Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1911-03-17
BEAUTIFUL
Dcvotions OF the Way OF the Cross
Originated with The
Franciscans.
Several Popcs Have Granted and
Extended the Original
Indulgences.
What tho stations Represent and An
EpFome OF Their
History.
FOLLOWING JOURNEY OF CHRIST

Many Catholics practice the devo-
ton Of the Way Of the Cross during
Lent. yet comparatively few know
the origin and history OF this plous
custom The Stations, as they are
commonly called are a series OF
images or paintings representing DIFF
ferent events in the passion and
death of our Lord and Saviour Jesus
Christ. These Stations are ranged
around on both sides OF the main
altar. In Catholic countries they are
often found in the open air and
along roads leading to shrines or
some church standing on a hill
There are fourteen OF these sta
lions. The first shows PLATE in the
act OF delivering Christ 70 the Jews
PLATE Is represented as washing his
hands Of the matter Next we see
cur Saviour receiving his Cross In
the third scene Jesus falls the first
time The meeting between Jesus
and his blessed mother Is shown In
the fourth station In the~aext we
see Simon. OF Cyrene, forced TO help
Christ carry his cross. In the sixth
scene Veronica is shown wlping the
face of the bruised and bleeding
Saviour. In the seventh OF the series
the, Redeemer falls the second time
under his burden. Next He Is seen
admonishing the women OF Jeru-
salem--''Weep not for me, but for
your children and your children's
children"
The third fall under the weight Of
the cross Is depicted in the ninth
station. In the next picture we see
Him stripped of his garments while
his prosecutors are casting lots for
them. The eleventh picture shows
his cruclfixion. His death Is shown
in the twelfth. In the thirteenth we
see his body removed from the cross,
and in the fourteenth and last sta
tIon hts entombment Is depicted
In the diocese of Vienna, Austria.
the number Of stations was reduced
TO eleven at the close of the eigh-
teenth century. In other places
fifteenth station has been added, the
finding OF the cross of Helena. These
changes have never been authorized.
The devotion of the Way OF the
Cross began In the Franciscan or
der The Franciscans are the
guardians Of the holy places in
Jerusalem, and these stations are in
tended as a help to making in spirit
pilgrimage TO the scene of Christ's
sufferings and death. Pope limo
cent XII. in 1894, automatically in
terpreting a brief OF his predecessor,
Innocent XI.,, In 1856, declared that
the indulgences granted for devoutly
visiting certain holy places in Pales-
tine could be gained by all Fran
ciscans and by all affiliated to the
order If they made the Way of the
Cross deYoutly.
In 1926 Pope Benedict XIII. ex-
tended those indulgences to all the
faithful. and Clement XII. In 1871
permitted persons to gain the in
dulgences at stations which were not
in Franciscan churches, provided
they were erected by a Franciscan
with the sanction OF the Ordinary.
AT present, and particularly In Eng
land. the connection between the
stations and Franciscans Is almost
entirely lost sight Of Here in
America our churches all have the
stations, and when they are erected
It is customary to call upon a Fran
cisean 10 conduct the exercises.
II is a beautiful devotion and one
that teaches humility and charity.
Every Friday evening In Lent the
priest and his acolytes lead the faith
fHl In the footsteps OF our Blessed
Saviour from the tribunal 81 PLATE
70 the tomb. At every stop there Is
food for meditation. Some Catholics
make the stations every morning be-
fore or after mass and continue the
practice the whole year These
Catholics are trying in deed as IN
word To follow the Divine Master.
The practice is edifying and worthy
Of emulation.