An Unique Experience: Virtual Stations of the Cross

Deepen your Easter Experience

During this Easter Season, we invite you to pray the Way of the Cross with our new Stations of the Cross video. The video features our beautiful Stations of the Cross at St. Peter, with traditional readings and music. You may stream the video all at once or enjoy throughout the week. You may watch the video here. 

The tradition of praying, meditating, and singing at various points along a Way to Calvary can be traced to the era of the Crusades. By 14th c., the imitation of stops or ‘stations’ on the Via Dolorosa (way of sorrow) in Jerusalem brought this religious journey to those unable to travel to the actual historical sites. Since the mid-18th c., 14 stations have been codified; some reflect actual scriptural events, others are based on custom. The hymn “At the Cross Her Stations Keeping” (Stabat Mater) dates to 13th c. Italy and was later paired with the 17th c. German melody we sing today. The verses do not relate to specific stations but contain symbols and imagery of the Passion; the last six are petitions directed to Mary, his Holy Mother. The beautiful plaster stations inside St. Peter’s were installed in 1890; the artist is unknown. Thank you to Mike Berry, Deacon Eddie, Jane Scharding-Smedley, Jennie Latta, and all who helped with the video. We hope you and your family enjoy this video as part of your Holy Week and Easter celebration!