everyone’s way of the cross
Clarence Enzler
ISBN 9781594714306
eISBN 9781594714559
ASIN B01N2OIZ0B
Note I originally wrote a mini review of this ‘Way of the cross’ back in 2006. You can see that review here. In that review I stated:
“This is the edition I have been using for years. It was originally published as ‘everyman’s way of the cross’ and has sold over 2 million copies. The photo’s accompanying each meditation are black and white photo’s of everyday life; an apartment building someone in a library, an old man sitting in a park. These down to earth pictures help bring the meditations hope to today and now.”
The book has been through many iterations over the years. I have had editions with the titles:
Everyman’s Way of the Cross (1970, 1986)
Everyone’s Way of the Cross (1986, 1994, 2011, 2014)
And at least three different editions of the latter, including a current digital and print editions with the purple cover. It has been in print for 55 years as of the writing of this review between the two versions of the title. The cover went through a design change in 1994, and again in 2014. I do miss the original cover. I have editions from 1983, 1986, 1994, and a digital edition from 2014. Twice over the years the images have changed, originally they were mostly just photos from real life. Then they switched to photos of stations. And now they are black and white ink drawings. I appreciate each iteration; but I do miss the original cover and images, as it was part of what made this edition unique.
This version of the Stations was published the year I was born. It is one of the earliest I can remember praying. It has been through a few rebranding's and the images have changed but it has been a personal favourite version of this devotion my whole life. I can easily recommend it
This is one of the earliest version of this devotion I can remember. I went to grade school next door to St. Mary’s Cathedral in Kingston, Ontario. We walked next door for mass and other devotional practices. I can remember doing this stations in the late 1970’s and early 80’s at school and even remember when the booklets were updated from Everyman’s to Everyone’s version of the covers. I have used this edition almost my whole life and still love it today. My 4 go versions of this devotion are this one:
I have three different editions by Saint Josemaria and 2 by Saint Alphonsus, but I have reviewed over 50 versions of this devotion, and I keep coming back to this one often.
A sample station is:
“3 Jesus Falls
Christ: The God who made the universe,
and holds it in existence
by His will alone,
becomes, as man, too weak to bear
a piece of timber’s weight.
How human in His weakness is the Son of
Man.
My Father willed it thus.
I could not be your model otherwise.
If you would be My other self,
you also must accept without complaint
your human frailties.
Man: Lord Jesus, how can I refuse?
I willingly accept my weaknesses,
my irritations and my moods,
my headaches and fatigue,
all my defects of body, mind, and soul.
Because they are Your will for me,
these ‘‘handicaps,’’ of my humanity,
I gladly suffer them.
Make me content with all my discontents,
but give me strength to struggle after You.”
Though the covers and accompanying images have changed the text has remained the same through all reprints and updates to the booklet. This has remained one of my favourite versions of this devotion. I would love to see Ave Maria Press come out with a classic edition with the original cover and images again.
The description of the current edition is:
“Clarence Enzler’s perennially bestselling Stations of the Cross booklet has sold more than 3 million copies since it was first published in 1970 and is now updated with fresh, bold, commissioned woodcuts by renowned artists Annika Nelson and Gertrud Mueller Nelson.
For more than forty years, the simple, intimate, and powerful words of Clarence Enzler’s Everyone’s Way of the Cross have invited readers to grow closer to Christ by embracing the mystery of suffering in the world. By joining Christ on this transformative journey, we learn to become his disciples—his other self—to a hurting world.
Enzler’s classic is given new vibrancy with beautiful, meditative, commissioned woodcuts by Annika Nelson and her mother Gertrud Mueller Nelson. The artists express how these meditations show Christ among us—often in unexpected places. In their words, “We find him in the subway, yearning at the border, standing in the soup line—the bewildered soldier, the single mother, the abused child, the lonely senior, the bullied teen.”
Also available in Spanish and in a large-print edition, this booklet is ideal for private study and for parish-wide distribution for Lenten observance of Stations of the Cross.”
I should note I try and pray a Stations each Friday of the year, and every day during Lent. This is a great version of this devotion. It does not have the Stabat Mater or even the normal introductory or closing prayers, but I just pray them on my own. It is still an excellent volume and I can easily recommend it!
Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2025 Catholic Reading Plan!
Books by Clarence J. Enzler:
Let Us Be What We Are
In the Presence of God
Some Social Aspects Of The Depression
…
1970 Edition
1986 Edition
1994 Edition
2014 Edition
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