I attended stations of the the cross on Good Friday at church. It was performed by the eighth-grade class on the altar in mime. There was a narrator. The kids were dressed in black with a painted white face and a red tear on their cheek. I have never seen this before and I was very unconfortable. Is this allowed? I'm told they do it every year.

Diane--

The stations of the cross is a private devotion and not a public liturgy. Even so, something like this is more appropriate to a Catholic school assembly or a privately-organized event; it is not appropriate in the sanctuary of a church, where it can be scandalous to congregants expecting a traditional devotion and possibly resenting what can appear to be a theatrical production.

Michelle Arnold
Catholic Answers

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