Praying the Stations with Faith and Courage
Richard Gribble
ISBN 9781585958658
Recently I went through the collection of Stations I had and found I had about 10 I have never read or reviewed and have made the commitment to try and make it through them this Lent, and I added 2 as I have been reading, praying, and reviewing my way through the collection. Of the 10 I started with 6 were from Twenty-Third Publications, and while researching this review I found a few others I am interested in.
This is the Third of the Stations of the Cross I have read from Twenty-Third Publications in this series, I have read a few not part of this series from them as well. I really loved Praying the Stations Mary’s Way of the Cross, by Richard G. Furey CSsR and picked up several others in this series. But I was fairly disappointed in Praying the Stations with Saint John XXIII by Bill Huebsch; so had sort of ignored them the past few years. This year I will try and get through the 6 I have and then see about tracking down some others that piqued my interest. It appears versions of this devotion in this series have come in and out of print for years. I believe I have found 20 titles in this series, some out of print long enough I cannot find good cover images.
This volume starts with a 1 page “Introduction” and ends with a 1 page “Closing Meditation”. Each station is a two facing pages spread.
A sample Station for this edition:
“The Third Station
Jesus Falls the First Time
Under the weight of the cross, his burden of the totality of human sin, and from the effects of his scourging, Jesus falls on his path to Calvary. Yet, despite agonizing pain and with full knowledge of where this journey will lead, Jesus somehow picks himself up and continues along the path. Even on his march to death, Jesus did not allow hurdles or obstacles to deter him from going forward or finding his goals.
The complexities and sufferings of life will at times knock us to our knees, literally or proverbially. But, like Jesus, we must stand up and continue to carry the burdens of life and negotiate the hurdles and detours that come our way. We cannot allow the world to defeat us; the Christian has only one option, and that is to continue along the path. Jesus can be our model to continue along the way even during stormy times, realizing that, just as he calmed the storm on the Sea of Galilee (Mark 4:35–41), he can and will still storms in our lives as well. Let us imitate Jesus’ courage. When life strikes us a blow that causes us to stagger or fall, let us continue to move forward toward our final victory in heaven.
Lord Jesus, even the burden of the cross could not keep you from your mission to save us. Help and strengthen me to have sufficient courage to continue along the path of life you have given to me.”
A note ate the beginning of this devotion states:
“A note on communal praying: It is traditional to begin each Station by announcing it (e.g., The First Station: Jesus is condemned to death), followed by an exchange between the leader and the people:
Leader: We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you.
People: By your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
I have also found it helpful to have the assembled group pray an Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be after the prayer of the Station. Then the presider says, “Lord Jesus crucified.” And the people respond, “Have mercy on us.”
But unlike the other two in this series I have read they are not included in the text of the volume. The closing meditation is:
“Our journey with Jesus along the fourteen stations, his Via Crucis, has ended, but our journey of life and the challenges that come our way continue. From his condemnation to death to his placement in the tomb, Jesus strode with dignity the path that we all must walk. He was persistent to the end. It is highly unlikely that any of us will encounter suffering and death as did he, but the events of his journey are generally part of our life at some time or place. Jesus’ mission must teach us that perseverance, a willingness to meet challenges, faithfulness to responsibility, and enduring various sufferings and indignities are part of the Christian life. Jesus never promised us an easy ride, but rather the cross. However, he made it very clear that those who carry their burden and walk their own Via Crucis will find the fullness of life and resurrection. May our meditation on this Way of the Cross strengthen our resolve to follow Jesus more closely and faithfully in all we do and say.”
Overall am impressed with the series, especially after this third volume, and will give others in the series a try. This was an great stations of the cross. It was not great but also not terrible. I have a few stations I return to again and again. I am always willing to give another version of this devotion a try. I wish the other in the series were available digitally. With my dual form of dyslexia I greatly prefer eBooks so I can change the font, font and page colour to make reading easier.
I will read and review the others from the series I have tracked down and try to find the reaming few of the other volumes in the ‘Praying The Stations Series’ from Twenty-Third Publications. I try and pray a stations each Friday throughout the year, and every day during Lent. I could see returning to this one occasionally. If it because available digitally far more often.
I good stations for personal or corporate use.
Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2026 Catholic Reading Plan! For all Stations of the Cross review click here.
Books in the Praying The Stations With Series:
A Way of Reconciliation for Teens - Colleen Rainone
Praying the Stations for Healing - David M. Knight
Praying the Stations of the Cross for Seniors - John van Bemmel
Stations of the Cross for Older Adults - John Van Bemmel
Praying the Stations for the Suffering, Ill, and Disabled - Holly B. Clark
aka Praying the Stations With Mary the Mother of Jesus – Richard Furey
Praying the Stations of Mercy with Pope Francis - Bill Huebsch
Praying the Stations Today’s Disciples - Sr. Christine Kreshko
Praying the Stations with Catechists - Gwen Costello
Praying the Stations with Children - Gwen Costello
Praying the Stations with John Paul II – Bill Huebsch
Praying the Stations with Pope Francis - Bill Huebsch
Praying the Stations with Saint John XXIII - Bill Huebsch
Praying the Stations with Seniors – John Van Bemmel
Praying the Stations with Teenagers - Gwen Costello
Praying the Stations with Young Children - Diane Abajian
Stations of the Cross for Today's Disciples - Christine Kresho
The Mystery of the Cross: Praying the Stations with Pope Francis - David M. Knight
Walking the Via Dolorosa Today - Laurin J. Wenig
…
Other Stations from Twenty-Third Publications:
A Mother's Way of the Cross - Deborah McCann
A Personal Way of the Cross - Isaias Powers
An Illustrated Stations of the Cross - James Nisbet
Stations of Hope: Praying the Stations of the Cross for Today - Father David M. Knight
Stations of Strength Praying the Stations of the Cross in Times of Suffering - Alice Camille
The People of the Way of the Cross - Marci Alborghetti
The Stations of the Resurrection - Sister Catherine Duenne
The Way of the Cross - William V Coleman
The Way of the Cross for Parents - Susan Jones
Via Lucis The Way of Light: Praying the Stations of the Resurrection - Glenn Byer
Walking with Jesus on the Way to Calvary - Kathy McGovern
Way of Cross Religion Teachers - Gwen Costello
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