Stations of the Cross

[bluemanifold]

The confirmation group in our church are putting on a dramatic reconstruction of the Stations of the Cross on Good Friday morning. For some reason, a girl has been chosen to play the role of Jesus. I was shocked by this but would like to know if there is a sound reason why this can or cannot happen.

Thanks in advance.

 

[PaixGioiaAmor]

The confirmation group in our church are putting on a dramatic reconstruction of the Stations of the Cross on Good Friday morning. For some reason, a girl has been chosen to play the role of Jesus. I was shocked by this but would like to know if there is a sound reason why this can or cannot happen.

Thanks in advance.

It doesn’t make logical sense. Common sense would be against it.

But Stations of the Cross are not a liturgy; they are a devotion. You will be hard pressed to find any lawful documentation that says it can’t happen.

My guess is that it happened out of some necessity and they are “doing the best they can”.

 

[bluemanifold]

Hi - I think that sense has little to do with this. There was no necessity - apparently names were put into a hat and one drawn out. The catechists did not prohibit girls putting their name forward. Yes it is a devotion and no, there appear to be no church documents that forbid it. Something similar happened in an Italian town 3 years ago and it split the community in half.

 

[Miserissima]

(I am not speaking to the female who will be playing Jesus, just casting out my opinion.)

I have never been to a “dramatic reconstruction of the Stations of the Cross” but I hear that it can be very moving.

However, I remember (can I look up the sources later?) that Churches have to be adorned with the Stations of the Cross and that they should have genuine wood in their parts.

I am not asking in a disrespectful tone: What’s wrong with the stationary Stations we already have instead of a “reenactment”?

It reminds me of a Passion Play that should be done on a stage, where people should get “parts.” That’s not a private devotion, that’s a time to reflect and watch the acting.

It also reminds me of a living manger scene instead of a creche – I don’t mean the Nativity Play, but the hut with people in it. That’s another time to reflect and watch the acting.

I can’t really understand the excitement in getting a role in either re-enactment because the excitement seems to take away from the solemnity of the occasion.

Am I making sense or does it sound like I’m babbling? I’m trying to make a distinction between a re-enactment and a play.