The Stations of the Cross: A reflection on Jesus' love

Intermountain Catholic

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Students from Saint John the Baptist Middle School play Roman soldiers and re-enact the Passion of Christ as they nail Jesus to the cross. They found it hard to play someone they are not, especially in condemning Jesus. IC photo by Priscilla Cabral

SALT LAKE CITY — There is hardly a better way to understand Christ’s suffering and pain during his Passion than to reflect on the Stations of the Cross.

The eighth-grade students at Saint John the Baptist Middle School in Draper reenacted the Living Stations of the Cross on April 8 and April 9 of Holy Week. Over a thousand students and community members searching for a powerful and reverent way to celebrate Holy Week joined them over the two days.

"The students take it very seriously," said Peri Flanagan, eighth-grade religious education teacher. Flanagan said her favorite thing about the re-enactment was to see the transformation of her students to their characters.

The transformation however, takes hard work and preparation. It is a long process. Flanagan’s students started preparing on Ash Wednesday.

"They watched a movie about the Passion of Christ. They also studied the Passion in the Gospel, looked at the stations within the Gospel, and created their own reflections and prayers," said Flanagan.

Students re-enacted each station and the characters they played were chosen democratically.

"Jesus and Mary were played by whomever they felt lived his or her life like Jesus and Mary on a daily basis," said Flanagan.

"I was a little shocked. I thought other people would be chosen," said Ryan Perri, who was chosen to be Jesus for the second station, when the cross was laid upon him.

"It was hard to prepare myself for the pain and suffering Jesus went through," he said.

The students presented the station 34 times on Wednesday and four on Thursday, but repetition did not desensitize them or make the re-enactment any easier.

"It made it more intense. And the cross seemed to get heavier and heavier every time I carried it," said Perri.

"It’s hard to act like someone you’re not, someone condemning him (Jesus)," said Cole Gordon, who was Pontius Pilate. "But you get the emotions in you."

Students at Saint Vincent de Paul School also reflected on the Stations of the Cross in a very solemn manner April 8. The gymnasium was transformed into a dim place of prayer lit only by a few candles. Students from kindergarten to eighth grade participated in the lecture of a station, reflection, or prayer. Each class designed and painted a frame on Jesus’ journey to his death on the cross.

The purpose of the Stations of the Cross is to reflect on Jesus’ love and sacrifice and on our behavior toward others, including those who do not share our beliefs. The community of Saint George understands this and gathers every year to participate in the Ecumenical Way of the Cross.