Living in Florida has many distinct advantages, one of them being that outdoor activities are possible most any time of the year. A common sight at Parishes throughout the Diocese of Venice is the availability of the Stations of the Cross outside. This allows accessibility and convenience for anyone wishing to participate in the special prayers at any time all while doing so in the fresh air.
Two Parishes recently added outdoor Stations of the Cross for just this reason; St. Leo Parish in Bonita Springs and Ss. Peter and Paul the Apostles Parish in Bradenton.
At St. Leo Parish in Bonita Springs, the Knight of Columbus and Ladies Auxiliary of Council 8877, along with a number of other parish volunteers, created a series of Stations which follow along a brick path, with benches and landscaping added to the setting.
For the faithful at Ss. Peter and Paul the Apostles Parish in Bradenton, the new outdoor Stations were built around one of the ponds on the property courtesy of Andrew Blair, a Boy Scout who created the Stations as part of his Eagle Scout service project. The path is made of mulch and each Station was hand-carved with an image painted inside.
The Stations of the Cross take the Passion of Jesus Christ and makes it an exercise of faith and prayer. From the earliest of days, followers of Jesus told the story of His Passion and Death. When pilgrims came to see Jerusalem, they were anxious to see the sites where Jesus walked. These sacred sites become important holy connections with Jesus. Eventually, following in the footsteps of the Lord, the Way of the Cross, became a part of the pilgrimage visit.
Bishop Frank J. Dewane blessed the Stations at St. Leo Parish on March 7, the First Friday of Lent. He then led about 150 people in the prayer through the Stations. Bishop Dewane noted that praying the Stations of the Cross is a “powerful way to contemplate, and enter into the mystery of Jesus’ gift of Himself to us.”
At the beginning of the St. Leo Parish Station, there is sign which sets the tone for those who enter: “As we enter this spiritual pilgrimage and meditate on Christ’s Passion and Death, we remember that God has prepared great things for those who are faithful to Him.”
The 14 Stations represent the Passion of Jesus as told in the Gospels of the New Testament.
The images and stylistic depictions of the Stations vary by Parish throughout the Diocese, whether they are indoors or outdoors. The Stations reflect the preference of the faithful or the artist at the time they were installed. Many are in the form of wood carvings, paintings or marble reliefs.
The Stations as we know them today came about when it was no longer easy or even possible to visit the holy sites. In the 1500s, villages all over Europe started creating “replicas” of the Way of the Cross, with small shrines commemorating the places along the route in Jerusalem. Eventually, these shrines became the set of 14 Stations we now know and were placed in almost every Catholic Church in the world.
Today, Parishes and Missions throughout the Diocese of Venice offer this prayer on a monthly basis throughout the year and often at least once a week during the Lenten Season.
Lent serves as a good time to reinvest in this moving form of prayer and participate in a personal way. Please check with your local parish or mission for the times that the Stations of the Cross are available. If those times are not convenient, you can pray them on your own. An online version can be found at www.catholic.org/clife/prayers/station.php.
THE STATIONS OF THE CROSS
First Station: Jesus is condemned to death
Second Station: Jesus carries his cross
Third Station: Jesus falls the first time
Fourth Station: Jesus meets his mother
Fifth Station: Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus to carry his cross
Sixth Station: Veronica wipes the face of Jesus
Seventh Station: Jesus falls the second time
Eighth Station: Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem
Ninth Station: Jesus falls a third time
10th Station: Jesus’ clothes are taken away
11th Station: Jesus is nailed to the cross
12th Station: Jesus dies on the cross
13th Station: The body of Jesus is taken down from the cross
14th Station: Jesus is laid in the tomb
By Bob Reddy (Florida Catholic)
March 20th, 2014