You are invited to pray the Stations of the Cross with our Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity at San Xavier Mission, Tucson, Arizona! As we journey, we pray for one another.
If you would like, please pass this on to whom ever you believe would like to pray the Stations of the Cross using the Journey of Decisions – A Way of the Cross. These Stations are from the perspective of individuals at the passion drama. (see notes below). The images of the Stations are from the garden area outside the Mausoleum at San Xavier Mission. The crucifixes are from inside of the San Xavier Mission Church. Each Station is read by a Franciscan Sister at San Xavier Mission.(see credits at end of video).
JOURNEY OF DECISION – A Way of the Cross
INTRODUCTION
In the Gospels many people are involved in the death of Jesus, some more directly than others, like the priests, the Pharisees, the Romans, the screaming mob. Some individuals are known by name Judas, Herod, Caiaphas, Pilate. Unfortunately, the Gospel writers did not reveal the thoughts of the people involved in the passion drama. Nonetheless, we know that the people involved in the crucifixion were confronted with the difficult decision: to accept or reject Jesus.
Fr. Henri Nouwen, a noted spiritual writer, remarks that, in encountering the Cross, people throughout the ages have always been confronted by the choice either of becoming Christ’s followers or his executioners. This is true today. When we face the Cross in our lives, we make choices that determine whether we become followers of Christ or his executioners.
Similarly, through our sins, we all share some responsibility for the death of Jesus. Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes
away the sins of the world-not just the sins of his day but of all ages. In that sense, we were all there on that day of darkness.
Journey of Decision is a Way of the Cross intended for both individual and group use. Either way, the following comments might prove helpful.
The spirit of Journey of Decision is involvement. The dramatic form (the fourteen monologues) engages our imagination. The Scripture texts at the beginning of each station, with a few exceptions, set the scene for the monologues. Each station focuses on a character who was intimately involved with Christ’s passion, and who indirectly questions us about our own involvement. The characters not only invite us to look at their strengths and weaknesses, but also challenge us to examine our own strengths and weaknesses.
The use of imagination is important. Most of the characters used in the monologues are found in the traditional Way of the Cross-for instance, Pilate, Simon, Veronica. However, a few characters are not common to the traditional stations and must be imagined. For example, Barabbas, in station two, can be imagined as scowling around the edges of the crowd as he delivers his monologue.
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