The Society of Saint John the Evangelist: The Daily Office
The Road to Resurrection
Holy Week at the Monastery
Good Friday 
The Way of the Cross
The Way of the Cross is an adaptation of a practice widely observed by pilgrims to Jerusalem: the offering of prayer at a series of places in that city traditionally associated with Jesus’ passion and death. Historically, the number of stations —literally stopping places, from the Latin statio — varied widely but eventually became fixed at fourteen. Of these, eight are based directly on events recorded in the Gospels. The remaining six (3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 13) are based on inferences from the Gospels or on traditional, pious legends. To this day, during any daylight hour in Jerusalem, groups of pilgrims can be found winding their way through the streets, stopping, praying, and singing in commemoration of Jesus’ suffering and death.
The order which follows derives from many sources, including several forms collected in Jerusalem, but hews closely to the orders provided in The Book of Occasional Services (Church Publishing, Inc.) and Not My Will but Yours Be Done (GIA Publications) by William Rowan and Thomas Troeger. It includes texts from the Scriptures, prayers, simple responsories based on the ancient tone for singing the Passion Gospel, and an original hymn tune based on the same — including a fragment of Ein feste Burg — by Kevin Hackett ssje. The focused, almost monotonous musical effect is intentional, linking both the majesty and misery of the stations to the traditional chanted version of the Gospel according to Saint John sung on Good Friday in churches throughout the world.
The Officiant may be lay or ordained, and it is desirable that the reader of the first lesson at each station be a different “pilgrim” from the assembled congregation. It is desirable, also, that the reader of the second lesson — all words of Jesus — be the same throughout. If necessary, the entire service may be recited, though it is highly preferable that as much as possible be sung.
In places where movement from one physical station to another is possible, it is desirable that this take place in silence after the concluding prayer at each station. In places where movement is not possible or practical, a period of silence is appropriate after the prayer. It is desirable, also, to stand when each successive station is announced, as the hymn is sung, and for the prayer.
© 2007 THE SOCIETY OF SAINT JOHN THE EVANGELIST, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED