#cathblr

The Stations of the Cross is a Christian devotion practiced during the liturgical season of Lent, especially in Catholic communities. In this devotion, someone (usually either as a group using physical representations of the stations or as an individual using the related station chaplet) meditates on images or representations of 14 'stations' that depict snapshots of the progression to Calvary during the Passion of Jesus Christ. Originally intended to allow Christians to practice an 'at home' Holy Week pilgrimage when away from Jerusalem, the practice became cemented into Lenten tradition during the medieval era, becoming a staple of the Church by the 16th century. The participant(s) moves from station to station, reflecting on the piece of the Passion story represented by each one. Out of the 14 steps, only 8 have biblical basis, while the remaining stations are based in cultural history. This led to the creation of the official scriptural stations of the cross in 1991 which includes 14 stations that are all explicitly supported by biblical texts. The stations are primarily observed on Fridays in Lent and all of Holy Week, especially Good Friday.

Station 1: Jesus is condemned to Death (Mark 15:1-5, 15) || Ecce Homo by Giovanni Baglione

Station 2: Jesus is given his Cross (John 19:6, 15-17) || Christ Carrying the Cross by Titian

Station 3: Jesus falls the first time || Christ Falls on the Way to Calvary by Giandomenico Tiepolo

Station 4: Jesus meets his Mother || Christ Meeting His Mother on the Way to Calvary by William Bouguereau

Station 5: Simon of Cyrene carries the Cross (Mark 15:21) || Simon of Cyrene Helps Jesus Carry the Cross by Philipp Schumacher

Station 6: Veronica wipes the face of Jesus || Saint Veronica Wiping the Face of Christ by Unknown Artist, likely a 17th cen. student at the Venetian school.

Station 7: Jesus falls a second time || Jesus Falls the Second Time by Theophile Lybaert

Station 8: Jesus meets the daughters of Jerusalem (Luke 23:27-31) || Jesus Meets The Women Of Jerusalem by Nikolay Koshelev

Station 9: Jesus falls the third time || Jesus Falls the Third Time by Edward Arthur Fellowes Prynne

Station 10: Jesus is stripped of his garments (John 19:23-24) || For My Vestments They Did Cast Lots by Hardie Charles Martin

Station 11: Jesus is nailed to the Cross (Luke 23:33-34) || Isenheim Altarpiece's crucifixion panel by Matthias Grunewald

Station 12: Jesus dies on the Cross (Luke 23:44-46) || Jerusalem by Jean-Leon Gerome

Station 13: Jesus' body is removed from the Cross || The Descent from the Cross by Peter Paul Rubens

Sorry but Christianity is the whole reason hospitals exist in the first place. Thank St Basil the Great. And all the Christian teachings about caring for the sick.

And Constantine.

look it's two of my favourite things in one image

bonus points if you say what you use as a veil (mantilla, hat, scarf, etc)