Stations of the Cross

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AJLetourneau

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Are the 14 stations of the cross associated with any particular part of the bible? Ex. New Testament vs. Old Testament or in the book of Psalms, or Letters??

Were having a conversation about this and I can not find any information on the web about this. Thanks.

Feel free to email me about this: kicary10@gmail.com
 
I’ve looked this up during Lent. Some of the 14 Stations are scriptural, the rest traditional.

Pope John Paul II and others used a Scriptural Stations of The Cross, which is slightly different than the ones we use in Church regularly.
 
The fact that there are only 14 stations is a relatively recent innovation (sometime in the last few centuries). Over the time before that, there were anywhere from about half a dozen to more than two dozen stations.

Really, you should read the Passion Narratives yourself for the full answer. My brief answers below are meant to accompany such reading so you won’t wonder whether you missed anything.


  1. *]Jesus Condemned (scriptural) Each gospel account tells how Pilate ordered the crucifixion.
    *]Jesus takes up His Cross (scriptural) The gospels do tell how He was made to carry it.
    *]Jesus Falls (not mentioned but supported by scripture) Condemned persons were supposed to carry their own crossbeams. The fact that someone else was conscripted to carry His (see below) indicates Jesus was gravely weakened and possibly fell.
    *]Jesus meets His Mother (not mentioned but supported by scripture) Two gospels mention Jesus’ mother as being present at the crucifixion. It is quite plausible that she also encountered Him along the way.
    *]Simon Carries the Cross (scriptural) The synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke) give the account about him. This event is also the primary support for the falls.
    *]Veronica wipes Jesus’ Face (not scriptural) This is the only station that has no support in scripture. It is based on a popular legend that developed around a cloth (possibly the shroud currently in Turin that had been at the time folded into a square display box so only the face showed) that was mounted above a cathedral altar. The name “Veronica” means “True Image” in Latin.
    *]Jesus Falls - This is the only repeated station.
    *]Jesus Comforts the Women (scriptural) At least one gospel mentions this event. They may have been career mourners or they may have actually provided support to the families of condemned persons.
    *]Jesus Falls - I don’t know how to verify this, but a Protestant pastor of my acquaintance explained once how Simon’s conscription might have required a minimum of three falls per Roman law. If so, the stations may be out of place, but supported nonetheless (of course, a weakened but unladen Jesus could have also continued falling).
    *]Jesus is Stripped (scriptural) The gospels record the event and cite it as fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy.
    *]Jesus is Crucified (scriptural) I don’t think this requires further explanation.
    *]Jesus Dies (scriptural) Ditto.
    *]Jesus is Taken Down from the Cross (scriptural) The gospels particularly note Joseph of Arimathea’s involvement here.
    *]Jesus is Buried (scriptural) Ditto.
 
SonCatcher said:
The fact that there are only 14 stations is a relatively recent innovation (sometime in the last few centuries). Over the time before that, there were anywhere from about half a dozen to more than two dozen stations.

Really, you should read the Passion Narratives yourself for the full answer. My brief answers below are meant to accompany such reading so you won’t wonder whether you missed anything.


  1. *]Jesus Condemned (scriptural) Each gospel account tells how Pilate ordered the crucifixion.
    *]Jesus takes up His Cross (scriptural) The gospels do tell how He was made to carry it.
    *]Jesus Falls (not mentioned but supported by scripture) Condemned persons were supposed to carry their own crossbeams. The fact that someone else was conscripted to carry His (see below) indicates Jesus was gravely weakened and possibly fell.
    *]Jesus meets His Mother (not mentioned but supported by scripture) Two gospels mention Jesus’ mother as being present at the crucifixion. It is quite plausible that she also encountered Him along the way.
    *]Simon Carries the Cross (scriptural) The synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke) give the account about him. This event is also the primary support for the falls.
    *]Veronica wipes Jesus’ Face (not scriptural) This is the only station that has no support in scripture. It is based on a popular legend that developed around a cloth (possibly the shroud currently in Turin that had been at the time folded into a square display box so only the face showed) that was mounted above a cathedral altar. The name “Veronica” means “True Image” in Latin.
    *]Jesus Falls - This is the only repeated station.
    *]Jesus Comforts the Women (scriptural) At least one gospel mentions this event. They may have been career mourners or they may have actually provided support to the families of condemned persons.
    *]Jesus Falls - I don’t know how to verify this, but a Protestant pastor of my acquaintance explained once how Simon’s conscription might have required a minimum of three falls per Roman law. If so, the stations may be out of place, but supported nonetheless (of course, a weakened but unladen Jesus could have also continued falling).
    *]Jesus is Stripped (scriptural) The gospels record the event and cite it as fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy.
    *]Jesus is Crucified (scriptural) I don’t think this requires further explanation.
    *]Jesus Dies (scriptural) Ditto.
    *]Jesus is Taken Down from the Cross (scriptural) The gospels particularly note Joseph of Arimathea’s involvement here.
    *]Jesus is Buried (scriptural) Ditto.
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  1. Thank you! I always look forward to the Stations. They are my favourite part of Lent.
 
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