A Walk in the Woods

Each year the Order of Julian of Norwich offers its affiliates a retreat. Most recently this event has taken place at the Redemptorist Center in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. This year a special feature had been added to the grounds at the center. It is almost an understatement to call this a "feature." It is beautiful. It is breathtaking. It is holy. It is the Way of the Cross.

As you may know, the Way of the Cross, or Stations of the Cross, is a contemplative prayer practice, usually prayed during Lent. There are 14 stations or stops along the way. Prayers are said at each station. A relevant scriptural composite is also read. People actually move from station to station, often holding candles. They stop, pray, consider the event depicted and described. 

The Way of the Cross at the retreat center consists of bronze statues mounted on large "lannon" stone bases. If you've ever driven through Wisconsin, you will recognize the stone as those of the dells. These bases were quarried by a friend of the center, John P. Guiffre, who supervised the entire project, selecting the sites for each station, mounting the statues on the stones, creating the meandering path that leads the pray-er along through the Way. Mr. Guiffre died unexpectedly in January 2016, shortly after the project was completed.

The bronze statues are about four feet high; the stones are about two feet high. The path is difficult, narrow and hilly. I had to hold on to branches to keep myself from falling.

Even though it is not Lent, I want to share these images with you. I felt no reservation in praying the stations several times during the week that I was on retreat regardless of the season. At each station I prayed only what I could properly recall, even after many years of walking this way. It seemed to be sufficient.

We adore you, O Christ, and bless you,
Because of your holy Cross which has redeemed the world.

The First Station
Jesus is condemned to death

The Second Station
Jesus take sup his cross

The Third Station

Jesus falls the first time

The Fourth Station
Jesus meets his blessed mother

The Fifth Station
Simon of Cyrene is made to carry the cross

The Sixth Station

Veronica wipes the face of Jesus

The Seventh Station

Jesus falls the second time

The Eighth Station
Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem

The Ninth Station
Jesus falls the third time

The Tenth Station
Jesus is stripped of his garments

The Eleventh Station
Jesus is nailed to the cross

The Twelfth Station
Jesus dies on the cross

The Thirteenth Station

Jesus is taken down from the cross

and placed in the arms of his mother

The Fourteenth Station
Jesus is placed in the sepulcher

A Few Notes

Did you notice the absence of Jesus' mother at the fourth station? And where were the women of Jerusalem at the eighth station and Veronica at the sixth? You, the praying person, are to become these individuals. A close up of the fourth station shows Jesus' eyes cast downward. Mary is clearly crumpled up in a heap, sobbing at his feet.

The twelfth station is the only one where people are gathered. You may have your own view, but, for me, this indicates the whole of humanity saved by Jesus. I stood between these two and if felt like a multitude.

Look again at the eleventh station. See the hammer and the nails. See also the inscribed paper that will be affixed to the cross.

Here is a close up of the second station: Jesus taking his cross. It is viewed from the opposite side which you would normally see.

I was too eager to share these beautiful images to wait for Lent. But because our salvation is continuous and everlasting and, as Julian would say, from without beginning, here they are now, today, in our needful world.