Reports of the demise of the sixth Station of the Cross, where Veronica wipes the face of Jesus, appear greatly exaggerated. It was confirmed last night that she stays on.
Anxiety over the fate of Veronica, and the traditional Stations of the Cross, followed news that on Good Friday many of the traditional stations were dropped and newer ones added in a Stations of the Cross led by Pope Benedict at the Coliseum in Rome.
The apparent change led to criticism by a Killarney priest, who spoke at Masses of his sadness at the planned "removal" of the station dedicated to Veronica. Fr Kevin McNamara, a parish curate, said the station concerned was "the sensitivity station" in that it represented a spontaneous Christian gesture from someone in the crowd who, moved by suffering, stepped forward to give assistance.
It was also enormously important to women. "It is a station that has always given me inspiration to walk the extra mile with people," Fr McNamara said. "It is a great pity it is now to be removed."
He told Mass goers on Sunday Pope Benedict's decision was "beyond him" and he hoped the pope would reconsider. However, Fr Patrick Jones, director of the national centre for liturgy at St Patrick's College Maynooth, said yesterday Veronica will not have to be removed from Stations of the Cross in Catholic churches all over Ireland.
He said that a new Stations of the Cross was introduced at the Coliseum by Pope John Paul in 1991. However, at Easter last year, Pope Benedict reverted to the traditional version, but changed to the newer alternative this year.
As Fr Jones explained last night, the Stations of the Cross evolved through many forms up to the Middle Ages, with just seven stations at one time. In 1731 Pope Clement XII established the familiar and traditional Stations of the Cross, such as features in the great majority of Catholic churches in Ireland.
In 1975, under Pope Paul VI, a newer version was introduced, beginning at the Last Supper and ending with the Resurrection. In 1991 the most recent and most Bible-based 15-stations version was instituted.
Fr Jones spoke last night of the three versions of the Stations of the Cross as "alternatives", each with validity, whether based on tradition or scripture or both.
The traditional 14 stations begin with Jesus being condemned to death, continue with him carrying the cross; his first fall; meeting his mother; Simon helping him; Veronica; the second fall; the women of Jerusalem; third fall; stripped; nailed to the cross; his death; taken down from the cross; entombed.