Stations of the Cross

                                                                                                                                                    On Friday evening, I participated in the Stations of the Cross at Saint Charles Borromeo Church. This Catholic church is located at 1818 Coal Place South East, conveniently 3 blocks south of  the University of New Mexico off  University Avenue and also accessible from the east or west off  Lead Street and University Avenue. Adjacent to the front church steps, stands a bronze statue of Saint Charles Borromeo who holds a cross in one hand and extends the other hand as in a greeting to worshippers. Saint Charles Boromeo Church originally served an Italian Catholic community but the demography of the surrounding neighborhoods has changed over the last 50 years such that the current parish is truly a melting pot of Hispanics, Caucasians and Vietnamese. The parish supports a Catholic elementary school so there is a good mix of young families attending services.
The Stations of the Cross were well attended on  Friday evening with a representative group of parishioners. The Stations were led by Deacon John Rysinsky and volunteer members of the parish. Traditionally there are 14 Stations each designated by a separate cross with a Roman numeral underneath. These wooden crosses are located longitudinally in numerical order on either inside wall of the church and are easily visible from any pew. The Deacon and parish members walk along the central aisle of the church, stopping at each of the fourteen Stations to proclaim that Station, sing hymns and recite prayers. The congregation kneels as each Station is introduced, meditates on Christ's suffering at that Station, then antiphonally sings the hymn and recites a prayer in response to the Deacon and parish members leading the Stations.
In numerical order the Stations follow the Passion of Christ: Station I - Jesus is Condemned to Death, Station II -Jesus Takes His Cross, Station III - Jesus Falls The First Time, Station IV - Jesus Meets His Mother, Station V - Simon Helps Jesus, Station VI - Veronica Wipes Jesus Face, Station VII - Jesus Falls A Second Time, Station VIII - Jesus Speaks to The Women, Station IX - Jesus Falls A Third Time,  Station X - Jesus Is Stripped, Station XI - Jesus Is Nailed To The Cross, Station XII - Jesus Dies On The Cross, Station XIII - Jesus Is Taken From the Cross, Station XIV - Jesus is Laid In The Tomb.
Of all the religious observances practiced by Catholics, the Stations of  the Cross require our deepest meditation and prayer. Some time ago during a confession, a priest assigned to me the penance of imagining myself at the foot of the cross, witnessing Jesus suffering and focusing on His words during the crucifixion. I had an obscure image in my mind of Christ's crucifixion until I saw Mel Gibson's movie "The Passion Of The Christ" which was upsetting to view but edifying as set a realistic stage for the crucifixion, enabling me to better visualize Christ's horrific physical suffering. I read Luke's account of the passion of Christ to find Jesus words during the crucifixion which evoke His spiritual dimension. In Luke 34, having been nailed to the cross, Jesus says, "Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing." In Luke 43, Jesus says to the repentant thief, crucified next to Him, "Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in paradise." And in Luke 46 Jesus says, " Father, into Thy hands I commit My spirit." then takes His last breath.  To me all of these spoken passages confirm Christ's union with the Father and His mission of forgiveness. Christ's passion was a work of reconciliation. It revealed the greatness of Gods' love for man. Alienated from God by his sins, man needed to see how much he is loved by God, so that he would learn to love God in return. The Catholic Church preaches " Christ crucified", that infinite love shines from the cross of Jesus Christ. Our churches prominently display the cross to remind us that Christ's passion is the glory of the believer. So now when I imagine myself at the foot of the cross, I see His crucifixion as an act of  compassion and eternal love for us sinners. 
How can I not urge Catholic pilgrims to participate in the Stations of the Cross this Lent at their local parishes or at any Catholic churches they may be visiting in New Mexico. The Stations of the Cross are the principal devotion that helps us meditate on the passion of Jesus Christ, hence on His divine love for us.
For information on services at Saint Charles Borromeo Church in Albuquerque
click on

St. Charles Borromeo

www.stcharlesbabq.org/Share

For Father Robert Barron's recorded sermon  on Luke's account of the "Passion of the Christ" click on http://c275449.r49.cf1.rackcdn.com/325.mp3