Rocamadour (Part 5)- The Stations of the Cross

Also called the Way of the Cross, The Stations of the Cross originated in the Middle Ages as a series of pictures or sculptures portraying scenes from the Passion of the Christ.

You will often find these stations in order around a church nave or on a path, but they are also placed in cemeteries, hospitals and as is the case with Rocamadour, on mountainsides or pilgrimage sites.

These devotional paths provide the opportunity for Christians to retrace Jesus’ final days on earth - from the condemnation of Christ until his death on the cross, and finally to him being placed in the tomb. The faithful would move from station to station pausing to pray, meditate and reflect on the ultimate sacrifice Christ made for humanity.

Beginning on the Sanctuaries level and ending at the Cross of Jerusalem, the Chemin de Croix winds through the woods of Rocamadour in a peaceful shaded switchback design with a shrine at every bend along the way that represents each of the 14 stations.

NOTE: I have taken photos of the plaques at the foot of each shrine and then translated so please forgive me if they sometimes sound a bit odd.

Station 1 - Jesus is condemned to death

Pilate replied, “What has he done wrong?” But they cried louder, “Crucify him!” (Mark 15:14)

Jesus is 33 years old, he has done nothing wrong but he is condemned to death. The soldiers hit him, spit in his face and laugh at him. They put a crown of thorns on head. Jesus is silent, does not complain. His love for us is so great that, as long as we are on earth, we will never be able to fully understand him.

Station 2 - Jesus is made to bear his cross

“And he himself, carrying his cross, went out in the direction of the place called The Skull (Calvary) which in Hebrew is called Golgotha.” (John 19:17)

The soldiers order Jesus to carry his cross.  They load her on his bruised shoulders.  She is heavy.  He suffers.  Adam and Eve, by eating the fruit from the tree, disobeyed God.  The tree has become a tree of death: sin, suffering and death have appeared on earth.  Jesus, obeying in everything, wants to be nailed to the cross.  The Cross becomes a tree of life.

Station 3 - Jesus falls the first time

“Behold the Lamb of God, behold the bearer of the sins of the world.” (John 1:29)

Jesus is really God but like us, he is really a man.  Like us, he knows fatigue, exhaustion.  The cross weighs so heavily on his bruised shoulders that he falls, yet Jesus gets up.  He resumes his ascent towards Calvary.  Jesus takes upon himself our faults so that we may be freed from them. 

Station 4 - Jesus meets his mother (image above)

"So Jesus seeing his mother, and standing by her, the disciple whom he loved, said to his mother, 'Woman, here is your son.' Then he said to the disciple, 'Here is your mother.'  there the disciple welcomed him into his home."  (John 19:26-27)

Mary meets Jesus, her son;  she remains silent.  She wants to show Jesus that he is not alone.  She shares her pain.  We will never suffer as much as Jesus and his mother.  By accepting God's will, she becomes Jesus' partner in saving us. 

Station 5 - Simon the Cyrene helps Jesus carry his cross

"Whoever wants to be my disciple, let him take up his cross and follow me" (Matthew 16:24)

The soldiers see that Jesus is exhausted.  He is so weak that he risks dying before being crucified.  They then requisition a man returning from the fields.  Simon of Cyrene did not choose to carry the cross of Jesus but he is generous. His faith grew little by little as he carried the cross.  It is this cross that makes him a disciple.

Station 6 - Veronica wipes the face of Jesus 

"God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him, male and female he created them."  (Genesis 1:27) 

"God predestined us to reproduce the image of his son" (Romans 8:29)

A woman, Véronique, braves the soldiers.  She comes out of the crowd and wipes Jesus' face with her veil.  The image of Jesus' face remains imprinted on the veil.  Véronique represents for us the model of the sensitive and gentle person, capable of sympathizing with all human suffering, seeking to soothe any wound;  the one who recognizes the face of Jesus in the other.  But also, the model of the Christian who has, since baptism, the image of Jesus imprinted in his soul.

