In every Catholic church in the world, the Stations of the Cross are on display. It depicts iconically the Passion of Christ. There are fourteen stations:
Jesus is Condemned to Death
Jesus Carries His Cross
Jesus Falls for the First Time
Jesus Meets His Mother
Simon of Cyrene Helps Jesus Carry His Cross
Veronica Wipes the Face of Jesus
Jesus Falls for the Second Time
Jesus Meets the Women of Jerusalem
Jesus Falls for the Third Time
Jesus Clothes Are Taken Away
Jesus is Nailed to the Cross
Jesus Dies on The Cross
The Body of Jesus is Taken Down from the Cross
Jesus is Laid in the Tomb
(Sometimes there is a "fifteenth station": Jesus is Resurrected.)
The community reflects on each station individually, per the lead of the deacon or priest. There is a prayerful, interactive exchange between oneself and Jesus via the icons. The sacrifice He made for us is hopefully internalized. There is a series of repeating words, kneeling, quiet reflection and prayer.
One of my favorite words recited during Stations is "supplication", from the verb "to supplicate" which means "to pray humbly".
Good word for this time of year....
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