Friday, April 06, 2007

Via Crucis at St Alban's Episcopal School

The Stations of the Cross (also called the Via Crucis, or "Way of the Cross," and the Via Dolorosa, or "Way of Sorrows") refers to the devotion commemorating the Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ, made by following the path taken by Jesus in Jerusalem from his condemnation to death to his tomb. It may be done at any time, but is most common on the Fridays of Lent, especially Good Friday.

Before coming to the new campus, it was the custom at our parochial school to do the stations of the cross as the morning chapel service on the last school day before Easter. With a new campus, we lost the access to the church building with its stations along the wall and had to be creative. Thankfully, I think we found something even more special.

Some of our students present posed scenes of the fourteen stations of the cross on the stage for our meditation. It has been a blessing to all of us in our preparations for Easter. These are pictures from this year's devotion.

Words of welcome and an opening prayer
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ALMIGHTY GOD, who most dear Son went not up to joy but first he suffered pain, and entered not into glory before he was crucified: Mercifully grant that we, walking in the way of the cross, may find it none other than the way of life and peace; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

1. Jesus is condemned to death
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2. Jesus receives the cross
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3. Jesus falls the first time
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4. Jesus meets his mother
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5. Simon of Cyrene caries the cross of Jesus
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6. Veronica wipes the face of Jesus with her veil
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7. Jesus falls the second time
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8. Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem
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9. Jesus falls the third time
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10. Jesus is stripped of his garments
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11. Jesus is nailed to the cross
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12. Jesus dies on the cross
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13. Jesus is taken down from the cross
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14. Jesus is laid in the tomb
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Click here to listen to the Good Friday message on the BBC from the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams.
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2 comments:

Fr. Christopher Cantrell SSC said...

Just a thought, if Simon took the Cross why is Jesus carrying it again when he falls the third time? Inquiring minds want to know?

Fr Timothy Matkin said...

They're just kids.