SEVEN BENEFITS OF PRAYING THE STATIONS OF THE CROSS - Rev. Fr. Clement Quagraine
This devotion is usually on Fridays, especially during Lent. You may wonder, what are the benefits of praying The Stations of the Cross?
1.It gives us a way to make a spiritual pilgrimage.
The Stations allow us to visit the Holy Land. Around the 17th century, Franciscans began to develop a “Way of the Cross” in local churches whereby the faithful could walk through the passion narrative without having to go to Jerusalem. Here is a brief history: Innocent XI, in 1686, granted to the Franciscans, in answer to their petition, the right to erect the Stations in all their churches, and declared that all the indulgences that had ever been given for devoutly visiting the actual scenes of Christ’s Passion, could thenceforth be gained by Franciscans and all others affiliated to their order if they made the Way of the Cross in their churches in the accustomed manner. Innocent XII confirmed the privilege in 1694 and Benedict XIII in 1726 extended it to all the faithful. In 1731 Clement XII still further extended it by permitting the indulgenced Stations to all churches, provided that they were erected by a Franciscan father with the sanction of the ordinary. At the same time, he fixed the number of Stations at fourteen. (Catholic Encyclopedia, emphasis added)
Additionally, in a certain (real) way we can also accompany the suffering and persecution that our brothers and sisters are experiencing in the Holy Land and Middle East.
2. We can gain a plenary indulgence to shorten our time in Purgatory.
There are a few conditions to receive this indulgence. First, we must receive the sacrament of Confession and be in a state of grace (detached from sin). It must be within 20 days (before or after) praying the devotion. We must also receive the Eucharist within that timeline. Next, we pray for the Pope’s intentions. An extra requirement is that we (or a leader) move from station to station as we pray. We can still gain partial indulgence if we cannot meet every condition.
3. Praying the Stations of the Cross helps inspire deep
prayer.
God gives us the grace to contemplate the suffering of Jesus and feel deep empathy and love for Him. As we meditate on the events, they become more vivid and take root in our hearts.
