The Stations of the Cross are a veneration of the final hours of the life of Jesus Christ, depicting various events, persons, locations, and liturgical themes. The recreation
…or meditation is intended to replicate the historical sequence leading to Jesus' Crucifixion. (Various listings are available including the approved 2007 version from the Roman Catholic Church under Pope Benedict XVI.) Stations of the Cross are commonly used by Roman Catholics to remember Jesus' suffering and death on the cross. In most Catholic churches you will see 14 pictures depicting Jesus' last hours, death, and burial. Catholics will meditate on these fourteen stations, and pray at each one. Typically there are devotions to the Stations of the Cross during Lent (40 days between Ash Wednesday and Easter). Catholic Answer The Stations of the Cross are an ancient devotion developed by the Franciscans to meditate on the various happenings as Jesus was condemned to death, died, and was buried. The Stations are basically meditations on each of the fourteen stations, although some methods include various prayers and some have a hymn (Stabat Mater {At the Cross her station keeping}) between each Station. They are usually prayed on Fridays during Lent, but may be prayed at any time. There are fourteen of them, and they are from tradition, not all of the Stations are mentioned in the Bible. Blessed Pope John Paul recently issues another set of Stations based entirely on the Bible and recently some people add a fifteenth - the Resurrection, which really doesn't belong in the Stations of the Cross, but, well; here are the Stations as traditionally prayed: 1. Pilate condemns Jesus to die 2. Jesus accepts His Cross 3. Jesus falls the first time 4. Jesus meets His afflicted Mother 5. Simon helps to carry the cross 6. Veronica offers her veil to Jesus 7. Jesus falls the second time 8. Jesus speaks to the women 9. Jesus falls the third time 10. Jesus is stripped of His garments. 11. Jesus is nailed to the cross 12. Jesus dies upon the cross 13. Jesus is taken down from the cross 14. Jesus is placed in the sepulcher If you meditate on the Stations in a Church before legitimately erected Stations, moving from one to the next, and praying at each; and go to Holy Communion that day, say some prayers for the Holy Father's Intentions, and make a good confession within a week (before or after) - you earn a plenary indulgence on the usual conditions. (MORE) 
