Praying at the "High Altar" for the stations of the cross

  • Thread starter Thread starter 2towers
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
2

2towers

Guest
Stations of the Cross
In my prayer book “Blessed be God” to gain the plenary indulgence, part of the requirement is to say an act of contrition at the “High Alter” and then there are five Our Fathers, Hail Mary’s, and Glory Be’s after the stations, back at the High Alter.

In praying the stations of the cross, I have treated the spot or place where mostrance sits as the “High Alter.” If the tabernacle is not visible at the main church alter, or is not even located AT or near the main alter, I think it is not in keeping with the intention of the instructions, at least as it is stated in "Blessed be God.’

I appreciate your feedback and thoughts.
 
Last edited:
I think the writer intended for the prayer to be said before the Blessed Sacrament, so what you’ve done should fulfill the requirements.

Pax!
 
The Plenary Indulgence does not require prayers before the High Altar. Simply making the Stations of the Cross and the usual conditions suffices.

The prayers for after the stations are probably the prayers meant for the intentions of the Pope (which are required; one Our Father & One Hail Mary) and by tradition may be said before the High Altar.
 
Last edited:
2towers said:
Stations of the Cross
In my prayer book “Blessed be God” to gain the plenary indulgence, part of the requirement is to say an act of contrition at the “High Alter” and then there are five Our Fathers, Hail Mary’s, and Glory Be’s after the stations, back at the High Alter.

In praying the stations of the cross, I have treated the spot or place where mostrance sits as the “High Alter.” If the tabernacle is not visible at the main church alter, or is not even located AT or near the main alter, I think it is not in keeping with the intention of the instructions, at least as it is stated in "Blessed be God.’

I appreciate your feedback and thoughts.
Click to expand...
Old devotional books cannot be used for the most recent legislation and grants on indulgences. The norm for indulgences is the Enchiridion, which states that for the stations of the Cross, all that’s needed:

Stations legitimately erected
14 stations
Pious readings/vocal prayers/pious meditation
Movement from one station to the next, at least by the leader.

No reference to Our Fathers, Hail Mary’s, Glory Be’s, numbers or high altars.
 
Yeah, it sounds to me like you are using an old indulgence book that is superseded.

Try this one. As far as I know, the section on Stations for plenary indulgence (which is section 63 in this 1986 version) has not changed in later editions. It doesn’t require prayers at the High Altar (which sounds like it would have been the pre-Vatican II altar).

http://holyjoe.org/indulgences/grants.htm

The biggest thing you need to watch out for is whether each station contains a cross (so there are 14 crosses), either in the design somewhere or mounted just above or below the station or as part of the image in the station. I’ve noticed many of the modern stations don’t have a cross attached to each station, which is a problem for those stations that do not have the cross as part of the image (e.g. Jesus is condemned to death, Jesus is laid in the tomb). At one church I go to, the cross was obviously there when the station was put up but has since fallen off.
 
Last edited:
I didn’t set out to be an expert or mentor, but I find it very frustrating that most of this stuff was never properly taught to me in the 12 years I spent in Catholic schools and that actual churches seem to be totally ignorant of it (putting up stations that do not have a cross attached or incorporated, for example). This has motivated me to do a lot of research and try to put it into practice.

I appreciate that a lot of Catholics including some priests probably do not like indulgence practice very much because they see it as legalistic, but it is a huge motivator to many to get out and do prayerful things if they think they might help their deceased loved one get out of Purgatory faster. Also you have people like Susan Tassone making a cottage industry out of this like it was just invented yesterday, and while I am happy Susan spreads the word, this is really something we should have all been aware of all along and not just because some author wrote a book and went on a lecture tour.

My two cents…
 
Last edited:
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top