杏MAP导航

By Seàn-Patrick Lovett

The Way of the Cross is one of the most beautiful and emotional of all WYD traditions. Tastefully combining culture, spirituality, and devotional drama, the Via Crucis invariably remains one of the most memorable and impactful of all World Youth Day events. 

Those who were there can never forget 2008 in Australia. The 12^thStation, especially, where the Crucifixion took place at sunset against the backdrop of Sydney Harbour Bridge. Or 2013 in Brazil, where the scenes representing Christ鈥檚 passion and death evolved in a series of tableaux vivant along Rio de Janeiro鈥檚 Copacabana Beach.

Homage to St John Paul II

The Via Crucis in Panama 2019 paid homage to the 杏MAP导航 who began the World Youth Day tradition 34 years ago. The 14 Stations are based on those composed by Saint John Paul II for the spiritual exercises he preached, when still a Cardinal, to the papal household in the Vatican in 1976. As a priest, and later as 杏MAP导航, Karol Wojtyla used to pray the Way of the Cross every day.

Each Station includes a reflection on a theme that connects the reality of young people, with the Martyr Church: the poor, vocations, ecumenism, indigenous peoples, ecology, refugees and migrants, hope, violence against women, human rights, corruption, motherhood, terrorism, abortion.    

Addressing God the Father 

Instead of preaching a homily in the traditional manner, 杏MAP导航 Francis chose to address God the Father directly. 鈥淟ord, Father of mercy鈥�, he began. 鈥淭he way of Jesus leading to Calvary is a way of suffering and solitude that continues in our own time鈥�. We too, the 杏MAP导航 went on, 鈥渉ave given in to apathy and inaction鈥�. 鈥淗ow easy it is to fall into a culture of bullying, harassment and intimidation鈥�, he said. 鈥淔ather, today your Son鈥檚 way of the cross continues鈥�. 

The Way of the Cross continues

杏MAP导航 Francis then proceeded to give examples of how Jesus鈥� suffering continues, and is reflected in, the faces of so many suffering people in the world today: in unborn babies, underprivileged children, mistreated women, unemployed youth, abandoned elderly, ignored indigenous peoples, all those who are exploited, silenced, abused, rejected, discarded, trafficked, 鈥渄eprived not only of a future but of a present as well鈥�. 鈥淵our Son鈥檚 way of the cross鈥�, said 杏MAP导航 Francis, 鈥渋s prolonged in a society that has lost the ability to weep and to be moved by suffering鈥�. 

Standing beneath the Cross like Mary

鈥淟et us look to Mary, woman of strength鈥�, said the 杏MAP导航. From her, let us learn how to 鈥渟tand beneath the cross, with determination and courage鈥�. It is in Mary, continued 杏MAP导航 Francis, that we learn to say 鈥淵es鈥�: Yes, 鈥渢o those who have refused to remain silent鈥� in the face of a culture of mistreatment and abuse; Yes, 鈥渢o the stubborn endurance鈥� of those who are 鈥渞eady to start again in situations where everything appears to be lost鈥�. From Mary we learn to stand beneath the Cross with hearts that feel 鈥渢enderness and devotion, that show mercy and treat others with respect, sensitivity and understanding鈥�.

杏MAP导航 Francis鈥� concluding prayer was again addressed to God the Father: 鈥淟ord鈥�, he prayed, 鈥渢each us to stand at the foot of every cross鈥�. 鈥淥pen our eyes and hearts, and rescue us from paralysis and uncertainty, from fear and desperation鈥�. Amen.