A Great Idea: Stations of the Cross Workout Challenge for Lent!

Remember the ice bucket challenge? Well, there's a new challenge out there -- the Stations of the Cross Workout Challenge for Lent. First they do the prayer and workout; then they challenge others to do it as well.






This could easily be adapted at home with your children or for older folks, associating each station with the traditional prayers and then doing 14 repetitions of an exercise. I love the Stations of the Cross by St. Alphonsus Liguoiri, so I'll use his prayers as the model.

First Station: Pilate condemns Jesus to die
   We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You...
   Because by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world. 

Leader: Consider how Jesus Christ, after being scourged and crowned with thorns, was unjustly condemned by Pilate to die on the cross.  

Then 14 repetitions of an exercise (e.g., touch head, shoulders, knees, and toes 14 times) 

Pray together: My adorable Jesus, it was not Pilate; no, it was my sins that condemned You to die. I beseech You by the merits of this sorrowful journey, to assist my soul on its journey to eternity. I love You, my beloved Jesus; I love You more than I love myself. With all my heart I repent of ever having offended You. Never let me be separated from You again. Grant that I may love You always; and then do with me as You will.

Well, you get the idea. At the 2nd station, Jesus accepts His cross, you can use weights (or no weights) and do 14 arm lifts in several directions. The third, Jesus falls the first time can be bending at the waist (with knees slightly bent) to touch the floor 14 times. And on through the other stations. I love this idea and want to think about it some more. A version for children would be a great idea to help them pray using the wigglies as part of their prayer honoring the Lord. And what a way to teach, as St. Paul says, to pray continually. There is nothing we do throughout the day that can't give honor to our Lord and Savior: folding wash, taking a walk, cooking meals, giving a presentation, etc.

I think I'll make one of my Lenten resolutions to do my own version of the Stations of the Cross Workout every day. "I adore You, O Christ, and I praise You!"