Written by Benoît Santos - Updated on Oct 27, 2024
The Stations of the Cross and the Calvary crosses that are quite often found along country roads have one thing in common. Both have the same origin which is none other than the Passion of Christ . The Stations of the Cross come from the journey leading Jesus to his place of execution. The Calvary crosses, on the other hand, simply represent the crucifix.
Do you want to know the true meaning of the Stations of the Cross and the crosses of Calvary? You are in the right place. In fact, you will find in this article:
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The origin of the Stations of the Cross and the crosses of Calvary
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The definition of the Stations of the Cross
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The meaning of the Stations of the Cross
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The 14 Stations of the Cross
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The definition of the crosses of Calvary
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The meaning of the crosses of Calvary
Let’s start the article without further delay!
The origin of the Stations of the Cross and the Calvary crosses
As we have already mentioned at the very beginning, the Way of the Cross and the crosses of Calvary have their true origins in the Passion of Christ . If the first has become an expression to indicate a painful journey, the second currently refers to the crosses planted on mounds that recall Golgotha. Before his death, Jesus Christ had to carry his Cross into the public place and thus undergo great humiliation. At the same time, this cross was so heavy that He fell several times. The Way of the Cross comes from there.
In Jesus' day, crucifixion was the final sentence reserved for slaves and those who did not have Roman citizenship. In reality, the condemned did not carry their crosses as such on the path to humiliation. The vertical stake called stipes was driven directly into the ground of Calvary by the executioners. The condemned man had to carry the horizontal beam called patibulum to the place of execution. The Gospel clearly mentions that Jesus fell several times along this path, because this beam was already very heavy. On the way, the Savior suffered both great physical pain and immense humiliation .
Once arrived at Calvary, the cross was formed and the condemned man was nailed to it. At that moment, the pains only intensified. Like all the other condemned men, Christ suffered a slow death by asphyxiation. Indeed, it is very difficult to breathe well with the arms outstretched, not to mention the wounds that amplified the torture. The crosses of Calvary recall this suffering that the Son of God accepted to undergo to wash us of our sins.
The definition of the Stations of the Cross
The expression "way of the cross" is used in everyday life to indicate a difficult ordeal . But in the Catholic Church , the way of the cross or via crucis rather designates a ceremony in memory of the Passion . It then evokes 14 specific moments of it. Some of the moments, which are also called " the 14 stations of the cross ", are written in the Bible while others come from tradition.
The Stations of the Cross ceremony is usually celebrated during Lent. More specifically on Good Friday, the day when Jesus had just taken the path to Calvary to be crucified there. During the ceremony, believers perform a procession . They stop in front of each painting that symbolizes a station of the Cross to pray and meditate . They can also stop in front of the crucifix or other symbolic objects placed in the church. It often happens that the decor reproduces very closely the real Stations of the Cross leading to Golgotha.
In plain language, the Stations of the Cross refers to all the material symbols such as paintings , statues , crosses and plaques installed in the church , sometimes even around the church, in order to mark the stations of the ceremony. It also refers to the procession, prayers and meditations that believers perform while going around the 14 paintings.
The origin of the Stations of the Cross ceremony
The ceremony of the Stations of the Cross as we know it today is strongly inspired by the liturgy of Good Friday of the first Christians of Jerusalem . On the night of Thursday to Friday of Great Week (Easter week), they set up 7 stations which are still part of the 14 current stations. The first Christians carried out a procession, interrupted by 7 readings of the Gospel (one reading per station).
Much later, around 1120, the Franciscans arrived in the Holy Land . They followed the rite that had become a true tradition. Gradually, they brought them to their churches in Italy . At first, the Stations of the Cross ceremony was done unofficially and only in the Franciscan churches. It was not until 1731 that Pope Clement XII gave permission to create Stations of the Cross in all churches. Saint Leonard of Port-Maurice greatly contributed to its expansion. The craze was so strong that in 1741, Pope Benedict XIV had to limit the extension to a single Stations of the Cross per parish.
The meaning of the Stations of the Cross
In this section of the article, we will discuss two aspects of the Stations of the Cross:
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Its significance for Christians practicing the ceremony ;
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Its meaning as a French expression .
