Stations of the Cross

So I didn't go to Stations of the Cross yesterday. I watched a movie instead.

For those of you who have no idea what Stations of the Cross is, I'll fill you in. I had no idea until a couple of weeks ago. Apparently, during Lent this parish does "Stations" as they affectionately refer to it, every Friday. It's followed by a light soup supper. They fast on Fridays (modified version of our fasting), and all Catholics don't eat meat on Fridays (fish excepted) which means it's vegetarian soup.

So since I was "doing Lent" Gabe thought I should actually "Do Lent!" And yes I did go to mass on Ash Wednesday and get ashes on my forehead. Now that's an experience for another blog post. So I'm willing to try about anything (unless it's related to mushrooms, alcohol, raw beef, illegal drugs, sushi or coffee. I do have my limits!), so I went to Stations.

Haha. What a work out. If any of you guys ever want a good work out, just go hang out with Catholics. Those guys have strong legs I tell ya. So there are 16 stations. You walk around to each one while the priest tells what happened, says a prayer, and there is a group reading. This covers the time from when Christ was condemned to be crucified up through the resurrection. They apparently have a history of exactly what happened when he carried his cross.

So they talk about the times that he fell, when his mother came to him, when Simon helped him carry it, and so on. If any of you have ever watched the Passion of the Christ (by Mel Gibson) you'll see the Stations acted out.

Anyway. At each station, the priest says something, then you genuflect (Catholic for get down on your right knee and bow your head then get up again), then the priest says something, or you all do, I don't remember, then you kneel down, read something, then get back up and go to the next station. So by about station 12 I couldn't move any more, I was having a hard time getting back up, and I looked around to see what other people were doing. Most of them were getting back up just fine! I tell ya, these guys are strong.

I did manage to find a couple old ladies who just stayed on their knees, so I followed their example. It helped. But my legs hurt for the next three days. I found a friend outside the "chapel" (It's a gym, but it's all they have) who says her knees aren't up to it so she just doesn't go in. So that's how you do it!

So the next week, I got smart. Sara wanted to come with me, so the two of us went. Same friend saw me going in and asked if I was a glutton for punishment. Haha. I discovered a system. I call it the Mormon answer to Stations of the Cross. You kneel on your jacket, stay down the whole time, and only move once when they switch to the other side of the room. Oh yea, and lean on a folding chair for support. It worked! Yep, I looked like an out of shape Mormon who was cheating, but hey, with the shape I'm in, it was the best I could do.

I did get quizzed afterward if I had eaten any meat that day. I proudly answered that I had beef taquitos for lunch and they were delicious. I guess I don't make a very good Catholic! I'll stick with Mormonism. Cushioned seats, no kneeling, yep. We have it good guys, even if we have three hour church on Sundays!

Last night Gabe called to see if I was going. I had asked Megan earlier if she wanted to go with me. For some reason she had no interest in it whatsoever. I have no idea why (I guess Sara had told her all about it!). But I was tired and hungry and really didn't feel like a workout. So I watched a movie instead and today I'm enjoying a pain free day!

P.S. I shouldn't make fun of it too much. It is interesting to ponder, and the readings and questions that go along with it are thought provoking and insightful. So there is a lot good about it. If you ever get a chance to do it, I would recommended it. But take a jacket or something to kneel on, unless their church has kneelers, which our local parish does not. Then you should be fine.