Stations of the Cross, Immaculate Conception Parish

This is a letter that I wrote to my pastor, associate pastors, and deacons a couple of weeks ago. I now understand that the change is finalized and Stations will be moved from Friday evening to Wednesday evening so as to NOT "interfere" with the Fish Fry or a planned speaking series. As yet, I have received no response from the pastor - and I don't expect one. And I fully understand that there is no mandate or law requiring Stations on Fridays, etc.

*** Letter from Feb 9.
Last week, in a discussion with one of our deacons, I became aware of a recent decision by you, in consultation with others, to move our customary Friday Stations of the Cross to Wednesday evening. Are we to assume that this is being done so as not to interfere with the IQ Series talks that have scheduled for Friday evenings? Since I am unable to understand how praying the Stations on a Friday evening at 6:00pm or 6:30pm could possibly interfere with an event scheduled for 7:00pm or 7:30pm, could you or someone else explain the rationale behind this to me?

You, no doubt, are aware that the longstanding custom in our parish, our archdiocese and throughout the U.S., has always regarded Fridays as the most appropriate day to pray the Stations of the Cross, particularly during Lent. Not only is Friday a day of exceptional devotion and remembrance of Good Friday, it is also an obligatory day of penance, during which we are to practice fasting and abstinence, especially during the Lenten season. Shifting this time-honored Catholic devotional custom from Fridays to Wednesdays seems shamefully offensive in that it is a direct affront to the sensibilities of faithful Catholics who have traditionally viewed Fridays during Lent as a time of special prayer, grace, and conversion.

The Congregation of Divine Worship in its "Directory on Popular Piety and the Liturgy, Principles and Guidelines" (Dec. 2001), when discussing the Via Crucis and the link to the Veneration of the Cross, confirms this when it states:

Popular piety tends to anticipate the cultic veneration of the Cross. Throughout Lent, every Friday is observed, since very ancient times, as a commemoration of the Lord's Passion and the faithful easily direct their devotions towards the mystery of the Cross. (Emphasis added)

How, then, will the faithful of the parish properly observe Fridays if you move our Stations of the Cross devotions to Wednesday? Why would any pastor choose to disrupt that to which we have become accustomed over many decades? Why would we want to discard our Catholic heritage and pious practices and traditions which are so beneficial for growing closer to our Lord?

Regardless of your final decision in this matter, it remains a fact that the faithful may continue to practice this pious devotion privately in the Chapel on Fridays or any other day and, if properly disposed, to also merit a plenary indulgence since the Chapel contains "legitimately erected" stations. Some of the faithful may even opt to pray the Via Crucis at other parishes which have not arbitrarily abandoned a customary and venerable devotion for the sake of some perceived expediency or in the erroneous belief that more people may attend on Wednesday rather than Friday. If attendance is the issue, perhaps having Stations on two or more nights would be a better alternative.

Secondly, after having read the Enchiridion of Indulgences No.63 (1968) with regard to the Stations of the Cross and the requirements necessary for obtaining the plenary indulgence, I have a question whether the new church has Stations of the Cross that have been "legitimately erected". I am quite skeptical at this point that, 1) a plenary indulgence may be obtained by praying the Via Crucis in the new church which does not appear to have "legitimately erected" stations, and 2) whether the banners being used for stations are even permissible for this pious devotion.

The documentation that I have regarding this observation comes from three sources: Code of Canon Law #1169 (with commentary), Inter Oecumenici #77, and the Roman Ritual. All three of these sources indicate that the blessing and erecting of Stations of the Cross are reserved to a bishop. If the blessing of Stations is actually reserved to a bishop, then one must ask if one of our bishops actually blessed the banners that have been or are currently being used for stations in the church. If not, did Archbishop Rigali give permission to have these banners blessed by a priest rather than a bishop? If neither of these questions can be answered in the affirmative, then do we not have a slight problem here? It also appears from the relevant documents that stations should be permanent (erected), rather than seasonal articles that can be put up and taken down at will.

Lastly, in closing, if it is determined that we do not have "legitimately erected" stations in the new church, would it not be appropriate and fitting that the Stations of the Cross devotions be relocated back to the Chapel so that those who wish to obtain a plenary indulgence may do so?

If it is determined that we do, in fact, have "legitimately erected" stations in the new church, then the only issue remaining is that of moving the devotions from Friday to Wednesday. I would ask that you prayerfully consider the reasons for maintaining these devotions on Friday with the possibility of adding other days if that would seem advantageous.

I look forward to hearing from you about this and as always, all of you are in my daily prayers.
*** End of letter

To clear up any questions that may arise from those unfamiliar with Immaculate Conception Church in Dardenne, allow me to initally address some of those:

IQ Series
This is a attempt by the parish to invigorate the faith of parishioners and others by bringing in speakers who would give talks on some aspect of the faith. For the most part, these speakers give talks on Friday evening. Initially, one speaker a month was to be the goal. During this Lenten season, however, it looks like we will have a speaker on every Friday. It is unclear to me whether fidelity to Church teaching is a prerequisite to be invited to speak. These talks are scheduled to begin at 7:30pm. (Stations started at 6:00 or 6:30)

New Church
Our new church building looks like the typical modern church built today in most parts of the U.S., based on the mundane architectural minimalism of the 70's. There are no stations. We have one statue only, and that is of our Blessed Mother, off to the side in an alcove. We do, however, have a "monumental" cross (not crucifix) behind the altar which blocks the view of a small tabernacle which is a good distance away. The cross is a conglomeration of steel & glass, which is truly reminiscent of the 60's & 70's culture. It would be perfect for any Protestant church building. We will, once again, have 'banners' for Stations. Unfortunately, they are not tie-dyed.

Chapel (Old Church)
Our old church, which we have outgrown holds about 200-250 people. It was built in the late 1890's by the hard work and efforts of area Catholics doing all they could to built a worthy house for God, and it was extraordinarily simple yet beautiful until a "renovation" was done about 10-15 years ago. However, it could still be restored to its former beauty and it does, at least, have Stations. At it still retains nearly all of the statues which we had before the renovation.

Other
The parish, while I would not classify it as an hotbed for dissidence, nevertheless has its share of sanctioned liturgical abuses and other issues which have not yet been rectified. I have engaged in discussions defending:
the perpetual virginity of Mary,
the male only priesthood,
the sacrificial nature of the Holy Mass,
the real, true, substantial, and unique Presence of Christ in the Eucharist,
non-Catholics inability to receive Holy Communion, and so forth.

Hopefully, these things may change with the recent appointment of Archbishop Raymond Burke.