STATIONS (Lat. statio), a name applied in the Roman Catholic church to certain places reputed of special sanctity, which are appointed to be visited as places of prayer. The name is particularly applied in this sense to certain churches in the city of Rome, which, from an early period, have been appointed as churches which the faithful arc particularly invited to visit on stated days. The names of these churches are found on the several days in the Roman missal prefix d to the liturgy peculiar to the day. The word, however, is employed in a still more remarkable manlier in reference to a very popular and widely-received devotional practice of the Roman Catholic church, known as that of " the stations of the cross." This devotion prevailed in all Catholic countries; and the traveler often recognizes it even at a distance by the emblems which are employed in directing its observance—the lofty " Calvary" crowning some distant eminence, with a series of fresco-pictures or bas-reliefs arranged at intervals along the line of approach. These representations, the subjects of which are supplied by scenes from the several stages of the passion of our Lord, are called stations of the cross, and the whole series is popularly known as the Via Calvaria, or way of Calvary. The origin of this devo tional exercise, like that of local pilgrimages, is traceable to the difficulty of access to the holy places of Palestine, consequent on the Turkish occupation of Jerusalem and the Holy Land; these representations being designed to serve as some analogous incen tive to the piety and faith of the Christian worshiper of our Lord in his passion. The
number of the so-called " stations" is commonly 14, although in some places 13, and in others, as Vienna, only 11; but whatever 'nay be their number, the subject of all is a sort of pictorial narrative of the passion. The devotional exercise itself is performed by kneeling at the .several stations in succession, and reciting certain prayers at each. Forms of prayer ate prescribed to those who can read. The poor and ignorant recite the Lord's Prayer and Mil, Mary I all being directed to fix theft thoughts in grateful memory upon " the sufferings which each representation describes our Lord as having undergone, in atonement for the sins of mankind." Many " indulgences" are granted to those who, having duly repented of their sins, shall piously perform this exercise. Many of these stations are celebrated as works of art, espocially one near Bologna. Some of those in the Alps and along the precipitous banks td the Rhine, Danube, and other German rivers, arc exceedingly striking and picturesque.