I got an interesting email from a friend the other day who had the misfortune to run into another example of a hallowed tradition being flagrantly altered or chucked at a whim. Apparently, parishes are reinventing their own stations of the cross. Here is her email:
I was talking with a co-worker yesterday who attends St. XXXXX Church. When she told me that they have "new stations of the cross", I thought she meant they had new stations installed... but no - she said they dropped 2 of the old stations and added 4 more, which I think means they now have 16 stations! I did some googling on 16 stations, but all I could find was reference to JPII instituting 14 stations based on scripture. What do you know about 16 stations?
Does anybody out there have any experience or knowledge about parishes dropping stations and arbitrarily adding new ones? This is something I had never heard of before, though nothing seems to surprise me anymore.
I was talking with a co-worker yesterday who attends St. XXXXX Church. When she told me that they have "new stations of the cross", I thought she meant they had new stations installed... but no - she said they dropped 2 of the old stations and added 4 more, which I think means they now have 16 stations! I did some googling on 16 stations, but all I could find was reference to JPII instituting 14 stations based on scripture. What do you know about 16 stations?
Does anybody out there have any experience or knowledge about parishes dropping stations and arbitrarily adding new ones? This is something I had never heard of before, though nothing seems to surprise me anymore.
3 comments:
Yes, I experienced this with the youth "minister" of a local parish last year. Apparently, it is appropriate to alter the stations of the cross to remind the laity that the stations are "made up" and can be changed at any time. Doing so is also to "follow in the footsteps" of JPII and the Holy Father who "designed" their own stations for World Youth day. Specifically, Veronica is being removed from the stations to "renew the spirituality of the faithful by removing unscriptural additions."
Some history:
http://www.ewtn.com/library/HOMELIBR/15569A.TXT
and some questions asked of LC priest, Fr McNamara:
http://www.ewtn.com/library/Liturgy/zlitur210.HTM
Sounds gimmicky to me. Sounds like the same experimental mindset that has led to clown masses.
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