Stations of the Cross At St. Edward

The "St. Edward Parish 1880 to 2005" book states that the Stations of the Cross at the Church of St. Edward were erected and blessed March 7, 1915. Nothing else is listed.

Having submitted photos of our Stations to AI, though, and based on some observations, we can share:

Construction and Material

These Stations are Composition plaster (sometimes called staff, scagliola, or molded plaster composition). They are:

Cast from molds and then hand-finished.
Reinforced internally with wood, wire, burlap, or metal rods.
Hand painted with oil or casein paints and highlighted with gold leaf or gold paint.

This was the standard method used for Catholic devotional sculpture between about 1890 and 1935, allowing beautiful, highly detailed figures to be produced at a fraction of the cost of carved marble or wood. The delicate fingers, flowing drapery, and identical finish are all characteristic of molded plaster rather than carving.

Artistic Style

Our stations belong to what art historians usually call the late German devotional or Munich style.

Characteristics include:

remarkably natural anatomy
expressive faces
soft flowing drapery
muted pastel colors
restrained gold accents
realistic rather than theatrical poses

This style became enormously popular in the Upper Midwest because many German-American and Bohemian parishes wanted artwork resembling what they had known in Europe.

The Pedestals

The brackets beneath each station are original and part of the station.

Notice:

pressed ornamental foliage
repeated Gothic scrollwork
integrated station number
small gold cross
molded title plaque

These were usually supplied as a complete unit with the sculpture rather than built locally.

The Crosses

One fascinating feature is the wooden cross mounted behind every station.

Many manufacturers simply placed the relief against a flat panel.

Our parish instead has:

oak crosses
Celtic wheel crosses behind each crossbeam

This was probably:

specified by the church architect,
supplied by the same church furnishing company,
or added during installation.

It gives the series an unusually unified Gothic appearance.

The Captions

The wording is interesting.

For example, "Jesus Calms the Holy Woman" is used instead of "Jesus Speaks to the Women of Jerusalem." or simply numbering the stations.

This wording appears in several American Catholic station sets from the early twentieth century

Possible Manufacturer

Installed in March 1915, the Stations of the Cross are finely modeled polychromed plaster sculptures in the late German devotional style, typical of the finest ecclesiastical artwork imported into the United States during the early twentieth century. Cast from composition plaster and hand-finished with painted polychromy and gilded accents, the Stations were likely supplied through a major American church furnishing company—possibly Daprato of Chicago or another importer of Bavarian religious art. Their excellent craftsmanship and remarkable state of preservation make them an important part of St. Edward Church's original decorative program.

Within the Diocese of New Ulm, at least 2 other sets of remarkably similar Stations are found. (Pictures are found below.) The Way of the Cross, an outdoor walking path, in New Ulm is nearly identical except for the base and coloration, perhaps due to restoration or colors/paints meant for the outdoor conditions. This set was installed in 1904 and was produced by the Bavarian Royal Academy of Arts in Munich, Germany. The Church of St. Mary, Help of Christians, in Sleepy Eye also has a similar set. There, the base differs, but the station again is similar in poses, expressions, and props. This lets us know that our stations were perhaps produced by the same school, if not same artisans. Perhaps they were manufactured in Munich and imported by Deprato. Deprato's catalogs from roughly 1905–1925 show stations extremely similar in:

pedestal design
painted decoration
lettering style
figure proportions

Overall Quality

These are well above average parish Stations.

Several details stand out:

excellent anatomical modeling
deeply undercut folds
individualized facial expressions
carefully painted eyes
restrained rather than garish coloration
quality original polychrome survives

These were not inexpensive devotional pieces. In 1914 they would have represented a significant investment for St. Edward's parish. Some estimates suggest that the parishioners may have paid as much as $1,000, adjusted for inflation, maybe as much as $25,000 in 2026. To replace them now would be $40,000 to $75,000.

