The Stations of the Cross, also known as the Way of the Cross, offer a powerful, embodied way to walk with Jesus on Good Friday, and also to walk in solidarity with others suffering across the world at any time of year. The Stations, popularised from the 14th century by the Franciscans, are one of the most recognisable Catholic devotional practices.
Parishes will often hold their Stations of the Cross on the morning of Good Friday, and schools often re-enact some or all the Stations in special services near the end of Term 1. All of these integrate scripture, commentary, dialogue, drama and music as part of the prayer, adding to the richness of this devotion. A range of traditional and contemporary music is often used that reflects an aspect of the passion and death of Jesus Christ that leads to new life.
‘At the Cross Her Vigil Keeping’ is a hymn widely associated with the Stations in the Catholic tradition and is readily available. The simplicity of the repeated melody allows people to easily join in, and it can be sung by unaccompanied voices or accompanied by keyboard or guitar. African-American Spiritual ‘Were You There When they Crucified My Lord?’ is also well known, loved and sung by all ages across Australia. It is most often sung at Station 12: Jesus dies on the Cross. The hymn is sung across Christian denominations so is also suitable for popular ecumenical Way of the Cross services.
The Exodus community in West Heidelberg in Victoria offers a creative, grassroots and simple model of an ecumenical Way of the Cross (see www.youtube.com/watch?v=vM0L1Pb_G24&t=3s) that has been embraced by a large cross-section of local people.
A newer hymn called ‘See Him’ has a stark and beautiful melody and could be sung or played as people contemplate the crucified Christ. The suffering God suffers with all people crucified today, calling with them for the reality of war, violence and abuse to be faced with compassion, and action. Fr Rob Galea’s hymn ‘At the Foot of the Cross’ reminds people that Good Friday is never the end for people of faith: God accepts our brokenness and loves with a tenderness beyond human understanding. The song may need to be transposed down a third or more for communal singing, but the chorus is easily sung by all ages and can be simply accompanied.
The Stations of the Cross provide us with an opportunity to lament and bear witness to the darkness present in our world. As part of the rich tapestry of Holy Week, it forms one part of the deeper journey we all take at this blessed time of year from darkness to light.
Fiona Dyball is the Coordinator of Liturgy, Faith and Mission at St Monica’s College in Melbourne, and who is also on the National Executive of the Australian Pastoral Musician’s Network.
Image: Exodus Community walk
Music resources
At the Cross Her Vigil Keeping (Stabat Mater dolorosa)
YouTube
Sheetmusic: Catholic Worship Book ll 318 or digital download (DD) from OCP
Were You There When they Crucified My Lord? (African-American Spiritual)
YouTube
Sheetmusic: Catholic Worship Book ll 328, As One Voice 1-103 or DD (Octavo) from OCP
See Him (Keith Duke)
Audio and Sheetmusic: As One Voice The Next Generation 118, DD from Willow Publishing
At the Foot of the Cross (Fr Rob Galea)
YouTube
Sheetmusic: DD Songs of Hope from GIA