Back in March 2011, I wrote about how we say (or better yet, pray) the Stations of the Cross at home when we can't make it to our parish's community Stations of the Cross each Friday during Lent.  This post will be similar, but with updated photos that include our current youngest child enjoying this church and family tradition.  

It is a Lenten tradition in the Catholic Church to meditate on the passion and death of our Lord by participating in the Stations of the Cross.  What are the Stations of the Cross?  You can go HERE for more information and read the history behind the devotion.


Many Catholic Churches say the Stations of the Cross each Friday during Lent (this devotion is on Friday since this is the day Jesus died on the cross).  With our family's schedule it is sometimes difficult to head out the door and visit the Stations at our local church.  So when we can't make it to our church we say the Stations together at home.  I love meditating on the stations with our church community, but I also love sharing this tradition and devotion in our home with family. It is simple, takes no preparation time and it is a meaningful way to focus on Lent and Jesus' passion and death before the joyous celebration of the Easter season!


Many years ago my two oldest children each colored free printables of each of the 14 stations so we hang these up around our dining room.  One day I would like to "update" these and use Kristen's Stations of the Cross printables at Drawn 2B Creative and have all my children participate in the coloring. 

While we stand and kneel at each station hanging on our wall we use a children's version of the Stations of the Cross from a magazine I found several years ago.  Here is another great children's version that can be read and printed out.

While we are reading through each station we use this Magnetic Stations of the Cross 18" Plaque that is hanging next to our front door year round in our home.  I gave this cross as a gift to my husband's cousin who entered into full communion with the Catholic Church with my husband on Easter 2006.  When she passed away, our family inherited this beautiful cross.

It is magnetic so before we start reading through the prayers for each station, we take all the magnets off the cross.  Then each child takes a turn putting the next numbered station on the cross to fill the cross back in as my older children and my husband and I take turns reading the prayers that go with each numbered station.  (And sometimes there is even some bickering and arguing with my younger kids of who goes next! Grrr....)  Each magnet is numbered with a Roman numeral in the corner, it's just hard to see this in the photos. My 8 year old likes to walk around the dining room with the cross and stand in front of each station as we read and pray.

Hoping the rest of your Lent is a blessed one!

I linked this post to 40 Days of Seeking Him During the Season of Lent











I also linked this post to link up spot #79 at New Evangelists Monthly - April 2016, Issue #40