Introduction

According to the Method of St, Alphonsus Liguori

Let each one, kneeling before the high altar, make an Act of Contrition, and form the intention of gaining the indulgences connected to this devotion, whether for himself or for the souls in Purgatory. Then say:

Preparatory Prayer

My Lord Jesus Christ, Thou hast made this journey to die for me with love unutterable, and I have so many times unworthily abandoned Thee; but now I

love Thee with my whole heart, and because I love Thee, I repent sincerely for ever having offended Thee. Pardon me, my God, and permit me to accompany Thee on this journey. Thou goest to die for love of me; I wish also, my beloved Redeemer, to die for love of Thee. My Jesus, I will live and die always united to Thee. Amen.

The First Station

V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we praise Thee.

R. Because by Thy holy Cross, Thou hast redeemed the world.

Priest: Consider how Jesus, aft er having been scourged and crowned with thorns, was unjustly condemned by Pilate to die on the Cross.

People: My adorable Jesus, it was not Pilate, no, it

was my sins that condemned Thee to die. I beseech

Thee, by the merits of this sorrowful journey, to assist my soul in its journey towards eternity. I love Thee, my beloved Jesus; I love Thee more than myself; I repent with my whole heart of having off ended Thee. Never permit me to separate myself from Thee again.

Grant that I may love Thee always; and then do with me what Thou wilt.

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be to the Father.

Priest & People: Jesus, for Thee I live, Jesus, for Thee I die, Jesus, I am Thine in life and in death. Amen.

(Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be.)

Through her heart, His sorrow sharing

All His bitter anguish bearing

Now at length the sword has passed

The Second Station

V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we praise Thee.

R. Because by Th y holy Cross, Thou hast redeemed

the world.

Priest: Consider how Jesus, in making this journey

with the Cross on His shoulders thought of us, and for

us offered to His Father the death that He was about to

undergo.

People: My most beloved Jesus, I embrace all the

tribulations Thou hast destined for me until death.

I beseech Thee, by the merits of the pain Th ou

didst suffer in carrying Thy Cross, to give me the

necessary help to carry mine with perfect patience

and resignation. I love Thee, Jesus my love; I repent

of having off ended Thee. Never permit me to separate

myself from Thee again.

Grant that I may love Thee always; and then do with me what Thou wilt.

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be to the Father.

Priest & People: Jesus, for Thee I live, Jesus, for Thee

I die, Jesus, I am Thine in life and in death. Amen.

O, how sad and sore depressed

Was that Mother highly blessed

Of the sole Begotten One

The Third Station

V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we praise Thee.

R. Because by Thy holy Cross, Thou hast redeemed the world.

Priest: Consider this first fall of Jesus under His Cross. His flesh was torn by the scourges, His head crowned with thorns, and He had lost a great quantity of blood. He was so weakened that he could scarcely walk, and yet he had to carry this great load upon His shoulders. The soldiers struck Him rudely, and thus He fell several times in His journey.

People: My beloved Jesus, it is not the weight of the Cross, but of my sins, which have made Thee suffer so much pain. Ah, by the merits of this first fall, deliver me from the misfortune of falling into mortal sin. I love Thee, O my Jesus, with my whole heart; I repent of having off ended Thee. Never permit me to separate myself from Thee again. Grant that I may love Thee always; and then do with me what Thou wilt.

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be to the Father.

Priest & People: Jesus, for Thee I live, Jesus, for Thee I die, Jesus, I am Thine in life and in death. Amen.

Christ above in torment hangs

She beneath beholds the pangs

Of her dying, glorious Son

The Fourth Station

V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we praise Thee.

R. Because by Thy holy Cross, Thou hast redeemed

the world.

Priest: Consider the meeting of the Son and the

Mother, which took place on this journey. Jesus and

Mary looked at each other, and their looks became as so many arrows to wound those hearts which loved each other so tenderly.

People: My most loving Jesus, by the sorrow Thou

didst experience in this meeting, grant me the grace

of a truly devoted love for Thy most holy Mother.

And thou, my Queen, who wast overwhelmed with

sorrow, obtain for me by thy intercession a continual and tender remembrance of the Passion of thy Son. I love Thee, Jesus my love; I repent of ever having offended Thee. Never permit me to off end Thee again.

Grant that I may love Thee always; and then do with me what Thou wilt.

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be to the Father.

