The Way of the Cross

Updated! Here at last is the full article on The 5th Annual Good Friday Way of the Cross! With pictures!

I'm thinking of naming St. Francis of Assisi as Company of Angels' Patron Saint. In our first performance, the Christmas Pageant, we told the story of how St. Francis originated Christmas Pageants. Now, doing some research, I found out that his monastic order, the Fransiscans, also originated the Stations of the Cross!

Originally, way back in the day, serious sins, when they were confessed, were atoned for through the Penance of making a pilgrimage to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. In Jerusalem. On foot. Uphill both ways. Okay, maybe not the last one, but yeah, Penitents were required to walk to the Empty Tomb. In so doing, when they arrived in Jerusalem, they walked the Via Dolorosa, the Way of the Cross, reflecting on Jesus' Passion and death, until they reached the Empty Tomb. When the Muslims came on the scene and started making violence on the Christian world, this Penitential Walk was no longer a sure or safe thing for Christians. That, incidentally, is why the Crusades happened--they were, initially, defensive wars against Muslim aggressors. Unfortunately, greed and corruption took over later on, but in the first place, the Crusaders were the body-guards of the penitents on their way to the Tomb. Stick that in your Revisionist History Pipe and smoke it!

Francis, who originally was a Crusader, though he never made it to the front lines, got sick, went home, had a true conversion and began to preach the Gospel to all people, and his followers decided that it was not fair for the weak and the infirm and, well, anyone, to be made to risk life and limb to earn God's forgiveness. Yeah, it was a great idea when the Church was confined to the Mediterranean, and there weren't hostile forces cutting the pilgrims down! But times had changed, and so must the Church's practices.

So they developed what we now know as The Stations of the Cross--initially in a Church named for, and designed for, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, with 14 plain crosses labelled for their stations. As the practice became more common, every church put up these stations, often with depictions of what the scene related, and now, some 700-800 years later, it's one of the most distinctively Catholic things that we do!

The Good Friday Way of the Cross
That brings us to today (or at least to 5 years ago). When Pope John Paul II was coming to Toronto, the different Catholic Churches in Oakville decided to prepare for World Youth Day by, among other things, performing the Stations of the Cross on the streets of Oakville as a public proclamation of their faith. This was such an inspiring, and incredibly cool, thing, that they've continued it to this day. And so, this past April 14th, 2006, on a cold and rainy Good Friday morning, over 100 people gathered to walk the 8 km journey in honour of the Ultimate Sacrifice, Jesus Christ.

The following is the text of the Good Friday Way of the Cross pamphlet, with the devotional meditations, along with photos of the scenes.

All responses are bold.

Stations of the Cross
We come together to remember the final steps in the life of Jesus Christ, our Saviour. Jesus saved each one of us, and as we approach each Station of the Cross, let us reflect on our own personal Cross, the Cross each one of us is invited to carry in our daily lives.

+In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

1st Station - Jesus is Condemned to Death
Though Pontius Pilate is unjust toward Jesus, he is the lawful governor and has power over Jesus. The Son of God is obedient. Yet obedience costs Jesus His life. For us to be obedient costs much less, yet how hard it is for us to obey.

How quick we are to condemn those in our own lives--our family, our friends, our classmates, those we work with. When we condemn those around us, we turn away from Jesus, turning the light of hope to darkness. In many countries, people are persecuted for expressing their faith publicly. Yet how many times do we deny our religion or condemn those who do not share our views?

Father, give us the courage to hear You speaking to us and to obey Your Word as Your Son did on our behalf. Let us pray for those who are persecuted for their beliefs. We also pray for the imprisoned and those who feel the chains of restraint emotionally and physically. Help us, Lord, to share the light of hope with our neighbours and friends who suffer emotional or physical abuse.

We pray to the Lord.
Lord, hear our prayer.
Jesus, remember me, when You come into Your Kingdom.

2nd Station - Jesus Carries His Cross
Jesus, You struggle under the weight of the wooden Cross. You are forced to carry it through the streets while being mocked, laughed at, ridiculed.

