THE WAY OF THE CROSS AT LOURDES, FRANCE

One of the most sublime experiences in Lourdes is to go through the “Way of the Cross”. It is a 2-km. path tracing the fifteen stations of Jesus Christ’s suffering. Starting from the side of the Basilica, it winds its way up the wooded hill that overlooks the town with beautiful views all around. The highest point is at the XIIth Station (the Crucifixion) where the most realistic dramatization takes place with three crosses and different figures clustered around the base. Then it slopes downward to the last station and the caves beyond.
The sculptures depicting each scene are about 2 meters high, realistically sculpted by the artist Raffl of Paris. They were donated by various French dioceses; some came from different countries. For example, the Tenth Station was a gift from the Catholics of Hungary while the Fourth Station was donated by the German Association of the Virgin of Lourdes. The first ones were inaugurated in 1912.
I. Jesus is condemned to death
II. Jesus receives his cross
III. Jesus falls for the first time
IV. Jesus meets his Mother
V. Simon of Cyrene carries the cross
VI. Veronica wipes the face of Jesus
VII. Jesus falls for the second time
VIII. The women of Jerusalem mourn for Jesus
IX. Jesus falls for the third time
X. Jesus is stripped of his garments
XI. Jesus is nailed to the cross 
XII. Jesus dies on the cross
XIII. Jesus is taken down from the cross
XIV. Jesus is laid in the tomb
XIV. Jesus is laid in the tomb