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Throughout the ages visual interpretations of sacred
realities have fostered prayer. Our Liturgical Art and Environment Committee
created Stations of the Cross to bring members of our faith community into a
deeper relationship with Jesus and connect us to the needs of His people
today. The art guides you along your faith journey through the traditional
meanings of Jesus’ passion and comparative current events.
Over time we all form our own rhythm of prayer. While
creating, I introduced the committee to my spiritual creative process, which
is rooted in icon painting traditions. We prayed and read before creating, let
go of our thoughts and invited the Holy Spirit to lead the way, prayed to
those we were creating about and thanked the Holy Spirit for His inspiration.
Our time of visual reflection brought forth concepts from all of us. A thought
may have come from one artist and been created by another. As a group the
ideas became one. This was truly a collaborative art project of the committee
members and the Holy Spirit.
I hope you find
these as spiritual enriching as they were for us to create.
Station I: Jesus is Condemned to Death on the Cross
Pilate the Judge said, “Look,
here’s your king.” But the people yelled, “Get rid of him. Kill him!” “Should
I kill your king?” Pilate asked them. “Yes,” they yelled back, “kill him!” So,
Pilate allowed Jesus to be led away by the soldiers. ---
John 19:16
Reflection
Today in our
society many are unjustly treated and condemned. The white crosses speak of
all innocent people and the crosses of their persecution in a broad sense. We
invite you to pray for the innocent unjustly treated and persecuted that are
dear to your heart.
Station II: Jesus
Accepts His Cross
The
soldiers led Jesus away as Pilate had ordered. They put a crown of thorns on
his head; they beat him, and then made fun of him. Then they laid a heavy
cross on his shoulders and ordered him to carry it to a place called
Calvary. His whole body ached, and he was so tired he could hardly
walk. --- Matthew 27:31-32
Reflection
The
barbed wire not only speaks of the crown of thorns and our Montana culture, but also of the pain we
sometimes bear making sacrifices for others. Let us silently pray that we have
the courage to take up our own crosses and follow him.
Station III:
Jesus Falls the First Time
Perhaps
as Jesus lay there, weak and in pain, he remembered the words of Job: "I have
rubbed my face in the dust and it is red with tears…My breath grows weak and I
can feel that the grave is waiting for me.” ---
Job 16:16; 17:1
Reflection
Just
as Jesus fell, so do we. We catch ourselves with renewed faith through hands
of prayer. Let us silently reflect
upon the crushing burdens that afflict us and our communities, locally, in our
nation and in our world.
Station IV: Jesus Meets His Mother
Watching Jesus stumble along;
Mary must have remembered what the old prophet Simeon had said to her: “Mary,
your sorrow over this child will be great. It will be as if a sword is
piercing your heart.” ---
Luke 2:34-35
Reflection
Broken
pieces of glass convey Mary’s broken heart and the tremendous emotional pain
she endured through the passion of her Son.
Let us silently reflect on how in our lives we too have had our hearts
broken.
Station V: Simon
Helps Jesus Carry His Cross
The soldiers grabbed Simon
and pushed him toward Jesus. He must have thought, “Why me? Is it because I’m
different that they’re making me do this?” When he saw how much Jesus needed
his help, however, he quickly lifted up the cross. ---
Luke 23:26
Reflection
We are
all different and called to care for others in our unique ways. The photos and
their shape depict our helping hands through all kinds of ministries at Saint
Mary. Let us reflect on how others
have helped us through some very tough times.
Station VI:
Veronica Wipes the Face of Jesus
According to legend, Veronica was a woman moved by compassion, who wiped
Jesus’ face with her veil, which later, miraculously, bore the imprint of his
features. There is no scriptural basis for this story. It is speculated that
her name is derived from the miracle itself:
vera icon (true image).
Reflection
What
is your role in the Body of Christ? We are integrated into this image of Jesus
through the abstract element of
ovals designed to represent all of the people of God. In the
legend of St. Veronica, Christians see the belief that the true icons of the
world are those who offer themselves in the humble service of others.
How have I been an icon of Christ?
Station VII: Jesus
Falls
the Second Time
Maybe
Jesus felt like Jeremiah the prophet who cried out: “I am in anguish! I feel
great pain. My heart is throbbing.” ---
Jeremiah 4:19
Reflection
Through His
crucifixion we find the good news of salvation. The focus of this station
brings light to positive current events. Take a moment to thank Jesus for your
blessings.
Station VIII: Jesus Meets the Women of
Jerusalem
Jesus saw their tears
and he said to them, “Don’t shed tears for me. Cry instead for yourselves and
your children.” --- Luke 23:28
Reflection
God
asks us to share His love through our hearts and hands. Today He has no hands
on earth but ours. The mirror and veil places the focus on our calling to
ministry and caring for His people in our day.
How did we follow the call to ministry today?
Station IX: Jesus Falls the Third Time
It was
only his faith in God that kept him going. In the
Garden
of Gethsemane he had
prayed, “Father, let this pass from me, but your will, not mine, be done.”
--- Luke 22:42
Reflection
We
fall in many ways and need His grace to get up. How do we fall as individuals
and a society today?
Station X: Jesus is Stripped of His Clothing
They cruelly ripped off his
clothing, and they quarreled over who would have it. “For his part, he made no
resistance, neither did he turn away. The Lord God came to his help so that he
was untouched by their insulting behavior.” ---
Isaiah 50:6-7
Reflection
The
purple cloth slashed in the form of a cross speaks of the severity of how
Jesus was treated. Light shining through the cross gives us hope.
How have we been humiliated and how were we given hope?
Station XI: Jesus
is Nailed to the Cross
Pilate
had written a notice to be put on the cross of Jesus. It said, “Jesus of
Nazareth, King of the Jews.” The leaders protested that Jesus wasn’t
really their king, but Pilate would not
change what he had written. ---
John 19:19-22
Reflection
This
station reminds us of many social sins, which offend human dignity by causing
people to suffer oppression, exploitation or marginalization.
Have I not respected the dignity of
another?
Station XII: Jesus Dies on the Cross
As
Jesus hung on the cross, he cried out, “Father, forgive them; they don’t know
what they’re doing.” From a crowd of people standing nearby, someone yelled,
“You saved others; now save yourself if you are God’s chosen one!” The
soldiers made fun of him, too. At last Jesus cried out again, “Father, into
your hands I place my spirit.” After he said this, he died. ---
Luke 23:44
Reflection
The Book of
Remembrance
reminds us of those in our faith community who have placed their spirits into
His hands of eternal life. Let us
take a moment to remember them and other deceased family and friends with
prayer.
Station XIII: Jesus is Taken Down from the Cross and Laid in His Mother's Arms
A man named
Joseph, from the town of Arimathea,
went to Pilate and asked for permission to remove the body of Jesus from the
cross. He placed Jesus in Mary’s arms and together they wrapped the body in a
linen sheet. --- Luke 23:52-53
Reflection
Mary
mourning over the Body of Christ is conveyed by the white cloth which
symbolizes the Holy Shroud.
Consider the love of parents for their children world wide.
Consider the heartbreak, burden and suffering which many parents endure
because of addictions, illness, bullying, and even death.
Station XIV: Jesus is Placed in the Tomb
Joseph
of Arimathea carried Jesus’ body to a grave that had been carved out of a
rock-a grave that had never been used. ---
Luke 23:53
Reflection
The large rock reminds us of His tomb. It is place near our pall which is a
covering we position over the coffin of our loved ones as they journey from
death into life. From what tombs
do we need to come out of, tombs of grief, fear, loneliness, or depression?
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