The Stations of the Cross Through the Face of Jesus
Photography and meditations by Fr. Jason Smith, LC. Published by RC Spirituality.
Through Fr. Jason’s photographs of the striking Stations of the Cross at the Our Lady of the Holy Spirit Center in Cincinnati, Ohio, gaze upon Jesus’ face as did Mary, the women, and his bravest followers, who, though devastated, accompanied Him on the journey of His Passion’s walk to Golgotha.
Share Christ’s final earthly journey that reveals God’s infinite love for each of us.
I The First Station: Jesus is Condemned to Death
Scripture Passage
Again, the high priest began to ask him, and said to him, ”Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?” And Jesus said to him, “I am. And you shall see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power and coming with the clouds of heaven.” But the high priest tore his garments and said, “What further need have we of witnesses? You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?” And they all condemned him as liable to death.
(Mark 14: 61-64)
Meditation
We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you, for by your holy cross, you have redeemed the world.
All images of Jesus inevitably fall short, particularly those capturing his Passion. Yet, as we contemplate each imperfect rendering of Christ, the Holy Spirit is at work, subtly guiding our hearts. What thoughts surface? What fresh nuance does the image contribute to our Scripture passage?
As we look at the face of Christ, we can remember that a picture conveys a thousand words; when we stop and offer a contemplative gaze for a few minutes, we may discern even more. Still, the only word this image needs to say is one: Jesus. If we whisper his name as we look upon the First Station, I wonder what words he will say to you.
II The Second Station: Jesus Carries His Cross
Scripture Passage
And Pilate said to the Jews, “Behold, your king!” But they cried out, ”away with him! Away with him! Crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your king?” The chief priest answered, “We have no king but Caesar.” Then he handed him over co them to be crucified. And so they took Jesus and led him away, bearing the cross for himself.
(John 19:14-17)
Meditation
We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you, for by your holy cross, you have redeemed the world.
How could any artist, no matter how gifted, perfectly render the profound love and suffering in Jesus’ face as he embraced his cross? To truly meet Christ’s gaze, we must entrust ourselves to the Divine Artist, the Holy Spirit. We can do that now by praying softly: Come Holy Spirit, come Holy Spirit, come Holy Spirit as we look upon the face of Christ.
The gift of experiencing this Station is found not only in contemplating Jesus’ face but also by noticing the countenances of those who, with faith and love, embrace their own cross. We can find the Second Station in the features of many faces. Through them our eyes meet Christ’s.
III The Third Station: Jesus Falls for the First Time
Scripture Passage
If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before you. If you were of the world, the world would love what is its own. Because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I have spoken to you: No servant is greater than his master. If they have persecuted me, they will persecute you also.
(John 15:18-20)
Meditation
We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you, for by your holy cross, you have redeemed the world.
Contemplating the Third Station, where Jesus falls under the weight of the cross, we may remember the times we have stumbled under our own crosses. Jesus’ gaze reminds us that we are not alone in our struggle: He has carried the cross before us and walks with us along the Stations of our own life. By fixing our eyes on Jesus and less on our own crosses, we may find the weight easier to bear.
IV The Fourth Station: Jesus Meets His Mother
Scripture Passage
Now there were standing by the cross of Jesus his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus, therefore saw his mother and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.
(John 19:25-27)
Meditation
We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you, for by your holy cross, you have redeemed the world.
Together with Mary, we fix our gaze upon Jesus as he carries his cross. Throughout history, artists have attempted to capture the depth of emotion in this moment, but all fall short. Only through the words of Scripture and our own contemplation can we truly grasp the exchange of empathy, love, and suffering that takes place as Jesus meets Mary’s gaze. By remaining in this moment, we understand that sometimes, the most expressive form of prayer requires no words.
V The Fifth Station: Simon of Cyrene Helps Jesus Carry His Cross
Scripture Passage
And when they had mocked Jesus, they took the purple cloak off and put his own clothes on him, and they led him out to be crucified. Then they forced a certain passer-by, Simon of Cyrene coming from the country, to take up his cross. They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha a name meaning ‘the place of the skull.’
(Mk. 15, 20 to 22)
Meditation
We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you, for by your holy cross, you have redeemed the world.