Some of your friends even deny knowing You. How painful that must be for You, Jesus.

We experience many Crosses in our lives: fears, worries, frustrations. Many of us carry our Crosses every single day--they weigh us down, they handicap us, they prevent us from being able to care for others and love unconditionally. Yet we are strengthened with the knowledge that Jesus promises to be near us at all times. And so, as He carries His Cross, let us carry ours, knowing that Jesus once again is beside us, helping us to carry it.

Let us pray for those who are carrying their Cross--for those who continue to carry their Cross alone. May God bless and grace those who buckle under the weight of their failures and personal challenges.

We pray to the Lord.
Lord, hear our prayer.
Jesus, remember me, when You come into Your Kingdom.

3nd Station - Jesus Falls the First Time
So many people around You, Jesus, yet You carry Your Cross alone. The same people that worshipped You with palms now spit at You in the streets. Struggling under the weight of the Cross, You fall to Your knees. Was there something in Your path that caused You to stumble? Did someone place something in Your way?

When we really stop to think about it, we place obstacles in Your path almost every day. Maybe it is the way that we have of keeping our faith hidden except for Sundays. If no one knows we are Christians, they won't expect anything special of us. No wonder You stumbled.

Forgive us, Lord, for the obstacles we place in Your path. How many times have we fallen on the journey? Every day we struggle under the weight of life's challenges.

Let us pray for those who have fallen in their lives. For those who struggle with addictions to drugs, alcohol, gambling, or other things; that we may lift them up each time they fall. Through our prayers and tangible actions, may we be there for them, and help them seek the help they need to walk again.

We pray to the Lord.
Lord, hear our prayer.
Jesus, remember me, when You come into Your Kingdom.

4th Station - Jesus Meets His Mother
There is nothing more horrible than a mother seeing her child suffer and die. That's why it is so hard to understand how a mother could sacrifice her baby. But that is what happens each day in our world. Millions of babies die each year because they are inconvenient, they may be defective, or it's a way out of a difficult situation.

Lord Jesus, Your Mother shared Your sufferings. How helpless she must have felt.

Lord, we know how difficult it is for married couples, for unwed women, who struggle with a decision about an unwanted pregnancy. Yet we pray that our community will have the courage to embrace their struggle and support them in their time of need. We also give thanks for our mothers and grandmothers, our fathers and grandfathers--the gift of parents who guide us in our faith and welcome new members lovingly into their family.

Let us pray for all those who choose life, for mothers and fathers, and all those who will act as guardians of faith, hope, and love throughout our lives.

We pray to the Lord.
Lord, hear our prayer.
Jesus, remember me, when You come into Your Kingdom.

5th Station - Jesus Is Helped by Simon
Travelling from Cyrene, Simon is pressed into service to help carry Your Cross. This is not a job that he asked for, or an honour that he sought. How often do we consider helping others an honour? Not very often. Most of the time we think of it as an inconvenience, something to be tolerated. Do I consider it and 'honour' to help a friend who is into drugs? To speak Christ's love to a homeless, begging teen in Toronto?

Help us, Lord, to reach out to serve the poor and suffering among us. Just as Simon helped You, Jesus, we ask Your grace to respond to those we can help, not just as a special favour to them, but as a way of life each and every day.

We pray for all those who are homeless, those who travel the streets alone with no one to love or care for them. May we serve as beacons of hope to those in need physically, emotionally and spiritually.

We pray to the Lord.
Lord, hear our prayer.
Jesus, remember me, when You come into Your Kingdom.

6th Station - Veronica Wipes the Face of Jesus
Tradition tells us that through this act of kindness, Veronica was blessed to receive Your image imprinted on the cloth that she used to wipe Your brow.

When we reach out to another person in pain we are blessed with Your image also. If we look deep enough into the eyes of the young man with AIDS, we see Your face. If we listen to the girl struggling with drug addiction, it is Your voice we hear. Yet, at times, it is easier to pretend that those people are not our problem. Their disease is not something we caused. Why should we be concerned with them? Forgive us, Lord, for being cold and self-righteous.

