tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18902745.post6616810305967001999..comments2024-03-24T15:19:06.377-04:00Comments on The Continuum: Proposed StationsFr. Robert Harthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892141425033196616noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18902745.post-25137088102356783762011-03-22T09:13:14.854-04:002011-03-22T09:13:14.854-04:00Or the one in which Jesus "met" His moth...<i>Or the one in which Jesus "met" His mother on the street. What was she doing on the street? Out shopping for Easter dinner?</i><br /><br />Wouldn't you go out and try to find your son if he were to be publicly paraded through the streets, scorned and mocked, on his way to his execution?<br />It may not be entirely scriptural, but it is entirely common-sensical.<br /><br />Since the Stations are a devotion, not a sacrament, we shouldn't fear legendary material for two reasons: a) it <i>may</i> be historically true, and b) even if not historically true, the episode still tells us something true about the faith, much like the first creation story in Genesis is not historically factual, yet 100% true.<br />Take for example, Veronica, who wipes the face of Jesus and ends up with the "real image" on her veil. An historic fact? I dunno. A theological truth? Darn skippy, it is. Any Christian who stops to perform a work of mercy (in Veronica's case, corporal, but I think spiritual works as well) is left with the real image of Christ on the linen of her soul. It is a grace-filled moment in which God moves the person to live out the Christian vocation. You can take that one to the bank.<br /><br />Having said all that, I agree with Fr. Hart, that the Stations and other devotions can be quite maudlin, which I find distracting rather than edifying.RC Colanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18902745.post-55969214434820088482011-03-14T11:09:23.208-04:002011-03-14T11:09:23.208-04:00Fr. Hart,
Several older Anglican churches that I ...Fr. Hart,<br /><br />Several older Anglican churches that I have been in only have the ten Stations that are Scriptural.<br /><br />RodneyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18902745.post-64110494731031624092011-03-12T14:45:18.119-05:002011-03-12T14:45:18.119-05:00@LKW,
This is the first time I really noticed the...@LKW,<br /><br />This is the first time I really noticed the alternative form of the Stations of the Cross. I think this is great stuff, since - although I have no problem with the traditional version - the non-biblical material is an obstacle for many people.<br /><br />MichaelAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18902745.post-56312489093185989222011-03-12T11:28:32.871-05:002011-03-12T11:28:32.871-05:00I like the version from the Anglican Service Book....I like the version from the Anglican Service Book.<br /><br />JGAAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18902745.post-6378229909103784432011-03-11T23:11:20.839-05:002011-03-11T23:11:20.839-05:00Because of the influence of the Saint Augustine...Because of the influence of the Saint Augustine's Prayer Book and similar manuals, many Anglicans seem to feel that the familiar form (commonly attributed to St Alphonsus Liguori) enjoys some kind of canonical status. I discovered the Franciscan version long ago and consider it preferable.<br /><br />In RC uysage, there are many forms available, some rather tendentous, such as "Stations for Illegal Aliens" and such like.<br /><br />To be honest, I have never been comfortable with the fictitious episodes, the three Falls, which seem to imply that our Lord was not quite equal to His task and was overwhelmed by evil. Or the one in which Jesus "met" His mother on the street. What was she doing on the street? Out shopping for Easter dinner?<br /><br />We could do well to get accustomed to the version of the Stations promoted by Pope John Paul II in 1991, which can be reviewed at http://www.usccb.org/nab/stations.htm. This contains 14 episodes, beginning with the Agony in the Garden. It is exclusively Scriptural, with a very simple prayer after each reading.<br /><br />It would be nice if someone developed suitable iconography, but the pictures <br />are not essential. Verses of the Stabat Mater can be sung between Stations, or other hymns may be substituted. <br /><br />LKWAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18902745.post-83656902127584057372011-03-11T20:39:11.505-05:002011-03-11T20:39:11.505-05:00Thanks for posting this, Father. I still can't...Thanks for posting this, Father. I still can't quite understand why the Orthodox are generally so opposed to the Stations when they also 'longen to go on pilgrimages' to the Holy Places. But to each his own. I'll use these for a while and let you know how it works for me.<br /><br />Rdr. JamesAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com