As Simon was passing by, the soldiers forced him to help carry the cross of Jesus. This Station reminds us how often we pass by Jesus daily, consumed by distractions and worries. The grace of this Station lies in recognizing that when we are inconvenienced by life’s circumstances and forced to slow down or stop, it is the Holy Spirit nudging us to recognize the Kingdom of God present in our midst. By being more mindful of the moment, we begin to see Jesus’ face everywhere.
VI The Sixth Station: Veronica Wipes the Face of Jesus
Scripture Passage
“Lord, when did we see you hungry, and feed you; or thirsty, and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger, and take you in; or naked, and clothe you? Or when did we see you sick, or in prison, and come to you?” And answering the king will say to them, “Amen, 1 say to you, as long as you did it for one of these, the least of my brethren, you did it for me.”
(Mt. 25, 37 to 40)
Meditation
We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you, for by your holy cross, you have redeemed the world.
The Sixth Station invites us to contemplate the comforting gifts of charity, tenderness, care, and love, which offer a stark contrast to the weight of the cross and the pain of Jesus’ passion. Veronica’s act of charity provided a moment of profound relief for Jesus. As we reflect on this Station, let us listen to our Lord’s words: “What you do to others, you do to me.” This Station is beautifully present in every act of charity, no matter how subtle, reminding us that we can bring comfort to those who suffer, and in doing so, we bring comfort to Christ himself.
VII The Seventh Station: Jesus Falls A Second Time
Scripture Passage
It was our weaknesses that he carried, our sufferings that he endured, while we thought of him as stricken, as one struck by God and afflicted. But he was pierced for our offenses, crushed for our sins; upon him was the punishment that makes us whole, by his stripes we were healed. We had all gone astray like sheep, each following his own way; but the Lord laid upon him the guilt of us all.
(Is. 53, 4 to 6)
Meditation
We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you, for by your holy cross, you have redeemed the world.
The Seventh Station beautifully illustrates that falling is an inevitable part of following Jesus. It reminds us that none of us carries our cross perfectly: Each time we stumble, we can look up and meet our Lord’s gaze in solidarity. The grace of this Station is that it encourages us to rise undiscouraged after the first few falls and to keep going even when we experience our hundredth. By fixing our eyes on Jesus and less on our falls, we may find the weight easier to bear.
VIII The Eighth Station: The Women of Jerusalem Weep Over Jesus
Scripture Passage
There was following Jesus a great crowd of people, and among them were some women who were bewailing and lamenting him. Jesus turning to them said, ”Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.”
(Luke 23, 27-28)
Meditation
We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you, for by your holy cross, you have redeemed the world.
The profound moment captured in this Station invites us to reflect on the shared human experience of weeping with those we love, and the moments in which our tears are the only gift we can offer. As we contemplate Jesus’ face, we are reminded of the women who wept over him in a city that stoned the prophets and killed those sent to it. It is a testament to the enduring nature of compassion and love: There are always people who possess good hearts. Let us ponder how Jesus contemplated the faces of those crying for him.
IX The Ninth Station: Jesus Falls for the Third Time
Scripture Passage
I lie prostrate in the dust; give me life according to your word. I declared my ways and you answered me; teach me your commands. Make me understand the way of your precepts, and I will meditate on your wondrous deeds. My soul weeps for sorrow; strengthen me with your words.
(Ps. 118, 25 to 28)
Meditation
We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you, for by your holy cross, you have redeemed the world.
Each time Jesus falls his eyes meet ours: Could it be that we are one of the motivations that kept him going, that in thinking of us he finds the strength to continue forward so that he can lay down his life for our redemption? Perhaps, as Jesus fell to the ground, he thought of us and rose again.
X The Tenth Station: Jesus is Stripped of His Garments
Scripture Passage
They gave Jesus wine to drink mixed with gall; but when he had tasted it, he would not drink. Then after they had crucified him they divided his clothes, casting lots to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet, “They divided my clothes among them, and upon my garments they cast lots.”
(Mt. 27, 34-35)
Meditation
We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you, for by your holy cross, you have redeemed the world.
