THE WAY OF THE CROSS
Scriptural Meditations
On the Suffering and Death of Our Lord Jesus Christ
Also known as the “Way of Sorrows” (Via Dolorosa), this has been an immensely popular devotion among Christians since at least the 1400s, and may well go back to the earliest days of the Christian church in Jerusalem, when pilgrims would trace the actual steps of Jesus there during his last week on earth, from Pilate’s Judgement Hall to what was believed to be His tomb.
Over the centuries, the Way of the Cross developed its present series of 14 Stations, some of which are Biblical, and some of which are, by means of popular piety and therefore no less “authentic”, traditional.
This is a contemporary form of the 14 mixed Biblical and traditional scenes, courtesy St Stephen Lutheran Church in Portland, Texas, with incorporations from Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Chicago (the hymn between Stations by the Revd Dr Thomas Troeger), and the US Episcopal (Anglican) St Augustine’s Prayer Book.
“Stations” is typically prayed on Fridays in Lent, especially on Good Friday. It can be prayed privately, or as a walk together with a group/assembly in church or retreat centre.
During this service, we stay in place in our pews, instead standing and sitting as appropriate.