Lord, help us see the tears in the eyes of our friends and then help to wipe them away. Each one of us knows someone close who is suffering or who has lost a loved one. May we take the time today to let those close to us know how important they are in our lives, wiping their tears with a kind word, a loving touch, a comforting embrace.

We pray for all those who are sick. May the healing hand of God ease their pain and bring them comfort knowing that God is watching over them, now and always.

We pray to the Lord.
Lord, hear our prayer.
Jesus, remember me, when You come into Your Kingdom.

7th Station - Jesus Falls a Second Time
Jesus, You know what it is to struggle and fall. Because of Your suffering You know how hard it is to get up and try again. That's why every time we make a mistake You understand and You forgive us so easily. You only ask that we continue to try.

Are we models of Christ in our homes, schools, workplaces, and families? Through our actions, oftentimes we fail at living our faith each day. Whether it be comments to those who are different than us or by being indifferent to injustice taking place around us, we seem to forget our faith and fall once again. Yet, even when we fall time and again, You are there offering forgiveness if we are willing to accept it. You fell a second time, Jesus. Give us the grace to pick ourselves up and continue on.

Let us pray for the times when we have failed to be models of Christ in our community. For our personal struggles--may we rise up from the fall and continue on the path, seeking forgiveness and learning from our mistakes.

We pray to the Lord.
Lord, hear our prayer.
Jesus, remember me, when You come into Your Kingdom.

8th Station - Jesus Speaks to Some Women
You seem to speak rather harshly to the women of Jerusalem that day. You tell them to weep for themselves and their sins. You know that mankind has much to be sorrowful for. You wish them to recognise their own pilgrimage rather than weep for Yours.

Jesus, we should be weeping for our sins today. We don't seem to hesitate to exploit this world You have given us, with no regard for the future. What happens when this world has no more to give? We should be weeping for the future that our selfishness and greed are creating for the generations yet to come.

Our world is struggling. Peace at times seems so far away and hatred among nations ever present.

We pray for peace in the world. Just as Jesus spoke with the women, may nations come together to speak the language of peace and hope. We pray for all those who have died due to war and violence--their loss reminds each of us that we should always strive for peace. Peace will come one day because we trust in You, Lord Jesus.

We pray to the Lord.
Lord, hear our prayer.
Jesus, remember me, when You come into Your Kingdom.

9th Station - Jesus Falls a Third Time
Overcome with exhaustion, You collapse a third time on Your way to Calvary. And a third time You pull Yourself to Your feet and move on. Why don't You refuse to go any farther? Make Your tormenters carry You to the place of Your death! Why are You so cooperative?

In the face of pain and death, You continue to move forward. You refuse to give up. What happens to people when they become so overwhelmed they decide to take their own lives? How do they arrive at that point? What could possibly be so hopeless that the only avenue of escape is death?

Young people go through so many difficult times--trying to fit in, relationships, lack of self-esteem. As a community, we need to support each other and let our friends know that they are never alone--that we will continue to help them up even when they fall.

Let us pray for thos whose lives have been lost to suicide. For those who struggle with stress, those who find no answers to the daily questions that torment them. May God watch over them and help them know the light of hope and peace that He offers them because He loves them so much.

We pray to the Lord.
Lord, hear our prayer.
Jesus, Remember me, when You come into Your Kingdom.

10th Station - Jesus is Stripped of His Garments
Lord Jesus, when You finally reach the place of Your death, Your tormenters are not even satisfied with the humiliation You have already suffered. They take Your clothes and roll dice for them, Your last earthly possessions. They leave You without an ounce of dignity.

Today we continue to add to Your sorrow by not acknowledging the dignity of people. There are those who sell their bodies, others who live on the street. We sometimes even forget the elderly among us, forgetting them or ignoring their cry for companionship. How little effort it would take, if we all worked together to make these lives a little brighter.

