The History of the Stations of the Cross – Saturday Cappuccino with the Saints – Bonus Episode

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Bonus Episode

 

Welcome to a special BONUS episode of Saturday Cappuccino with the Saints, and as I stated in the Ash Wednesday episode, this Lent we are doing something a little special.  During this most holy and spiritual rich season of the liturgical year we are going to turn our attention to one of Christianity’s most beloved and reverential practices – Walking the Stations of the Cross.

 

 And in the first part of this series on the Stations we will cover the history of the Stations of the Cross and how it developed and gained worldwide acceptance.  In upcoming weeks this Lent we will delve into each station with more depth. 

 

Walking the Stations is a richly layered devotion, and it developed over more than 1,600 years—from early pilgrimages along Jerusalem’s Via Dolorosa to the standardized 14‑station form approved in the 18th century.  There have been Jewish Revolts, wars of destruction, Pious Empresses, Muslim conquests, Crusading Knights, Saint Francis and a bet with a Sultan, Ottoman Turks and the fall of Constantinople and no end of other drama and intrigue over the thousand plus years of the Stations history that all contributed to the Stations coming about.  And since at least the late Middle Ages, some form of the Stations of the Cross has been a well-regarded pilgrimage practice, especially during Lent. 

 

A practice that blends Scripture, tradition, medieval piety, Franciscan custodianship of the Holy Land, and evolving artistic and liturgical expression.  So that any Christian, no matter their physical location or condition of their health can, metaphorically at least, take these last pilgrim steps with our Savior on his way to the cross.  It really is the perfect subject to study at this time of year and the history of how it all came about is a fascinating story.