You are cordially invited to attend the Living Stations of the Cross
We have had the St. Alphonsus Ligurori Stations of the Cross each Friday of Lent with the chanting of the Stabat Mater between the Stations.Using the same book and Stabat Mater, our youth under the direction of our CRE, posed each station in costume last night. It was prayerful and reverential.
As with the other normal Stations, we concluded with Exposition and Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament.
Prior to the recession after Benediction to "Holy God We Praise Thy Name" I thanked our director and youth. Because all had been quite solemn and reverent as well as devotional, I was quite pleased that no one applauded because it was an experience of worship and adoration not entertainment.
AS AN ASIDE, DO YOU EXPERIENCE BENEDICTION TO CONCLUDE THE STATIONS?
2 comments:
Exposition and Benediction should always conclude the Via Crucis, in my opinion, so as to emphasize the fact that Christ is alive and no longer in the tomb.
Bee here:
Our parish didn't have Exposition or Benediction last night, but we did have Stations and used the St. Alphonsus Ligurori Stations of the Cross and sung the Stabat Mater between the Stations. One of the deacons (seminarian) gave a short talk afterward, and by then it was already 9:20 pm and we were dismissed.
I would have liked to have Exposition and Benediction, but I guess they decided against it. Don't know why. We normally have this on First Fridays.
By the way, it was nice to see we had about 100 people in church for the Stations. Maybe more. Young (20's), middle age, and older folks.
What you did is an interesting take on the Stations. That sounds like it would be a great outdoor Stations of the Cross, like a procession around the block, with servers leading the way with processional crucifix and tapers and the congregation following saying the prayers at each "station" where the young people "pose" the Station. Then into the church for Benediction. I think that would seem less like a 'performance' and more like a devotion. (SO glad no one applauded!)
God bless,
Bee
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