The Stations of the Cross originated in pilgrimages to Jerusalem. There was a desire to reproduce the “Way” of Jesus in the last week of his life, especially in and around Jerusalem. So, by the 4th century, there were attempts by certain people, like Constantine’s mother, to give people an opportunity to visit important sites from the life of Jesus – from his birth, to the crucifixion, to his resurrection.

At the monastery of Santo Stefano at Bologna a group of connected chapels was constructed as early as the 5th century, by St. Petronius, Bishop of Bologna, which was intended to represent the more important shrines of Jerusalem. As such this monastery became familiarly known as “Santa Gerusalemme”. This may be regarded as the genesis for the idea of the Stations of the Cross, at least outside of Jerusalem developed. It is certain that nothing that we have before about the 15th century can strictly be called a Way of the Cross in the modern sense. And so, we carry on this tradition of traveling the “Way of the Cross” that developed more than 500 years ago by having a service called “The Stations of the Cross.” It is a proper and fitting way to begin the services of Holy Week.

There are two ways that the stations can be conducted. One is to have “stations” along a route outside the church, or a smaller route inside the church. From the first station, people then travel to any number of stations where a lesson from the passion story is read followed by a prayer. After a brief time of silence and reflection, the group travels to the next “station”.

A second way to honor the “stations of the Cross” is to sit in the nave of the church and read the lessons and prayers and either project images or include images in a booklet. This is the way that my congregation honors the stations. What is most important about the Stations of the Cross is the opportunity we offer to people in the community to again hear and meditate upon the passion of Jesus.

Pastor Dave