When you walk the Stations of the Cross (the ceremony)
The section locations of a Stations of the Cross reproduce the stages that our Lord Jesus Christ traveled while carrying his Cross to Golgotha . The purpose of the ceremony is therefore to relive the Passion . Of course, you do not endure the physical suffering or humiliation experienced by Jesus during the procession. But it is a way of recognizing the infinite Love that God has for us and that He proved by giving us his only Son as a sacrifice. Participating in the ceremony of the Stations of the Cross means that you accept Jesus as your Savior . This hides a form of humility by testifying that God is the sole master of your life , that you will enjoy eternal life thanks to this ultimate sacrifice.
In practice, the Way of the Cross is a great moment of questioning, reflection and prayer . Taking the same journey that Jesus had to take to save us strengthens faith, never forgetting that we owe everything to our Lord. It is also called a path of penance , because you accept your sins as well as God's forgiveness and mercy . During the Way of the Cross, you renew your alliance with the Lord and also with your neighbor . Traveling this path effectively reminds us that we must follow the example of the Messiah who gave his life to save us. Likewise, a good Christian must be loving, attentive, understanding and tolerant towards his neighbor. 🙏
Should we wait until Good Friday to take the Stations of the Cross? The answer is no! When you want to get even closer to God and show him your gratitude, you can create your own Stations of the Cross at home . In this regard, we recommend that you purchase a set of Stations of the Cross paintings that you can easily display at home. There are paintings to hang on the wall that also serve as decoration. You just have to do the procession and recite the prayers of the Stations of the Cross when you want to walk it.
There are also wooden Religious Paintings that are more like statuettes. They are easily stored after the Stations of the Cross ritual.
The meaning of the "Station of the Cross" in daily life
While the term Way of the Cross has a deeper meaning for God's faithful, it is also used as a separate expression. However, its meaning always comes from the Passion of Christ. To do one's Way of the Cross means to have to do difficult work or an exhausting chore . The expression also means to go through a difficult ordeal .
As a Christian, you must always keep in mind that when you are going through a difficult time , you are not alone . You have the Lord on your side. In life, everyone has to carry their Cross. In other words, everyone has their share of problems. Just as Jesus had to carry his cross on the way to Calvary, you must be able to endure your pain without blaming anyone . By keeping faith and entrusting your suffering to God, you will go through your way of the cross with the hope that the best is yet to come. Just as Jesus' crucifixion led to the Resurrection, your suffering will lead you to peace and happiness .
By making the procession of the Stations of the Cross at home, you will see that your sorrows will be lightened since it is an excellent way to share them with Christ . Even when the situation seems unbearable and uncontrollable, abandon yourself in faith to the Love of God . Tell yourself that He will never leave you alone. Whether it is a financial problem, the loss of a job, separation from a loved one, a great betrayal like that of Judas towards his Master, etc. The Lord will show you the way that leads to better days if you let Him guide you and if you trust in His mercy.
The 14 Stations of the Cross
By undertaking the Stations of the Cross, you are making a procession to follow the path of Jesus during the last hours of his life. You pray to repent and/or to thank the Lord for all the blessings He grants you. You also meditate on Salvation and accept that God has saved you and will always save you if you remain faithful to Him. During the pilgrimage, you will make a stop at each station of penance.
What are these 14 stations of the cross ? Here they are:
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Jesus Christ is condemned to death
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Jesus is carrying his Cross
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Jesus falls under the weight of the Cross
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Jesus meets Mary, his mother
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Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus carry the Cross
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Veronica wipes Jesus' face
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Jesus falls for the second time
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Jesus meets weeping women of Jerusalem and consoles them
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Jesus falls for the third time
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Jesus is stripped of his clothes
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Jesus is nailed to the Crucifix
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Jesus dies on the Crucifix
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Jesus is taken down from the Crucifix and his body is given to Mary, his mother
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The body of Jesus is placed in the tomb
Traditionally, the Way of the Cross only includes these 14 stations of penance. But more and more churches and believers are adding a 15th station representing the Resurrection with a painting displaying the empty tomb of Christ. Moreover, we recommend adding this 15th painting because it symbolizes God's victory over the forces of evil and death. This will help you to keep hope and therefore to overcome your suffering with patience .
