The
most important reason for reviving the practice of making the
Stations of the Cross is that it is a powerful way to contemplate,
and enter into, the mystery of Jesus' gift of himself to us. It
takes the reflection on the passion out of my head, and makes
it an imaginative exercise. It involves my senses, my experience
and my emotions. To the extent I come to experience the
love of Jesus for me, to that extent the
gratitude I feel will be deep. Deep gratitude leads to
real generosity and a desire to love as I have been loved. First,
just a note about the history of the stations:
The
History:
From
the earliest of days, followers of Jesus told the story of his
passion, death and resurrection. When pilgrims came to see Jerusalem,
they were anxious to see the sites where Jesus was. These
sites become important holy connections with Jesus. Eventually,
following in the footsteps of the Lord, along the way of the
cross, became a part of the pilgrimage visit. 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 1500's,
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.
Why
Put Them On the Web?
We
do this for one main reason: accessibility. It
would be wonderful if each of us would find the time to explore
our church, or a classic church in town, and make the stations
there, going from station to station. However, it is
much easier for those with family and time constraints to make
the Stations right from their house on
a computer going through these stations, any time, day or night.
It can be a special help in times of temptation on the web.
The
graphic pictures of these 14 stations were not made up or taken
from another web site. They come from the INSIDE of St. Margaret's
parish in Lowell itself!
Because
of the love and devotion we should have for both Our Lord and Our
Blessed Mother, I have chosen "Mary's Way of the Cross". This
will allow us to meditate on the sorrows of both Our Lord Jesus
and Our Mother Mary at the same time.
In
a Catholic Church a plenary indulgence may be gained by praying
the Stations of the Cross. No further prayers are required. If
for some reasonable cause, the Stations are interrupted, a partial
indulgence may be gained for each Station.
Although
there is no known indulgence for saying the Stations of the Cross
on the Web, as the Administrator of St. Margaret, I highly recommend
meditating on the Stations on a regular basis while you are on
the web.
Rev.
Raymond P. Benoit
Administrator
Opening Prayer
ACT OF CONTRITION
O my God, my Redeemer, behold me here at Thy feet. From the bottom
of my heart I am sorry for all my sins, because by them I have offended
Thee, Who art infinitely good. I will die rather than offend thee again.
home