Station 7 - Jesus falls the second time (image left)

"He himself bore our sins, in his body, on wood, so that, subject to our sins, we might live for justice. By his touch, we are healed."  (1 Peter 2:24)  

The cross that Jesus carries on his shoulders is very heavy but our faults are even more serious.  However, Jesus gets up.  The trials of life make us fall and fall again.  To be truly courageous, put our trust in Jesus, he will lift us up.

Station 8 - Jesus comforts the women of Jerusalem who weep over him 

 "Don't cry over me! Weep over yourselves and your children!"  (Luke 23:28) 

Women accompany Jesus.  They are moved by his suffering.  They cry.  Jesus stops.  He makes them understand that it is to console them for their sorrows that he suffers.  He invites them to stay, with him;  sensitive to the fate of all the unfortunate and all sinners, now, and to pass it on to future generations.

Station 9 - Jesus falls the third time

“I exalt you Lord, for you have raised me up” (Psalm 30:1) 

Jesus is exhausted.  His fatigue is immense.  The loneliness of his heart is total.  He falls for the third time.  However, he gets up, he wants to accomplish the will of God, his Father, until the end: by mohr, only to save us.

Station 10 - Jesus is stripped of his garments 

"Then the soldiers took the dirty clothes, user rent at parts, one for each soldier and the tunic".  (John 19:23)

Arriving at Calvary, the soldiers tear off Jesus' clothes.  They share them;  his seamless tunic is drawn.  Jesus endures humiliations.  With Jesus in our heart, we endure everything.

Station 11 - Jesus is nailed to the cross

"Father forgive them, they do not know what they are doing". (Luke 23:34) 

The soldiers laid Jesus on the cross;  they drive nails into his hands and feet.  His head still bears the crown of thorns.  His suffering is immense;  but he knows that he thus saves all men from sin and death.  He does not revolt, on the contrary, he forgives his executioners.

Station 12 - Jesus dies on the cross (image right)

 Two robbers are crucified next to Jesus.  One of them said to Jesus: "Jesus, remember me when you are in your kingdom".  Jesus replies, "Truly I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise". (Luke 23:42-43)

"Then uttering a loud cry, Jesus said: 'Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.' Having said this, he expired."  (Luke 23:46) 

However great the fault and until the last minute, God's mercy surpasses it. All is accomplished, Jesus dies.  He surrenders himself to God, the Father, in complete confidence.  For who is afraid of death?  It leads us to God.

Station 13 - Jesus is taken down from the cross

"With Pilate’s permission, Joseph of Arimathea came and took the body away."  (John 19:38)

Station 14 - Jesus is placed in the tomb (sépulchre)

"At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, they laid Jesus there."  (John 19:41-42)Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

The final Station of the Cross (image above) is within a cave that was once part of a quarry. Its name is Grotte du Sépulchre, and today it has large stone pillars supporting the structure, deep inside you will find a statue of Jesus being placed in his tomb.

The end of the ascent is marked by the Cross of Jerusalem sitting at the top of the hill with incredible views of Rocamadour and the valley beyond. Local folklore has it that the cross was brought all the way from Palestine by pilgrims.

I guess legends play a huge part in the framework associated with the stories of many historical sites, and Rocamadour is bound to be no different. As you have seen from my earlier blog posts there are numerous myths about many aspects of this incredible location, which is not so surprising for a site that has such spiritual significance. 

Unfortunately at the time I visited Rocamadour, I had no idea about the Stations of the Cross and we decided it was going to be easier to park at the top and go down rather than the other way around, in effect this meant that I did the stations in reverse. It did not however, in any way take away from the awe I felt when I paused at each of the stations, it was still a very moving and thought-provoking experience for me.

In conclusion, the Stations of the Cross are an important part of Christian tradition and a significant feature of Rocamadour. Whether you are a Christian, looking for a perfect opportunity to pray and reflect on the events of Christ’s last days on earth, or somebody simply seeking spiritual renewal, the pilgrimage to Rocamadour and experiencing the Stations of the Cross can be a transformational and inspiring journey, and I am positive you will not be disappointed.

Keep an eye out for the next instalment of my Rocamadour blog The Black Madonna (Part 6)

Does this make you want to visit immediately, take a look at our Plantagenets in France tour where we will visit this as well as other incredible historic sites in France.

Max

All photos © Plantagenet Discoveries