Stations of the Cross at Corpus Christi

During this time of lent it seems appropriate to take a closer look at the the fourteen mosaic representations of the Stations of the Cross which are arranged at intervals around the walls of the church.  The current stations, which replaced the original ones from 1890s, were installed in 1912 as part of the renovations financed by Michael Jenkins.  The Baltimore Sun reported on the beautification of the church in an article on July 26, 1912:

“The extensive improvements being made to Corpus Christi Catholic Church, at Mount Royal and Lafayette Avenues, by Mr. Michael Jenkins, are well under way and will probably be finished by next October.  […]  It is understood that the present Stations of the Cross, which are small and oil paintings, will be superseded by magnificent mosaics in relief, made abroad.  These will be the only ones of their kind in the United States.  Their value is said to represent a small fortune.  Several designs have been submitted and one of particular beauty was placed in the church in order that it might be ascertained whether or not it harmonized with the other decorations."[1]

The Stations of the Cross (also called the Way of the Cross, Via Crucis or Via Dolorosa) represent fourteen episodes in the passion and death of Christ from His judgment before Pilate to His burial in the tomb of Joseph or Aramethea.  The origin of the devotion can be traced back to the Holy Land.  The Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem was reverently marked out from the earliest times and has been the goal of pious pilgrims ever since the days of Constantine.  A desire to reproduce these holy places in other lands, in order to satisfy the devotion of those who were hindered from making the actual pilgrimage, seems to have manifested itself at quite an early date, but one can be relatively certain that the Way of the Cross as we understand it today (i.e. a settled route with special stopping places with indulgences attached) was not known until the 15^th century.  And the erection of the Stations inside churches did not become common until the end of the 17th century.  In 1686, Pope Innocent XI granted 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 own churches in the accustomed manner.   By the middle of the 18^th century, all priests had been given the right to erect Stations within their church, and most Catholic Church nowadays contain such treasures. [2]

The standard set from the 17^th century onwards has consisted of 14 representations of the following scenes:

1. Jesus is condemned to death
2. Jesus carries his cross
3. Jesus falls the first time
4. Jesus meets his mother
5. Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus carry the cross
6. Veronica wipes the face of Jesus
7. Jesus falls the second time
8. Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem
9. Jesus falls the third time
10. Jesus is stripped of his garments
11. Crucifixion: Jesus is nailed to the cross
12. Jesus dies on the cross
13. Jesus is taken down from the cross (Deposition or Lamentation)
14. Jesus is laid in the tomb.

Station 1 [Jesus is condemned to death] depicts Jesus being led away by soldiers while Pontius Pilate washes his hands.  Jesus is wearing the scarlet robe and crown of thorns, as mentioned in Matthew 27:24-29:

When Pilate saw that he could not prevail at all, but rather that a tumult was rising, he took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, "I am innocent of the blood of this just Person. You see to it." And all the people answered and said, "His blood be on us and on our children." Then he released Barabbas to them; and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered Him to be crucified.  Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole garrison around Him. And they stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him. When they had twisted a crown of thorns, they put it on His head, and a reed in His right hand.

[1] "Beautifying Corpus Christi: Heoric Statues in Place, Magnificent Stations Planned." Sun [Baltimore] 26 July 1912: 11. Proquest Historical Newspapers. Web. 27 Feb. 2015.

[2] Alston, George Cyprian. "Way of the Cross." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 15. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1912. 27 Feb. 2015 <http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15569a.htm>.