In this Station, we contemplate the face of Jesus, who is the Word-made Flesh. That Christ would be stripped down to only the flesh, in utter humiliation, shows how profoundly God has united himself to us in suffering. Jesus, our king, would ascend to the throne of the cross wearing nothing but his wounds and a crown of thorns.
XI The Eleventh Station: Jesus is Nailed to the Cross
Scripture Passage
When they came to Golgotha, the place called the Skull, they crucified Jesus and the robbers, one on his right and other on his left. And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”
(Lk. 23, 33-34; Jn. 19,18)
Meditation
We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you, for by your holy cross, you have redeemed the world.
Contemplating the face of Jesus in so much pain, we might ask: Did it have to be like this? Couldn’t our redemption happen another way? Is sin this consequential? By looking at the Crucifixion we have to engage it for what it is: Terrible and humiliating capital punishment. There was no other way—and Jesus embraced it fully, with love.
XII The Twelfth Station: Jesus Dies on the Cross
Scripture Passage
It was now about the sixth hour, and. there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. And the sun was darkened, and the curtain of the temple was torn in the middle. Jesus cried out with a loud voice and said, “It is finished. Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” Then, bowing his head, he died.
(Lk. 23, 44 to 46; Jn. 19, 30b)
Meditation
We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you, for by your holy cross, you have redeemed the world.
As we contemplate the face of Jesus as he prepares to die, we can use the following recommendations of how to accompany a dying person to guide our prayer:
1–Establish your presence, be at the same eye level; don’t be afraid to touch a dying person: Dying individuals are often starved for human touch.
2–Eliminate distraction. Realize that excessive small talk can be a distraction too.
3–Dying individuals often have little energy: Keep this in mind in the way you speak to and comfort them.
4–Encourage the dying person to express their feelings.
5–Don’t be afraid to ask the person about unfinished business: Is there anything that they would like you to do?
6–Sometimes dying individuals don’t have access to other people. Ask the dying person if there is anyone they would like you to contact.
7–Encourage the dying person to reminisce, especially if you have common memories.
8–Talk with the individual when they wish to talk.
9–Express your regard for the dying individual. Don’t be afraid to express love, and don’t be afraid to say goodbye.
XIII The Thirteenth Station: Jesus is Taken Down from the Cross
Scripture Passage
When the soldiers came to Jesus, they saw that he was already dead so that they did not break his legs, but one of them opened his side with a lance, and immediately there came our blood and water. Joseph of Arimarhea, because he was a disciple of Jesus (although a secret one for fear of the Jews), besought Pilate thar he might take away the body of Jesus. And Pilate gave permission.
(Jn. 19, 33-34, 38a.)
Meditation
We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you, for by your holy cross, you have redeemed the world.
“Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” Jesus’ head drops slowly towards us, his chin resting above his breast-bone. We can now look at his face: Finally it is relaxed and calm. Torture has been turned into redemptive love. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, has died.
Jesus’ last words, Father, into your hands I commend my spirit, what a wonderful message they convey! They evoke the image of the hands of a loving Father reaching out and embracing him.
These are the same hands that reach out to us, every day. They are the hands of our Father who has created us and who holds us in being. They are the hands of a Father who blesses and embraces us. These are the hands that will receive us at the hour of our death.
XIV The Fourteenth Station: Jesus is Laid in the Tomb
Scripture Passage
Joseph of Arimathea took the body of Jesus, and wrapping it in a clean linen cloth he laid it in his new tomb, which he had hewn out of rock. Then he rolled a large stone against the entrance of the tomb and departed.
(Mt. 27, 59-60)
Meditation
We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you, for by your holy cross, you have redeemed the world.
Amid the sorrow of death, Jesus’ resurrection is gently present. It accompanies us on our life’s journey like peaceful and soft background music. When we pause to pray we may hear it. Just like the Risen Lord walked with his heartbroken disciples on the road to Emmaus, and they did not recognize him until he broke the bread, so too for us. We may see only the tomb today, but one day, resurrection will be broken open for us in a New Heaven and New Earth. This is the hope-filled grace of the fourteenth station: The tomb does not have the last word. Jesus’ resurrection does.
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