Priest & People: Jesus, for Thee I live, Jesus, for Thee I die, Jesus, I am Thine in life and in death. Amen.

Is there one who would not weep,

'whelmed in miseries so deep

Christ's dear Mother to behold.

The Fifth Station

V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we praise Thee.

R. Because by Thy holy Cross, Thou hast redeemed

the world.

Priest: Consider how the Jews, seeing that at each

step Jesus from weakness was on the point of expiring,

and fearing that He would die on the way, when they

wished Him to die the ignominious death of the Cross,

constrained Simon the Cyrenian to carry the Cross

behind our Lord.

People: My most sweet Jesus, I will not refuse the

Cross, as the Cyrenian did; I accept it; I embrace it. I

accept in particular the death Thou hast destined for

me; with all the pains that may accompany it; I unite

it to Thy death, I offer it to Thee. Thou hast died for

love of me; I will die for love of Thee, and to please

Thee. Help me by Thy grace. I love Thee, Jesus my

love; I repent of having offended Thee. Never permit

me to offend Thee again.

Grant that I may love Thee always; and then do with me what Thou wilt.

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be to the Father.

Priest & People: Jesus, for Th ee I live, Jesus, for Thee

I die, Jesus, I am Thine in life and in death. Amen.

Can the human heart refrain

From partaking in her pain

In that Mother's pain untold?

The Sixth Station

V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we praise Thee.

R. Because by Thy holy Cross, Thou hast redeemed

the world.

Priest: Consider how the holy woman named Veronica, seeing Jesus so afflicted, and His face bathed in sweat and blood, presented Him with a towel, with which He wiped His adorable face, leaving on it the impression of His holy countenance.

People: My most beloved Jesus, Thy face was beautiful before, but in this journey it has lost all its beauty, and wounds and blood have disfigured it. Alas, my soul also was once beautiful, when it received Thy grace in Baptism; but I have disfigured it since by my sins; Thou alone, my Redeemer, canst restore it to its former beauty. Do this by Thy Passion, O Jesus. I repent of having offended Thee. Never permit me to offend Thee again. Grant that I may love Thee always; and then do with me what Thou wilt.

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be to the Father.

Priest & People: Jesus, for Thee I live, Jesus, for Thee I die, Jesus, I am Thine in life and in death. Amen.

Bruised, derided, cursed, defiled

She beheld her tender Child

All with bloody scourges rent.

The Seventh Station

V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we praise Thee.

R. Because by Thy holy Cross, Thou hast redeemed

the world.

Priest: Consider the second fall of Jesus under the

Cross -- a fall which renews the pain of all the wounds of the head and members of our afflicted Lord.

People: My most gentle Jesus, how many times

Thou hast pardoned me, and how many times have I fallen again, and begun again to offend Thee! Oh, by the merits of this new fall, give me the necessary help to persevere in Thy grace until death. Grant that in all temptations which assail me I may always commend myself to Thee. I love Thee, Jesus my love; I repent of having offended Thee. Never permit me to offend Thee again.

Grant that I may love Thee always; and then do with me what Thou wilt.

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be to the Father.

Priest & People: Jesus, for Thee I live, Jesus, for Thee I die, Jesus, I am Thine in life and in death. Amen.

For the sins of His own nation

Saw Him hang in desolation

Till His spirit forth He sent.

The Eighth Station

V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we praise Thee.

R. Because by Thy holy Cross, Thou hast redeemed

the world.

Priest: Consider how those women wept with

compassion at seeing Jesus in such a pitiable state,

streaming with blood, as He walked along. But Jesus said to them: Weep not for Me, but for your children.

People: My Jesus, laden with sorrows, I weep for the offences I have committed against Thee, because of the pains they have deserved, and still more because of the displeasure they have caused Thee, who hast loved me so much. It is Thy love, more than the fear of hell, which causes me to weep for my sins. My Jesus, I love Thee more than myself; I repent of having offended Thee. Never permit me to offend Thee again.

Grant that I may love Thee always; and then do with me what Thou wilt.

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be to the Father.

