The Stations of the Cross are meant to represent the last hours of Jesus and what he went through to atone for the sins of the world. There are fourteen stations, and each tells of a different part of the Passion of Christ, or the last hours of his life. The stations are usually depicted by paintings or statues of each event, and are meant to be seen in order, with prayer at each station.
The stations of the cross are as follows:
1. Jesus is condemned to die.
2. Jesus takes up the cross.
3. Jesus falls for the first time.
4. Jesus meets his mother on the path.
5. Simon of Cyrene carries the cross.
6. Veronica wipes the face of Jesus.
7. Jesus falls for the second time.
8. Jesus meets the daughters of Jerusalem.
9. Jesus falls for the third time.
10. Jesus is stripped naked.
11. Jesus is nailed to the cross.
12. Jesus dies on the cross.
13. Jesus is removed from the cross.
14. The body of Jesus is placed in the tomb.
A fifteenth station is not among the traditional ones, but is sometimes included…and that is of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
The Catholic Church most commonly follows the stations of the cross, with each member meditating in prayer at each station, or with an official celebrant carrying a cross to each station, with responses from the congregation. In the Roman Catholic Church, the Stations of the Cross is observed as a public celebration, especially on Good Friday.
The Stations of the Cross has made it into popular culture. Mel Gibson’s film, The Passion of the Christ, depicts all the stations of the cross in order.