STATIONS OF THE CROSS

The Stations of the Cross is a Lenten devotion that offers witness to Jesus’ Passion and Death. The Stations of the Cross began as the practice of Christian pilgrims to Jerusalem who would retrace the final journey of Jesus Christ to the cross.  Later, for the many who wanted to walk in the footsteps of Christ, but could not make the trip to Jerusalem, a practice developed that eventually took the form of the fourteen stations currently found in almost every church. 

At each station we use our senses and our imagination to reflect prayerfully upon Jesus’ suffering, Death, and Resurrection, and to simply experience the visual images to reflect on Christ’s love for us.

Imagine the scene in Jerusalem as Jesus walked his Way of the Cross. Typically, the Stations of the Cross is an action prayer. Catholics walk to the fourteen stations of the Way of the Cross and stop to pray at each of the fourteen.  Today, many cannot enter a church to walk the stations due to illness and pandemic. The Christian Leadership Class will be producing a St. Paul Stations of the Cross for Holy Week.  Please check back for the link.  In the meantime, here are some virtual Station of the Cross resources:

Stations of the Cross from catholic.org

Stations of the Cross from the Holy Land

Stations of the Cross with Bishop Barron

Because the season of Lent is of penitential character, the Church sets forth the days of penance as Ash Wednesday and all Fridays during Lent. Catholics are obliged to both fast and abstain from flesh meat on Ash Wednesday and Friday of the Lord's Passion and abstain from flesh meat on all other Fridays during Lent. These requirements are binding on Catholics of the following age ranges:

Latin Rite Catholics from age 18 up through to the beginning of their 60th year (their 59th birthday) are required to fast, unless they have a serious reason for not doing so. According to Pope Paul VI's apostolic constitution Paenitemini, "The law of fasting allows only one full meal a day, but does not prohibit taking some food in the morning and evening, observing--as far as quantity and quality are concerned--approved local custom." (Paenitemini, ch. III., III., 2).

Latin Rite Catholics who have reached age 14 are required to abstain from flesh meat on Ash Wednesday and all Fridays during Lent. If a solemnity happens to fall on a Friday, abstinence is not required on that day. Notice there is no upper age limit on the requirement to abstain.

Abstinence laws consider that meat comes only from animals such as chickens, cows, sheep or pigs--all of which live on land. Birds are also considered meat. Abstinence does not include meat juices and liquid foods made from meat. Thus, such foods as chicken broth, consommé, soups cooked or flavored with meat, meat gravies or sauces, as well as seasonings or condiments made from animal fat are technically not forbidden. However, moral theologians have traditionally taught that we should abstain from all animal-derived products (except foods such as gelatin, butter, cheese and eggs, which do not have any meat taste). Fish are a different category of animal. Salt and freshwater species of fish, amphibians, reptiles, (cold-blooded animals) and shellfish are permitted.

Paul VI states in Paenitemini: "The law of abstinence forbids the use of meat, but not of eggs, the products of milk or condiments made of animal fat" (III., 1).

Who is exempted from fasting and abstinence laws? "Questions and Answers About Lent and Lenten Practices" states:

Those that are excused from fast and abstinence outside the age limits include the physically or mentally ill including individuals suffering from chronic illnesses such as diabetes. Also excluded are pregnant or nursing women. In all cases, common sense should prevail, and ill persons should not further jeopardize their health by fasting.

More Information on Fasting and Abstinence