Priest & People: Jesus, for Thee I live, Jesus, for Thee I die, Jesus, I am Thine in life and in death. Amen.

O sweet Mother! Fount of Love,

Touch my spirit from above

Make my heart with yours accord.

The Ninth Station

V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we praise Thee.

R. Because by Thy holy Cross, Thou hast redeemed

the world.

Priest: Consider the third fall of Jesus Christ.

His weakness was extreme, and the cruelty of His

executioners was excessive, who tried to hasten His

steps when He had scarcely strength to move.

People: Ah, my outraged Jesus, by the merits of the

weakness Thou didst suffer in going to Calvary, give me strength sufficient to conquer all human respect, and all my wicked passions, which have led me to despise Thy friendship. I love Thee, Jesus my love, with my whole heart; I repent of having offended Thee. Never permit me to offend Thee again.

Grant that I may love Thee always; and then do with me what Thou wilt.

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be to the Father.

Priest & People: Jesus, for Thee I live, Jesus, for Thee I die, Jesus, I am Thine in life and in death. Amen.

Make me feel as You have felt

Make my soul to glow and melt

With the love of Christ, my Lord.

The Tenth Station

V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we praise Thee.

R. Because by Thy holy Cross, Thou hast redeemed

the world.

Priest: Consider the violence with which the

executioners stripped Jesus. His inner garments

adhered to His torn flesh, and they dragged them off so roughly that the skin came with them. Compassionate your Savior thus cruelly treated, and say to Him.

People: My innocent Jesus, by the merits of the

torment Thou hast felt, help me to strip myself of all affection to things of earth, in order that I may place all my love in Thee, who art so worthy of my love. I love Thee, O Jesus, with my whole heart; I repent of having offended Thee. Never permit me to offend Thee again.

Grant that I may love Thee always; and

then do with me what Thou wilt.

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be to the Father.

Priest & People: Jesus, for Thee I live, Jesus, for Thee I die, Jesus, I am Thine in life and in death. Amen.

Holy Mother, pierce me through

In my heart each wound renew

Of my Savior crucified.

The Eleventh Station

V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we praise Thee.

R. Because by Thy holy Cross, Thou hast redeemed

the world.

Priest: Consider how Jesus, after being thrown on the Cross extended His hands, and offered to His Eternal Father the sacrifice of His life for our salvation. These barbarians fastened Him with nails, and then, raising the Cross, allowed Him to die with anguish on this infamous gibbet.

People: My Jesus! loaded with contempt, nail my

heart to Thy feet, that it may ever remain there, to

love Thee, and never quit Thee again. I love Thee more than myself; I repent of having off ended Thee. Never permit me to offend Thee again.

Grant that I may love Thee always; and then do with me what Thou wilt.

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be to the Father.

Priest & People: Jesus, for Thee I live, Jesus, for Thee I die, Jesus, I am Thine in life and in death. Amen.

Let me share with you His pain,

Who for all our sins was slain,

Who for me in torments died.

The Twelfth Station

V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we praise Thee.

R. Because by Thy holy Cross, Thou hast redeemed

the world.

Priest: Consider how Jesus, after three hours Agony on the Cross, consumed at length with anguish, abandons Himself to the weight of His body, bows His head, and dies. (Pause one moment.)

People: O my dying Jesus, I kiss devoutly the Cross on which Thou didst die for love of me. I have merited by my sins to die a miserable death; but Thy death is my hope. Ah, by the merits of Thy death, give me grace to die, embracing Thy feet, and burning with love for Thee. I yield my soul into Thy hands. I love Thee with my whole heart; I repent of ever having offended Thee. Never permit me to offend Thee again.

Grant that I may love Thee always; and then do with me what Thou wilt.

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be to the Father.

Priest & People: Jesus, for Thee I live, Jesus, for Thee I die, Jesus, I am Thine in life and in death. Amen.

Let me mingle tears with thee

Mourning Him who mourned for me,

All the days that I may live.

The Thirteenth Station

V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we praise Thee.

R. Because by Thy holy Cross, Thou hast redeemed

the world.

