accident on the street.

Jesus, you are being led like a sheep to the slaughter. You are being sinned against as you are taking away the sins of the world. Jesus, you are caring, surrounded by apathy. You are sight, surrounded by blindness. You are awareness, surrounded by people not knowing what they are doing.

2nd STATION PRAYER – CARRYING THE CROSS

Lord, like you, each day, I have to walk down many streets and many ways, with many crosses and many people,
not of my choice. Lord, be with me on this road from birth to death. Help me to see life is all about how we deal with the surprises and interruptions that cut across our life.
Give me your strength and your power to carry my cross.

THIRD STATION
JESUS FALLS THE FIRST TIME

LEADER: We adore you, O Christ,
and we praise you.

ALL: Because by your holy cross
you have redeemed the world.

LOOKING AT JESUS

Jesus, you the one who told us that your yoke is easy and your burden light, could fall. You could crumble beneath the weight of a cross. All the pressures finally caught up to you: the long night of trials, the beating with whips, the crowning with thorns, and now the carrying of the cross. They finally wore you down to the ground.

Jesus, you emptied yourself of your divinity and we spend our lives trying to fill up our empty humanity. No wonder we fall. We spend so much of our time trying to lord it over everyone who gets in our way -- causing them to fall as well as ourselves. You, the creator of our world, could fall down to a gutter in our streets, to show us we can rise from our gutters and enter into your divinity.

3rd STATION PRAYER – THE FALL

Lord, here I am down at the bottom of myself. And Lord, out of my depths, I cry to you for help. At times, it’s hard to admit I too am human. At times, it’s hard to admit I fall.

Lord, at times, it’s so hard to admit I sin. I become proud, stupid, too big for myself. So I fall down to the bottom of myself, to the gutter of my own sins.

FOURTH STATION
JESUS MEETS
HIS SORROWFUL MOTHER

LEADER: We adore you, O Christ,
and we praise you.

ALL: Because by your holy cross
you have redeemed the world.

LOOKING AT JESUS

Jesus deep in pain, feeling all alone, sees only the stone street below. Then, looking up for a moment, Jesus sees his mother. Mary, a face crying in the crowd, tries to touch the tassel of his hurt. Jesus and Mary: eyes meeting eyes, trying to help one another.

Mary deep in pain, feeling all alone, sees only Jesus. Mary as mother sees the child she has brought into this world. “This is my body. This is my blood. She tries to change hurt into help – but she realizes she can’t stop the horror story going on before her very eyes. The sword of sorrow takes one more twist in her heart.

4th STATION PRAYER – THE MEETING

Jesus and Mary, teach us how to be there for each other in times of sorrow. Help us to take the time out to be present to each other. Help us to realize we don’t have to say anything to each other at the funeral or the hospital. All we have to do is to take the time out to be there - letting each other know we care when the sword of sorrow is twisting in the heart.

FIFTH STATION
SIMON IS MADE TO HELP
JESUS CARRY THE CROSS

LEADER: We adore you, O Christ,
and we praise you.

ALL: Because by your holy cross
you have redeemed the world.

LOOKING AT JESUS

Jesus, you never wanted to go or do life alone. You always asked for volunteers. Come and see. Come follow me. Come and be free.

Jesus, you needed disciples, friends. You are always pictured with others. It is not good to be alone. You called Peter, Andrew, James and John and so many others to come and follow you.

Here is Simon -- the one who was forced to help you to carry your cross. He is the one who just happened to be there. So often life is just happening to be there when another needs our help. Simon helped you and he is forever remembered in this fifth station of the cross.

5th STATION: PRAYER – THE HELP

Jesus, when I try to do it alone or to go it alone, send me someone to help me - a Simon. Keep on reminding me that it’s not good for any of us to be alone. Help me to learn, not only how to ask for help, but also how to receive help from others as we journey along the way of the cross.

SIXTH STATION
VERONICA WIPES
THE FACE OF JESUS

LEADER: We adore you, O Christ,
and we praise you.

ALL: Because by your holy cross
you have redeemed the world.

LOOKING AT JESUS

Jesus, your face is covered with blood. When cut, the face, the skull, seems to bleed so easily. Your face that looked at so many individuals is now almost blinded by blood. A woman named Veronica steps out of the crowd to help you. She saw your face. Too often we don’t see faces, we see crowds. Veronica took a towel and gently cleaned your face.

Jesus, once more a woman in the crowd reached out to touch you. But this time, power went out from someone else to you. Jesus, once more you experienced the care of a woman who had the courage to step out of a crowd to wash you. This time it was not with hair, but with a towel. This time it was not your feet, but your face. Cleaning your face of blood, Veronica saw your shining face.

6th STATION PRAYER – THE VEIL

Lord, I pause to thank you for each person in my life story who has touched me in a special way – the Veronica’s in my life. I thank you for the unique power that came out of each of them. I thank you for each person who was willing to put aside their veil and step forward to help me.