Way of Calvary: Unification with the Way of the Cross
The Stations of the Cross are inseparable from the crosses of Calvary . These monuments made of stone, reinforced concrete or wood, located at certain crossroads and country roads, are crosses and monoliths bearing a statue of the crucified Jesus. They are generally an object of devotion for Christians who pass by. Some may even place a few flowers there and/or light a candle before praying. They recall the end of the Stations of the Cross, which is none other than Calvary , the place where Jesus granted us his Salvation by sacrificing his life.
In France, most Calvary crosses are planted at crossroads and in hamlets, often in mysterious places where the inhabitants believed to be invaded by evil sorcerers. The crosses were planted to ward off bad luck and pray to God to protect the surroundings. But in a less frightening register, many crosses were installed to serve as landmarks for travelers . At the same time, they could pause to praise the Lord in front of these religious monuments.
Many crosses were destroyed during the French Revolution. But most were renovated between 1814 and 1906. This was the time of preaching missions and the reconquest of the church. During the 3rd Republic, when the State wanted to be anti-clerical, old crosses from the Clavaires had to be moved within the walls of churches or near cemeteries.
It is called a Calvary cross because each monument is erected on a mound as a reminder of Mount Golgotha. Normally, a Calvary cross should be oriented so that when you look up at the crucified Christ , you are facing east, in other words, towards Jerusalem .
The origin of devotion to the Crosses of Calvary
The Cross representing the killing of Jesus became the ultimate symbol of Christianity from the 4th century. At the same time, the Emperor Constantine, who converted to this religion, definitively abolished the torture of crucifixion (crucifixion for Christ). The veneration of the cross by the followers of God began at this time. But the first Calvary crosses did not represent Jesus crucified, because the people could not yet bear such an image. The crucifixion still symbolized violence, torture at its height, a cruel killing and an unequaled torture.
Christians began to add the crucified Christ to the cross from the 9th century. Devotion to the cross and calvaries spread in the Middle Ages and quickly arrived in France. They multiplied in villages, at crossroads and in cemeteries. They sometimes bore the inscription INRI which means Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews. As a reminder, this is what Pilate said to mock Jesus before condemning him.
Meaning of Calvary
Like the Stations of the Cross, Calvary symbolizes Salvation and therefore, the sacrifice that God made to prove his unconditional Love to us. They mean that the places are protected by the Lord and that the faithful can meditate there peacefully and reconnect with God . At one time, a Calvary was the gathering place for villagers to celebrate the wheat harvest or the grape harvest. They then praised the Lord for this blessing.
You can also create a Calvary on a small mound in your garden or in your fields. You can find Statues of Jesus nailed to a Cross in specialized Christian shops . You can buy one according to the size you need and build your own Calvary cross. In this way, you can meditate in peace whenever you feel like it. Devotion to a Calvary with a cross means that you accept Jesus as your Savior .
Sometimes used as landmarks, Calvary crosses help you stay on the right path .
We can therefore conclude that the Stations of the Cross and the crosses of Calvary are related . Both remind us of all the suffering and humiliation that the Son of God endured to wash us from our sins. On the one hand, the Stations of the Cross refers to a ceremony where Christians make a procession with 14 stops corresponding to 14 stations of penance (15 if you include the Resurrection). On the other hand, it is an expression defining a difficult period or a painful task. On the other hand, the crosses of Calvary symbolize the instrument of torture on which Jesus sacrificed his Life for us. It is the very instrument of Salvation.
Now that you know a little more about the Stations of the Cross, we would like to offer you an excellent article on the meaning of Carrying the Cross .
To be able to give thanks to God and show him your gratitude for his infinite Love and mercy, you can install at home Religious Paintings in memory of the crucifixion of Jesus and the cross of Calvary. You can also build a Calvary where you will put a Statue of the Crucified Christ in your garden or in your house. These symbolic objects will help you preserve your faith and reconnect with the Lord .
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