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Christine Ann
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| Joined: | Mon Oct 9th, 2006 |
| Location: | An Hours' Drive From Cincinnati, Ohio USA |
| Posts: | 115 |
| First Name: | Christine Ann | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | former Lutheran, Baptist, now Catholic. |
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Posted: Wed Feb 14th, 2007 09:47 pm |
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Hello,
My RCIA director handed me a flyer for "Stations of the Cross", Fridays during Lent....with a listing of six Fridays starting February 23rd. I asked what this was about, but she only said it was a devotion regarding the Stations of the Cross which didn't tell me much.
Can someone describe what this service is and how it is conducted? I think I know what the stations are because they appear in the "sanctuary"? Is this a "required" participation, not that I would mind.
Sincerely,
Christine Ann
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CajunRick
Network Helper
| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Houma, Louisiana USA |
| Posts: | 5310 |
| First Name: | Rick (& Kermie) | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Lifetime Catholic, Latin Rite |
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Posted: Wed Feb 14th, 2007 10:18 pm |
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Christine Ann wrote: My RCIA director handed me a flyer for "Stations of the Cross", Fridays during Lent....with a listing of six Fridays starting February 23rd. I asked what this was about, but she only said it was a devotion regarding the Stations of the Cross which didn't tell me much.
Tradition identifies 14 points along the path to Jesus' crucifixion beginning with his arrest in the garden and ending with his body being laid in the tomb. Many who visit the Holy Land will walk the Via Dolorosa (The Way of Sorrows) to commemorate the path Jesus took as he suffered and died. Since most people cannot visit Jerusalem, churches post pictures or sculptures of the 14 points on their walls so that everyone has the opportunity to participate. Each of the 14 points is called a "Station" and the service is called "The Way of the Cross." It is an optional, private devotion usually scheduled on Fridays during Lent in most Catholic churches.
Basically it is a roughly half-hour prayer and meditation service on the final hours of Jesus' earthly life. It is not required but is a beautiful, meaningful meditation that dates back to the earliest days of Christianity. Most of the stations are scriptural but some are based on tradition.
Every Roman Catholic Church has the 14 stations, usually along the walls in the nave (the part where the congregation sits). Some churches also have "prayer walks" where someone can walk from station to station getting exercise and fresh air, perhaps praying the rosary, and stopping at each of the stations to meditate on Jesus' suffering and death. Franciscan University in Steubenville has a beautiful walk along a hill with the 14 stations.
A personal Way of the Cross can be done at any time, but churches usually schedule a group prayer service on Fridays during Lent.
Try it. You'll find it adds a new depth to Catholic tradition and faith. There is no "official" liturgy because it's an optional devotion, but you can find lots of booklets at any Catholic religious store, and your parish will have booklets available for the service they use. And if you don't like the style used in one parish, try another. It will probably be different. (I don't like the service used in my parish, which dates back before Vatican II, so I attend the Way of the Cross in another parish.)
____________________
Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand. - Augustine
Rick Luquette
Luquette Lane
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Christine Ann
Member
| Joined: | Mon Oct 9th, 2006 |
| Location: | An Hours' Drive From Cincinnati, Ohio USA |
| Posts: | 115 |
| First Name: | Christine Ann | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | former Lutheran, Baptist, now Catholic. |
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Posted: Wed Feb 14th, 2007 10:37 pm |
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Thank you Rick, I will give it "a try". Should I take my Rosary beads? It sounds a bit like praying the Rosary, If I understand you correctly.
Christine Ann
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CajunRick
Network Helper
| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Houma, Louisiana USA |
| Posts: | 5310 |
| First Name: | Rick (& Kermie) | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Lifetime Catholic, Latin Rite |
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Posted: Wed Feb 14th, 2007 10:43 pm |
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Christine Ann wrote: Thank you Rick, I will give it "a try". Should I take my Rosary beads? It sounds a bit like praying the Rosary, If I understand you correctly.
The rosary is not part of the service, but many people making a private Way of the Cross will pray a decade of the rosary at each station, with a 15th decade before the Tabernacle. On a prayer walk, many will pray a decade of the rosary as they walk from station to station. And many parishes will say a rosary before or after the Way of the Cross.
So bring it. It couldn't hurt.
____________________
Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand. - Augustine
Rick Luquette
Luquette Lane
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sweetyface17
Member
| Joined: | Sun Mar 11th, 2007 |
| Location: | Hudson, Michigan USA |
| Posts: | 43 |
| First Name: | Mandy | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Lutheran, Considering Catholicism |
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Posted: Mon Mar 12th, 2007 09:43 am |
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I was wondering if anyone here knew of any "prayer walks" in southern Michigan? I would really like to do that. Thanks so much.
~Mandy
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CajunRick
Network Helper
| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Houma, Louisiana USA |
| Posts: | 5310 |
| First Name: | Rick (& Kermie) | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Lifetime Catholic, Latin Rite |
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Posted: Mon Mar 12th, 2007 06:51 pm |
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sweetyface17 wrote: I was wondering if anyone here knew of any "prayer walks" in southern Michigan? I would really like to do that. Thanks so much.
~Mandy
Hi, Mandy, welcome to the Coming Home Network. I don't live in southern Michigan so I can't help there, but I did want to welcome you to the forum.
