The Way of the Cross is one of the most famous and widespread devotions of the Catholic Church during Lent. It is usually performed and meditated on on the Friday that falls within this period. This devotional meditation features the Passion, Death and Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. It depicts the way Christ took to Golgotha, the 'Place of Skulls' or Calvary. Stations are the places where pilgrims and believers stop for a moment and meditate earnestly in Jerusalem. Over time, due to the difficulty of going to Jerusalem, believers were encouraged to meditate on the 'Way of the Cross' in their own place by meditating and praying at the 'stations' depicted in paintings or statues.
Over time, there were different numbers of stations and they also had different orders. Until 1731, Pope Clement XII set the number of stations to 14 and in the order that all Catholics are used to.
It is also said that at first the confession of a sinner of his sins was made public, and if during Lent the worshipers were asked for prayer or else they would travel to Jerusalem to follow the "Via Dolorosa" or the road taken by Jesus to Calvary. It is customary to hold the "Via Crucis" or Way of the Cross in churches, chapels, public roads and homes of the faithful where its 14 stations are placed as part of the celebrations and performances during Lent.
There are parishes here in the Philippines that conduct their Estacion General or Parish Way of the Cross. The faithful pray fourteen stations together around the wards, barangays and visitors that belong to the parish while in procession with the image of Jesus Nazarene and the Mater Dolorosa, or maybe sometimes also the staff of the the station itself or the scene of the station attached to the carriage.
Notes and Pictures taken: CUARESMA Diocesan Shrine and Parish of San Agustin, Baliuag City Reflections of Fr. Franz, Hallow
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The Sandigan - Diocese of Malolos is the official platform of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Malolos under the Malolos Diocesan Commission on Social Communications launched as a website on February 23, 2019.
