Welcome to this online retreat. 

As we continue on the Stations of the Resurrection we head to the hills. First to a mountain in Galilee for Jesus' final meeting with the eleven as reported in St Matthew's Gospel. Then on to the Mount of Olives for the Ascension as recorded by St Luke.

Thank you for joining us on this Easter journey.

Fr Brendan

We are used to following the Stations of the Cross, the Via Crucis, but in more recent years there have developed another set of Stations to supplement and complete them - the Stations of the Resurrection, the Via Lucis. 

There is no definitive list, but this is close to the typical one. 

Via Lucis: Stations of the Resurrection

1. Jesus is raised from the dead (Matthew 28:1-10)

 2. The Discovery of the Empty Tomb (John 20:1-10)

 3. Mary Magdalene meets the risen Christ (John 20:11-18)

 4. The Risen Lord Appears on the Road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-27)

 5. Christ is Known at the Breaking of Bread (Luke 24:28-35)

 6. The Risen Lord Appears to His Disciples in Jerusalem (Luke 24:36-43)

 7. The Risen Lord Gives the Disciples the Power to Forgive Sins (John 20:19-23)

 8. The Risen Lord Strengthens the Faith of Thomas (John 20:24-29)

 9. The Risen Lord Appears by the Sea of Tiberias (John 21:1-14)

 10. The Questions to Peter (Primacy of Peter) (John 21:15-17, 19b)

 11. The Great Commission on the Mountain (Matthew 28:16-20)

12. The Ascension of Christ (Acts 1:6-12a)

13.  Mary and the Disciples wait in Prayer (Acts 1:12-14)

14. The Holy Spirit Descends at Pentecost (Acts 2:1-13)

To read more of its history:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stations_of_the_Resurrection

1. Mountain of temptation (Matthew 4:8);
2. Sermon of the Mount mountain (Matthew 5:1);
3. Mountain of Christ’s mighty works (Matthew 15:20);
4. Mountain of the Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1);
5. Mount of Olives where Jesus told His disciples about what is to come (Matthew 24:3);
6. Mount Calvary (Matthew 27:33) (implicit);
7. Great Commission mountain (Matthew 28:16).

Matthew 28

Appearance in Galilee. The mission to the world 

16 Meanwhile the eleven disciples set out for Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had arranged to meet them. 17 When they saw him they fell down before him though some hesitated. 18 Jesus came up and spoke to them. He said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go, therefore, make disciples of all the nations, baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teach them to observe all the commandments I gave you. And know that I am with you always; yes, to the end of time." 

Luke 24

The Ascension 

50 Then he took them as far as the outskirts of Bethany, and lifting up his hands be blessed them. 51 Now as he blessed them, he withdrew from them and 52 was carried up to heaven. They worshipped him and then went back to Jerusalem full of joy; 53 and they were continually in the Temple praising God. 

Acts 1

The Ascension 

6 Now having met together, they asked him, "Lord, has the time come? Are you going to restore the kingdom of Israel?" 7 He replied, "It is not for you to know times or dates that the Father has decided by his own authority, 8 but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and then you will be my witnesses not only in Jerusalem but throughout Judaea ans Samaria, and indeed to the ends of the earth." 

9 As he said this he was lifted up while they looked on, and a cloud took him from their sight. 10 They were still staring into the sky when suddenly two men in white were standing near them 11 and they said, "Why are you men from Galilee standing there looking into the sky? Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven, this same Jesus will come back in the same way as you have seen him go there."