How many times does the Bible say Jesus actually fell on his way to Golgotha?

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Sara in a previous post mentions the stations of the cross. For years I enacted them in Church. Yet, I have no Bible passage to show me how many times Jesus felldown.

-- Elpidio Gonzalez (egonzalez@srla.org), April 14, 2003

Answers

Anyone knows of a Church Father which mentions this?

-- Elpidio Gonzalez (egonzalez@srla.org), April 14, 2003.

actually, i dont know the verses, but im pretty sure Jesus fell twice... maybe three times, but i think it was twice

-- paul (dontSendMeMail@notAnAddress.com), April 14, 2003.

This is one of many Christian truths that are not revealed in the Bible - hence the necessity for sacred Tradition AND sacred Scripture, in order to access the fullness of truth.

-- Paul (PaulCyp@cox.net), April 14, 2003.

I think it's important to remember that the Church has nearly 1800 years of tradition without a bible on every nightstand as we know it today. The first printed bible became available in the 1500's, coinciding with the split of the protestant churches and it wasn't until the introduction of offset lithography, a fairly recent innovation, that made the bible available to every home.

The church has passed on her tradition and teachings by means other than the bible, for most of her history. It drives fundamentalist Christians crazy to hear Catholics talk about Jesus falling three times when they know good and well that it's not documented in the Bible. For Catholics, I think it's important to try to discern the meaning and the teachings in the Traditions of the Church, for even though it might not be Biblical, there is much to be gained in the contemplation of the Stations. Much of what the Church believes about Mary, the Mother of Jesus, simply isn't documented in the bible, however, again, there is much to be gained in the depth of the Church's teaching. We truly believe our Church is spirit driven. The spirit speaks to each of us through the teachings and traditions that are handed to us in the church. The Spirit didn't stop speaking to us when the last book of the bible was penned.

When I had problems with the church's teachings and traditions, it was explained to me that I needed to be patient. Our Church is a universal church and it speaks to a multitude of followers through many different means. If something doesn't seem valid now, be patient, as you grow in spiritual maturity, things that seem trivial or out of place now, might one day take on new importnace to you. If you can believe what is written in the creed, then you believe what Catholics believe; as for all the rest, be patient, life's spiritual journey is a long one and it can take many unexpected twists. Who knows what kind of support you might need along the way. If you fall along the way, perhaps it might do you well to know that Jesus was human and fell too.

-- Leon (vol@weblink2000.net), April 15, 2003.


Jmj

But, David C, can you confirm my memory that the 2003 Stations of the Cross at the Coliseum did include all of the fourteen "traditional" stations?

This year, the meditations were those written by the pope himself, two years before the beginning of his pontificate, when he was Archbishop of Krakow. This pope does not tell us that Jesus did not fall ... he does not say that there was no "Veronica" ... he does not say that Jesus's Body did not rest in Mary's arms.

David C., you sound as though you may be Catholic. Please don't go "sola scriptura" on us!

God bless you.
John
PS: Do I recall correctly that the 2002 Coliseum meditations were written by an Eastern Orthodox bishop, who would have included the fourteen traditional stations, which are marked by chapels or other markers along the "Via Dolorosa" in Jerusalem?

-- J. F. Gecik (jfgecik@hotmail.com), April 27, 2003.



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