On Holy Saturday morning, we will host our Homeschool group and other friends of the family to our fourth annual Outdoor Stations of the Cross.5 years ago, I bought a set of ceramic tiles ( 5x8) that were beautiful reproductions of the paintings of the Stations.They sat in a box in the bottom of my closet until the following Holy Week.
Larry then created wooden display frames for each one of them. We had a local printing shop engrave metal plaques stating the number and title of the station. He stained each one 3 times to protect it from the weather.When we bought this house, there was already a wooded walking trail around the edge of the property. When we installed each station, we were able to find large trees equidistant and all on the left hand side of the trail. The second year that they were up, we installed small wooden crosses under the stations because we found out that although the picture is optional, the cross is necessary.
We realized that it would be wonderful to invite other families to join us for the Stations of the Cross and we decided to do this on Holy Saturday morning instead of on Good Friday. This was so that the Dads could join us and so that we could attend the Living Stations at church, which the kids usually participate in.
Each year, Larry goes around the trail restaining and refreshing the stations. We pick up twigs and neaten the path for foot traffic.We have had as many as 70 people for this event. Last year it was POURING down rain, and so we prayed and sang inside.We are hoping and praying for great weather for this coming Saturday!
The children especially enjoy this outdoor event.We go around as a large group and someone will read the meditation.The group responds " We adore you , O Christ, and we praise you; because by your holy Cross you have redeemed the world." The appropriate verse of the Stabat Mater is sung on the way to the next station.
After the last station, we stop at our Mary garden which is a representation of the Pieta, to pray for the Pope's intentions.It is a very sweet thing to pray with others, especially whole families, to remember Our Lord's Passion.This keeps the focus on the real meaning of these last few days before Easter.We then enjoy donuts and coffee and some fellowship before each family leaves to prepare for the feastday.
