Amazing Catechists

Teaching and learning the faith together

An Amazing Find in Salt Lake City, Utah

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Shortly before leaving for my trip to Norway, I was approached by a leader of a women’s group at a local church.  She attended one of my book presentations, bought my latest book on the life of the Blessed Mother, and read it.   She asked if I would be interested in doing a Lenten retreat focusing on Mary’s perspective.  She titled the retreat – A Lenten Journey through Mary’s Eyes!  I loved the title and decided to accept the challenge.  I wrote most of the retreat while on vacation in Norway and finalized the details with the leaders from this group when I returned.

Mary’s perspective

The focus was Mary’s perspective on the Passion of Christ – a difficult journey for a mother to endure.  Yet, we all know that she was not just any mother – she was and is the Mother of God and most importantly, she is our Mother, too.

To prepare for this retreat, we decided to look at the Scriptural Stations of the Cross and the Sorrowful Mysteries of ALL the Rosaries.

If you’ve read my book, you know that there are different types of Rosaries and that each of these Rosaries have mysteries that focus on the life of Jesus and Mary.  I also introduced in my book the Scriptural Stations of the Cross.

Scriptural Stations of the Cross

As I prepared for this retreat, I was reminded of my visit to a beautiful cathedral in Salt Lake City, Utah.  The Cathedral of the Madeleine is a Catholic cathedral with a beautiful display of the Scriptural Stations of the Cross.

As we journey through this Season of Lent, I’d like to share with you the scriptural Stations of the Cross as displayed in the Cathedral in Salt Lake City.  I’ve also indicated, next to each station, the scripture that is related to that station.

I.     Jesus Prays in the Garden of Gethsemane – (Matthew 26: 36-46; Mark 14: 32-42; Luke 22: 39-46; John 18: 1-12)

II.   Jesus is betrayed by Judas – (Matthew 26: 14-16)

III.  Jesus is denied by Peter – (Luke 22: 54-62; Matthew 26: 69-75)

IV.   Jesus is judged by Pilate – (Mark 15: 15; Matthew 27: 24-26; John 18: 31-32; Luke23:24)

V.    Jesus is stripped and scourged – (Jon 19: 1)

VI.   Jesus is mocked and crowned with thorns – (John 19: 2-3)

VII.  Jesus bears the cross – (John 19: 16-17)

VIII. Jesus is helped by Simon of Cyrene – (Mark 15: 21; Matthew 27: 32)

IX.    Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem – (Luke 23: 28-29)

X.      Jesus is crucified – (Matthew 27: 33-44)

XI.    Jesus promises His kingdom to the good thief – (Luke 23: 39-43)

XII.   Jesus speaks to His Mother and the disciple – (John 19: 25-17)

XIII.  Jesus dies on the cross – (Matthew 27: 45-54; Luke 23: 44-46)

XIV.   Jesus is placed in the tomb – (Matthew 27: 57-61)

Lent is truly a season of renewal.  May God continue to bless each of us as we draw closer to Him.

Two Books for Praying Stations of the Cross with Children

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You know what I love about our Catholic faith? There’s always next year. Or next week. Or, hey, the next hour!

Here it is, Good Friday. Have I prayed the Stations? No, I have not, and don’t even ASK if I’ve prayed them with my children. My litany of excuses is long and impressive, but it’s still just a list of excuses.

I love the idea of the Stations, but I’m not very comfortable with them. Blame my convert status, though I suspect it has more to do with my laziness.

But, thanks be to God, in my basket of review materials, I have two new books that will help me.

Praying Stations of the Cross with Children.jpg

I love that both of these books are beautifully hardbound and illustrated. They’re not dumbed down, but they’re also written at a level that I know my children will be able to understand.

The Garden Way of the Cross

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Based on the writings of Father Thomas A. Stanley, Illustrated by Louise Tessier (Novalis, 2013)

Oh, how I love my garden. And so do my children. And that makes me love it all over again, even more.

This book is an approach to Stations that speaks to my garden girl mentality. The opening encourages the reader, “As you meditate on each station along The Garden Way of the Cross, imagine yourself walking slowly in a quiet garden.”

And isn’t this appropriate in so many ways? Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemene. Gardens are quiet and naturally lend themselves to prayer.

At each station, as you pause in your quiet garden walk with Jesus, there’s the traditional opening prayer (“We adore you, O Christ”), a passage of Scripture, and a meditation based on a plant or a flower. The plant is illustrated on the facing page.

The way the plants and stations are interwoven is a beautiful experience. I think I’ll be doing some adding to my flowerbeds based on what I’ve prayed in this book.

Walking with Jesus to Calvary: Stations of the Cross for Children

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By Angela M. Burrin, Illustrated by Maria Cristina Lo Cascio (Word Among Us Press, 2014)

This is a book that can read like a storybook, which I know will engage my younger kids. The story’s told at each station, and it’s followed by a four- or five-line prayer.

The book opens with an explanation of what the Stations of the Cross are and how to pray them.

It’s appropriate for ages 5-10, and I can see where this would be a great resource for catechists of all ages, though with older kids you might just use the explanations and not the pictures (though don’t discount the power of pictures).