Priest: Consider how, aft er the death of our Lord, two of His disciples, Joseph and Nicodemus, took Him down from the Cross, and placed Him in the arms of His afflicted Mother, who received Him with unutterable tenderness, and pressed Him to her bosom.

People: O Mother of sorrow, for the love of this Son, accept me for thy servant, and pray to Him for me. And Thou, my Redeemer, since Thou hast died for me, permit me to love Thee; for I wish but Thee, and nothing more. I love Thee, my Jesus, and I repent of ever having offended Thee. Never permit me to offend Thee again.

Grant that I may love Thee always; and then do with me what Thou wilt.

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be to the Father.

Priest & People: Jesus, for Thee I live, Jesus, for Thee I die, Jesus, I am Thine in life and in death. Amen.

By the cross with you to stay

There with you to weep and pray

Is all I ask of you to give.

The Fourteenth Station

V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we praise Thee.

R. Because by Thy holy Cross, Thou hast redeemed the world.

Priest: Consider how the disciples carried the body of Jesus to bury it, accompanied by His holy Mother, who arranged it in the sepulcher with her own hands. They then closed the tomb, and all withdrew.

People: Oh, my buried Jesus, I kiss the stone that

encloses Thee. But Thou didst rise again the third

day. I beseech Thee, by Thy resurrection, make me

rise glorious with Thee at the last day, to be always

united with Thee in heaven, to praise Thee and love Thee forever. I love Thee, and I repent of ever having offended Thee. Never permit me to off end Thee again.

Grant that I may love Thee always; and then do with me what Thou wilt.

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be to the Father.

Priest & People: Jesus, for Thee I live, Jesus, for Thee I die, Jesus, I am Thine in life and in death. Amen.

Virgin of all virgins blest!

Listen to my fond request:

Let me share your grief divine.

Conclusion- Prayer to Christ Crucified

Sabat Mater (Conclusion)

Let me, to my latest breath,

In my body bear the death

Of that dying Son of thine.

Wounded with His every wound,

Steep my soul till it hath swooned

In His very Blood away.

Be to me, O Virgin, nigh,

Lest in flames I burn and die,

In His awful Judgment Day.

Christ, when Thou shalt call me hence,

Be Thy Mother my defense,

Be Thy cross my victory.

While my body here decays,

May my soul Thy goodness praise,

Safe in paradise with Thee. Amen.

V. Pray for us, Virgin most sorrowful.

R. That we may be made worthy

of the promises of Christ.

Prayer to Jesus Christ Crucified

Behold, O kind and most sweet Jesus, I cast myself

upon my knees in Thy sight, and with the most fervent

desire of my soul, I pray and beseech Thee that Thou

wouldst impress upon my heart lively sentiments of

faith, hope, and charity, with true contrition for my

sins and a fi rm purpose of amendment; while with

deep affection and grief of soul, I ponder within

myself and mentally contemplate Thy five wounds,

having before my eyes the words which David the

prophet put on Thy lips concerning Thee: “They have

pierced My hands and My feet, they have numbered

all My bones.”

The faithful who, after receiving Communion, recite this prayer before a picture of

Christ Crucified may gain a plenary indulgence on any Friday in Lent and a partial

indulgence on other days of the year, with the addition of prayers for the Holy

Father's intention. Enchiridion Indulgentiarum, no.22A

Plenary indulgence is grated to the faithful who make the pious exercise of the Way of the Cross.

Those who are impeded can gain the same indulgence if they spend at least one half an hour in

pious reading and meditation on the Passion and Death of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Following is Station 2 from the Church of St. Edward, as well as the Station 2 from the Church of St. Mary, Help of Christians in Sleepy Eye, MN. Again, aside from coloration and some angle issues due to the photographer's position and height of installation, they appear too identical to be coincidence. Note that the pedestal of St. Mary's, is not shown, but there is the Station number and donor plate with winged cherub on either side. (Station 2 at St. Mary's, Sleepy Eye was in memory of Mrs. Hubert Hilleshiem, a relative of Fr. Gerald Hilleshiem and Fr. Todd Petersen)

Stations of the Cross - Walking with Christ to Calvary

Construction and Material

Artistic Style