You might call the office of the diocese you belong to, or a retreat house, to help you find a prayer walk. You might have to explain what you mean as they are known by different names.
I hope you find one. I'm on dial-up right now because of some problems with my cable system, but if you haven't found one in a couple of days (when my broadband is supposed to be back) let me know and I'll try to locate one for you.
____________________
Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand. - Augustine
Rick Luquette
Luquette Lane
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wmschrader
Member
| Joined: | Fri Dec 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Fort Myers, Florida USA |
| Posts: | 94 |
| First Name: | Bill | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Methodist, Lutheran, Catholic |
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Posted: Tue Mar 13th, 2007 10:03 am |
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Mandy
Each Catholic Church contains the stations of the Cross. These stations are represented by plaques / pictures along the walls of the Church. Given your weather in Michigan this time of year (I was born and raised in Ludington) it is good that they are indoors! Some of the churches in warmer climates have the stations outside in a garden setting.
Here is link to the online Catholic Encyclopedia that provides more information:
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15569a.htm
____________________
Bill
Glory be to God for all things
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sweetyface17
Member
| Joined: | Sun Mar 11th, 2007 |
| Location: | Hudson, Michigan USA |
| Posts: | 43 |
| First Name: | Mandy | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Lutheran, Considering Catholicism |
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Posted: Thu Mar 15th, 2007 11:05 am |
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Thank you both so much. It was so nice to recieve such a warm welcome. I think I may have found one about 20 minutes from my house! I really want to experience an outdoor one. I think I've got a bit of cabin fever.  The funny thing about Michigan weather is that it's so unpredictable. It was 72 degrees yesterday, and today there's snow on the ground!
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wmschrader
Member
| Joined: | Fri Dec 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Fort Myers, Florida USA |
| Posts: | 94 |
| First Name: | Bill | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Methodist, Lutheran, Catholic |
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Posted: Thu Mar 15th, 2007 12:39 pm |
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When it warms up travel to Indian River, Michigan. They have outdoor stations of the cross. They are located just off I-75
http://www.crossinthewoods.com/
____________________
Bill
Glory be to God for all things
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sweetyface17
Member
| Joined: | Sun Mar 11th, 2007 |
| Location: | Hudson, Michigan USA |
| Posts: | 43 |
| First Name: | Mandy | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Lutheran, Considering Catholicism |
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Posted: Fri Mar 16th, 2007 11:11 am |
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| Oh, wow, wmschrader, that looks amazing. Thanks!
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lia
Member
| Joined: | Mon Dec 11th, 2006 |
| Location: | Quezon City, Philippines |
| Posts: | 98 |
| First Name: | lia | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Cradle Catholic |
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Posted: Tue Apr 10th, 2007 10:08 pm |
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I know this is rather late but…
Holy Week...what is this called in other countries?
Being a cradle Catholic, I know of Holy Week. What it signifies, what happens during this week...especially in my country.
It was Palm Sunday, or Passion Sunday that I realized something about Holy Week. In my language, this week is called "MAHAL NA ARAW". "Mahal" means love, dear, and precious; "Na" is an adverb of time pointing to "araw" which means "day" or "sun"...in this case, it means "day".
It struck me the significance of this week in my language. In English, it's called "Holy Week"...for it is a "holy" week where our Lord suffered for our sins and His sufferings is a “holy suffering”. But to be called "Mahal na araw"... could also mean a "week of love". Instead of seeing Jesus' sufferings as just “sufferings”, we could focus on Jesus' love for us. That His “sufferings”, is for love of US.
Holy week...Love week... now that's a thought!
As for the Stations of the Cross or Way of the Cross… in the Philippines, there are many ways people do this. Some people go to famous grottos and do the Statiosn of the Cross there. Some people go to 14 different churches to do each station of the cross. (Not a difficult feat since there seems to be a church at every corner  ). Others (like me), just go to their respective parishes to do the Stations of the Cross. (I’ve yet to see a Catholic Church that doesn’t have the stations of the cross images.) I don’t know if there’s a specific time of the Holy week to do the Stations of the Cross, though. Filipinos could choose from Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Black Saturday to do this since it’s been a long time tradition here that there is no work those days.
I did the Stations of the Cross alone at our parish church. The images of the Stations of the Cross are scattered around the small park/garden at the back of the church. Every so often, there would be other people doing the same. But they did it faster than I was doing it. So they've finished a station and I'd still be there.
At one part of the prayer at every station, the booklet I was following says to reflect on what I've just read. And so I did. That is my second time to do this Stations of the Cross alone.
I was not familiar as to where the images were placed at the park. So I took my time locating each one. They are not far from each other, but still, it was a something to get used to.
At last, I reached the 14th station. Upon reflection, I realized something. My Stations of the Cross this year is a treasure hunt. This made me happy. My Stations of the Cross is successful this year. I had some great reflections and inspirations. It felt good. "I" felt good.
It's a thought...doing the Stations of the Cross is like going on a treasure hunt. At the end of the search is the TREASURE... Jesus' resurrection and our salvation. 
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Man can't b forced 2 accept the truth.He can b drawn toward the truth only by his own nature, that is, by his own freedom w/c commits him 2 search sincerely 4 truth & when he finds it, 2 adhere 2 it both in his conviction & his behavior.-- JP2
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