Also called Way of the Cross, Via Crucis, and Via Dolorosa). These names are used to signify either a series of pictures or tableaux representing certain scenes in the Passion of Christ, each corresponding to a particular incident, or the special form of devotion connected with such representations.

Taken in the former sense, the Stations may be of stone, wood, or metal, sculptured or carved, or they may be merely paintings or engravings. Some Stations are valuable works of art, as those, for instance, in Antwerp cathedral, which have been much copied elsewhere. They are usually ranged at intervals around the walls of a church, though sometimes they are to be found in the open air, especially on roads leading to a church or shrine. In monasteries they are often placed in the cloisters. The erection and use of the Stations did not become at all general before the end of the seventeenth century, but they are now to be found in almost every church. Formerly their number varied considerably in different places but fourteen are now prescribed by authority. There are 15 on the picture because they have included the Resurrection on the 3rd Day. This information comes from History Of The Way Of The Cross. The next paragraph comes from Britannica

The devotional exercise of visiting and praying in front of each of the 14 stations and meditating on the Passion of Christ stems from the practice of early Christian pilgrims who visited the scenes of the events in Jerusalem and walked the traditional route from the supposed location of Pilate’s house to Calvary. Tradition holds that Mary, the mother of Jesus, set up stone markers at her home outside Jerusalem to prayerfully retrace the steps of her son’s Passion, but the origin of the devotion in its present form is not clear. The number of stations originally observed in Jerusalem was considerably smaller than 14. In the early 16th century, Ways of the Cross were established in Europe, and the tradition of 14 stations probably derived from the best known of them

Now the point of pause is reached at last;

our sacred place of celestial rest,

when the balance turns towards the light,

and we gather in our Springtime flowering

to celebrate that moment when battle's scales

tipped for ever to the Light,

as eternity kissed time and womb woke it

from its long sleep of slumbering sin

to a blessed beauty longed for and found only

in she who is the vernal greening of our human story,

and with her soul assent gained for us our Easter, ever after.

It’s good to remember in these crazy times that we are still part of the deep rhythms of the cosmos; that we still rest secure in the eternal embrace of Divine Love.

The days of the Spring Equinox were traditionally a time of rejoicing for the coming of the light and in the Christian tradition we celebrate the Annunciation, the entry into our world of the Divine Light, incarnate through Mary, marked at the end of the festival. (March 25th)

As you are reading this, at the same time, be relaxing: let go of any and every thought. Release the belief that there is anything that you can do about anything. Relax; be still.

Be still and let God be God. Recognize that you could not possibly embrace God in your mind. Let your remembrance be: “Christ liveth my life. God functions as my being.” Let the whole earth be still, and above all let your mind be still. As you relax in this surrender, letting the mind that was in Christ Jesus be your mind, Grace will begin to function. Grace will function as wisdom; Grace will function as harmony and peace; Grace will function as health, wholeness, completeness, inspiration, and as the source of all knowledge, and It will flow through you, in you, and as you.

Those who have been working with Infinite Way principles are now approaching the state and stage of consciousness that lives by Grace–not by physical might, not by mental power, not by knowledge, but by Grace. The knowledge of truth always serves a function in your experience in that such knowledge helps you to settle back into an attitude of expectancy.

That is the only purpose that a knowledge of truth is serving at this stage of your unfoldment because now you should be rising above the letter of truth into the Spirit, into that area of consciousness where you live without words and without thoughts, above the law.

Goldsmith, Joel S. (2013-04-02). Beyond Words and Thoughts: Chapter 2; Building a Consciousness of Grace (Kindle Locations 566-577). Acropolis Books, Inc.. Kindle Edition.

Joel Solomon Goldsmith (March 10, 1892 – June 17, 1964) was an American spiritual teacher, author, spiritual healer and modern-day mystic.

The Throstle Song by Richard Hendrick

This morning the coffee was bitter and the room cold.

Sitting down to practice my bones ache.

Outside grey clouds and unrelenting rain mirrored my mood.

But the Thrush outside the chapel window punctured it all with

needle sharp notes, embroidering a blanket of exultation that

covered me in praise and warmed my heart with the knowing of

the nearness of a spring dawn, a spell cast by this avian enchanter of

the woods, proclaiming his Gospel unafraid even in the storm,a

herald of an as yet unseen world, not now but coming, as certain as

sunrise, as sure as song.

Brother Richard Hendrick is a Capuchin Franciscan priest-friar, living and working in Ireland (mostly). Currently he is the Guardian of Ards Friary in Donegal which includes a large residential retreat centre.

Hildegard of Bingen 1078 - 1179

Hildegard of Bingen was born in Rhineland and had visions from early childhood. She was sent to a Benedictine monastery to be educated. She became Abbess and was a writer, composer, philosopher, mystic, visionary, and as a medical writer and practitioner. She was a prolific composer, writing both words and music for chants, hymns and antiphons. More examples of her music survive than of any other composer in the Middle Ages.