We pray for those who have been stripped of their garments physically, emotionally, and mentally. For those in our midst who have been abandoned, who have known no love, who return home each day feeling so incredibly alone. May we give them the gift of dignity and respect, remembering that we are each frail in our own way.

We pray to the Lord.
Lord, hear our prayer.
Jesus, Remember me, when You come into Your Kingdom.

11th Station - Jesus is Nailed to the Cross
You cry out, Jesus, as the nails pierce Your flesh. Why are they doing this to You? Is it because You love too much? Is it because You care for others? No, You suffer this way because we care too little. We attach too many strings to our love.

We too persecute people. Their only crime is complaining because they are hungry or cold. Why do we fail to reach out to them? Why do we not hear their cries for help? When we ignore their cries we drive the spikes a little deeper into Your flesh.

We pray for the times when our words have pierced the flesh of those around us. When we fail to look at others through the eyes of Christ, for times when we frive the nail deeper by hurtful words and actions. May we treat others with kindness and care, now and always.

We pray to the Lord.
Lord, hear our prayer.
Jesus, Remember me, when You come into Your Kingdom.

12th Station - Jesus Dies on the Cross
There aren't many there for You when You die. Most of Your followers have gone into hiding because they are afraid. How alone You must feel.

There are thousands daily who die alone in the streets of Calcutta and in Africa. Many are children. We have such surplus today that these suffering people, the least of Your people, do not have to die in want. We forget they exist; we forget they go to bed hungry.

Let us pray for the children of the world, that they will be cared for as children of God. We pray that young people everywhere be given the opportunity to have their voice heard, to share their gifts and talents with the community and to weave the thread of faith through their daily actions.

We pray to the Lord.
Lord, hear our prayer.
Jesus, Remember me, when You come into Your Kingdom.

13th Station - Jesus is Taken Down From the Cross
The worst is over for You, Lord Jesus, but the pain has only begun for those who receive Your body from the Cross. Mary, like so many mothers today, receives into her arms the dead body of the Child she bore, fed, clothed, washed, listened to, loved. Help us not to turn our eyes from the tears of the mothers whose children are dying in our streets.

It is never easy to lose a loved one, no matter what the age or circumstance. It is our prayer and belief that these people have moved on to eternal life. We offer comfort to each other and find peace through our faith.

Let us pray for all those who have died, for friends and family who remain behind and mourn their loss. May we be present to those who grieve and offer them our prayers, our hearts, and our hands.

We pray to the Lord.
Lord, hear our prayer.
Jesus, Remember me, when You come into Your Kingdom.

14th Station - Jesus is Laid in the Tomb
Joseph of Arimathea needed to see that You had a decent burial place so he donated his tomb. Not satisfied with doing the minimum, he went to Pilate for permission to bury You. He could have left the details to someone else, but he risked the rejection of his peers and took care of it himself.

So often we are content to do the minimum that is expected. We grudgingly spend one hour at Mass and complain if it is one minute longer. We drop our few coins in hte basket and claim to be doing our fair share. Don't ask us to give our time, too! We tolerate those people who are a little different; don't ask us to love them.

Jesus, You gave Your life; You died a humiliating death, without a word of protest, even though You were innocent. All around us people suffer and we fail to reach out in love to those who are closest to us. Lord, help us to walk our way of the Cross with more faithfulness. You said that in order to follow You we must pick up our Cross daily. Help us to recognise our Crosses, because in accepting them, we imitate Your life. In imitating You we will eventually share in the Resurrection.

We pray for all of us gathered here today. May we live a faith that shows itself through action; may we be messengers of the Good News as we continue our personal journey. May we find strength, guidance, peace and support from our faith and from each other.

We pray to the Lord.
Lord, hear our prayer.
Jesus, remember me, when You come into Your Kingdom.

We pray to the Lord
Lord, hear our prayer.
Jesus, Remember me, when You come into Your Kingdom.

Have a Joyful Easter Season!

Acknowledgements: Thanks to The Oakville Beaver, Alex Luyckx, and my wife, Melissa Watson, for taking the photos used above. Hover your curser over the pics to see which are from whom.

God bless!