The Stations of the Cross
As early as the 4th century, Christian
pilgrims to the Holy Land would walk
the route that Our Lord walked as He
made His way to Golgotha for our
salvation.
When Muslims captured Jerusalem and
it became too dangerous to make this
pilgrimage, Christians replicated the
sites back home in Europe, and there
developed the "Stations of the Cross"
devotion, also known as "Way of the
Cross," "Via Dolorosa," or "Via Crucis."
The devotion consists of meditating on
14 events -- that number being fixed in
1731 by Pope Clement XII -- which
took place during Christ's Passion, from
His being condemned to His burial.
Franciscans popularized the devotion,
which was originally made outside,
often along roads to shrines or
churches.
The Way of the Cross can still be made
outside, of course, but is usually made
inside nowadays, especially during the
Season of Lent and most especially on
Good Friday.
If you enter a Catholic Church and look
along the walls of the nave, you should
see 14 representations on the walls
which depict 14 events of Christ's
Passion that have been singled out for
contemplation. It is at these blessed
artistic representations, these
"stations" -- which can be painted,
carved or engraved, topped with a
wooden Cross -- that the Way of the
Cross is made during public liturgy.
The Way of the Cross can also be made
privately, even at home, with or
without "visual aids."
When the Way of the Cross is made in
groups, each person first makes the
Sign of the Cross, makes an Act of
Contrition (i.e., expresses penitence
through prayer) and mentally intends
to gain indulgences, for himself or
another. Then, typically, at each
station:
- the leader will announce the name of
the station
- the leader will lead with a statement
of praise, such as "We adore Thee O
Christ and we bless Thee"
- the people will respond, with, for
example, using the above acclamation,
"Because by Thy Holy Cross Thou hast
redeemed the world."
- the leader will read a meditative
reading, upon which all should
meditate in penitence, thanking God
for His sacrifice and uniting himself
with that sacrifice (often by identifying
with Mary)
- all pray an Our Father
- all pray a Hail Mary
- all pray a Glory Be
- traditionally, between the stations,
successive stanzas of the hymn called
Stabat Mater are sung -- a hymn known
since at least 1388 A.D. and possibly
written by Pope Innocent III who died
in 1216 A.D.
The most popular way of making the
Stations of the Cross is to use the
meditations written by St. Alphonsus
Liguori (A.D. 1696-1787); that method
(including meditations, prayers and the
Stabat Mater Dolorosa - Sorrows of
Mary - stanzas).
Making the Way of the Cross carries
with it a partial indulgence under the
usual conditions. To gain a plenary
indulgence, the following norms must
be followed, in addition to the usual
conditions:
- The pious exercise must be made
before stations of the Way of the Cross
legitimately erected.
- For the erection of the Way of the
Cross fourteen crosses are required, to
which it is customary to add fourteen
pictures or images, which represent
the stations of Jerusalem.
- According to the more common
practice, the pious exercise consists of
fourteen pious readings, to which some
vocal prayers are added. However,
nothing more is required than a pious
meditation on the Passion and Death of
the Lord, which need not be a
particular consideration of the
individual mysteries of the stations.
- A movement from one station to the
next is required. But if the pious
exercise is made publicly and if it is not
possible for all taking part to go in an
orderly way from station to station, it
suffices if at least the one conducting
the exercise goes from station to
station, the others remaining in their
place.
Those who are "impeded" can gain the
same indulgence if they spend at least
half an hour in pious reading and
meditation on the Passion and Death of
our Lord Jesus Christ.
The 14 Stations of the Cross:
Jesus is Condemned to Die
Jesus is Made to Bear His Cross
Jesus Falls the First Time
Jesus Meets His Mother
Simon Helps Jesus Carry His Cross
Veronica Wipes Jesus' Face
Jesus Falls the Second Time
Jesus Meets the Women of Jerusalem
Jesus Falls the Third Time
Jesus is Stripped
Jesus is Nailed to the Cross
Jesus Dies on the Cross
Jesus is Taken Down from the Cross
Jesus is Laid in the Tomb

Thanks, d only problem is dat ur history start in 4th century, station of d cross dates far back.

ya, dats y its brief or short. i wish u can post d complete one so dat they will know and believe.