She was listed as a saint but there does not seem to be a record of her canonisation. However, in May 2012, Pope Benedict XVI did correct that and then in October 2012, he named her a Doctor of the Church, in recognition of "her holiness of life and the originality of her teaching."

An Abbot asked Hildegard to be prioress, which would be under his authority. Hildegard wanted more independence for herself and her nuns and asked the Abbot to allow them to move to another area. This was to be a move toward poverty.. When the abbot declined Hildegard's proposition, Hildegard went over his head and received the approval of the Archbishop. Eventually, the Abbot agreed to give the nuns their own Monastery and Hildegard was to serve as the leader.

She died at the age of 81. Feminist scholars have grown increasingly interested in Hildegard in the modern era.

When the Church in the Middle Ages used to suppress the works of females, it is marvellous that some like Hildegarde would stand up to the hierarchy to look after the nuns and also use her many talents which are still recognised in the Church today.

The picture on the right is By Unknown author - Miniature from the Rupertsberg Codex of Liber Scivias., Public Domain

Prayer by Hildegarde

“The fire has its flame and praises God. The wind blows the flame and praises God. In the voice we hear the word which praises God. And the word, when heard, praises God. So all of creation is a song of praise to God.”

Catherine of Siena 1347-1380

Catherine was an Italian Catholic mystic and pious laywoman who engaged in papal and Italian politics. Canonized in 1461, she is revered as a saint and Pope Paul VI declared she was a Doctor of the Church in 1970 due to her extensive theological authorship.

Born and raised in Siena, Catherine wanted from an early age to devote herself to God, which was against the will of her parents. She was devoted to Dominican spirituality; along with pious widows.

Her influence on Pope Gregory XI played a role in his 1376 decision to leave Avignon for Rome. The Pope then sent Catherine to negotiate peace with the Florentine Republic. The Great Schism of the West led Catherine of Siena to go to Rome with the Pope. She sent numerous letters to princes and cardinals to promote obedience to Pope Urban VI and to defend what she calls the "vessel of the Church". She died on 29 April 1380 at an age of 33, probably because she punished herself with an extreme fasting regime. Pope Urban VI celebrated her funeral and burial in Rome.

Catherine ranks high among the mystics and spiritual writers of the Catholic Church. She showed her character in persuading people of power on behalf of two Popes. This is extraordinary for a woman in the Middle Ages to have had such influence in Papal politics.

Has there ever been anyone since Catherine of Siena who has had such influence?

Picture on right is by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo - Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien, Bilddatenbank., Public Domain.

Love Undefiled a prayer by St Catherine of Siena

Eternal God, eternal Trinity, You have made the Blood of Christ so precious through His sharing in Your Divine nature. You are a mystery as deep as the sea; the more I search, the more I find,
and the more I find the more I search for You. But I can never be satisfied; what I receive will ever leave me desiring more. Then You fill my soul I have an ever-greater hunger, and I grow more famished for Your light. I desire above all to see You, the true light, as you really are. Amen.

"We are stardust! And it is to stardust we shall return. On Ash Wednesday, we are reminded that "We are dust and to dust we shall return". I have heard these words annually for at least 65 years.The accompanying message will tend to focus on humility, to curb the prideful human spirit - as in “Don't fancy yourself too much"! We will be asked to do penance for our sinful nature mainly by giving up things, like smoking, alcohol, chocolate, etc for Lent. Then it is back to our usual self? After some decades, this Lenten logic failed to make much sense.

I was more for those who inspire us to go beyond simply giving up stuff for Lent - to focus on positive action to make us more loving people - to be more grateful and more generous with what we already have, to reach out to those in need, to to be more grateful and more generous with what we already have, to reach out to those in need, to focus on removing the barriers that prevent us from being more loving people, such as being too focused on self, etc.

Yet what a difference it has made to discover that “We are dust” means, we are made of the same material as the world around us. Yes, we ARE created in the image of our Creator God. Yet we are ALSO linked to the world around us, including all the flora and fauna of the natural world and all of humanity. "We are dust" also means we are all interconnected - that we are all in this project called Life together with the whole of humanity and the rest of Creation.

Knowing that "We are dust" is a community experience does change the meaning of Lent. No matter what we do, we always move together as people - even when we are unaware of this dimension of our lives. We affect other peoples' lives no matter what we do, This is what makes the real difference in the Lenten experience for me.

In addition, scientists now tell us we are made of the same stuff as the stars. "We are dust" also means ours is a stellar experience! We are much more than our merely HUMAN nature. There is no longer the need to focus on our prideful nature as humans, but to put our hopes on the other-wordly aspects of our human existence. In this regard, the Lenten possibilities are endless!

This literally means "We are stardust"! And it is to stardust we shall return!