Hi, Bryn -

This is a common question; it's even in our searchable knowledge base:

https://www.AskACatholic.com/SiteSearch

There are a lot of quick answers there, so give it a try. I did a quick Google search from our knowledge base and we actually have received a similar question before.

• Why are there 15 Stations of the Cross when there use to be only 14 and what's the history?
  

Here is a helpful article from the St. Anthony Messenger: 15th Station of the Cross?
It talks about how the 15th Station became popular in the Cursillo movement, that started in Mexico.

• 15th Station of the Cross? from the St. Anthony Messenger

On a theological level, there are two approaches one can take to this.

1. The traditional 14 Stations tell the Good Friday Story so one can argue that there should only be 14 Stations.
2. On the other hand, the Stations tell the story of our Redemption, which was not complete in time until the Resurrection.

Both are valid.

According to the article below, the number of Stations has varied throughout the centuries with as many as 37 Stations.

• Stations of the Cross date back to the fourth century
  

This article below is from the Vatican and gives a history, including the Way of Cross John Paul used at times that strictly includes only those Stations that are found in the Bible . . . (Only eight).

• The Way of the Cross - Presentation from the Office for the Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff (Piero Marini, Titular Archbishop of Martirano, Master of the Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff)

So this is really set in stone. Most Churches, predate the 15th Station, so they don't have an image and if that parish prays the 15th Station they do so at the Altar . . . and that's also fitting because at the Altar, Calvary, the Resurrection, and the Divine Liturgy are made present mystically at the Consecration.

The Stations aren't an official standardized prayer like the Mass or the Liturgy of Hours. It's a meditation on the sufferings of Christ. In some ways it was a teaching tool. Remember, until the printing press was invented, the Scriptures weren't readily available to the faithful. On top of that, there was the issue of literacy so the Church used prayers, artwork, symbols, etc, as a way to teach the faithful or remind them of what they heard preached.

So to repeat, there have been as many as 37 Stations . . . but there are only eight (8) in the Scriptures.

I hope this helps.

Under His Mercy,

John DiMascio