Key Themes

Study, Pray, Serve

PODCAST: Courtesy of Fr. Andrew Ricci (Superior, Wisconsin) *

PASSION

The passion of our Lord Jesus Christ

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FIRST READING

This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth

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SECOND READING

Your attitude must be Christ’s

SOURCES: Titles and key points courtesy of Our Sunday Visitor; The clipart is from the archive of Father Richard Lonsdale © 2000. The clipart may be freely reproduced in any non-profit publication.

Movie Connections

Art Connections

Stations of the Cross, San Luis, Colorado

Stations of the Cross, also known as the Via Dolorosa or Way of Sorrows, is a traditional subject in Christian art that depicts a series of 14 events from the time Jesus is condemned to death until his burial in the tomb. These events are commonly visited and reflected upon during the Lenten season, particularly on Good Friday. One of the most notable depictions of this powerful religious journey can be found in San Luis Colorado by Humberto Maestas.

Maestas, a prominent Chicano artist, sculptor, and painter, created his interpretation of the Stations of the Cross in the early 1980s. He used his art as a way of exploring his own cultural heritage while also commemorating the struggles, suffering, and injustices faced by the Chicano community. It was with this ambition that he undertook the project of creating the Stations of the Cross in San Luis Colorado, Colorado.

Maestas’ masterpiece, situated in San Luis Colorado on the valley floor, comprises a series of simple, bronze sculptures that line the path up Chapel Hill. At the bottom of the hill are the first two stations: Jesus is condemned to death and Jesus takes up his cross. These sculptures are unique for their poignant realism, conveying the suffering of the condemned Man through a gentle gesture of Justice and encircled group of faithful. Each of the remaining ranges of three stations stretch across alternating stone piers on opposite sides of the via crucis.

The serenity of the outdoor campus enhances the potent combination of spiritual recognition and artistic artistry intoned by the gesture of each sculpture. As visitors climb up through the series of fourteen stations, taking in Maestas’ unique and memorable cast of characters, they gradually become more deeply connected to the story of Jesus’ last moments on earth. The viewer is allowed to approach the story from a place of emotion, empathy, and identification with the voice of the Chicano creator.

Overall, Humberto Maestas’ depiction of the Stations of the Cross in San Luis Colorado serves as a testament to the power of art to inspire, provoke and enrich, even as it highlights the spiritual connection between personal identity and shared, iconic stories. As such, this artistic masterpiece share sentiments of both cultural identity and religious identity with its audience, that together create a new experience of both culture and faith.

How to Make a Palm Leaf Cross (Easy Tutorial)

Passion Sunday or Palm Sunday is the beginning of the Holy Week when Christians all around the world commemorate the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, riding a donkey, and receiving palm branches from crowds of people, as recorded in the Gospels. As a symbol of this historic event and in keeping with tradition, many people today still make palm leaf crosses from palm branches on Passion Sunday.

The process of making a palm leaf cross is quite simple and can be done in a matter of minutes, with varying techniques adapted over time. Most commonly, however, a palm frond is composed of two skinny branches, which can be bent and then woven together. The basic method is to twist one end of the palm frond around the other end to form the center of the cross. The two ends are then bent or folded upward, perpendicular to the center, creating the arms of the cross that point straight up.

The palm leaf cross is a tangible expression of the joy and reverence felt when receiving blessings on Palm Sunday. The cross is symbolic and meaningful, and it serves as a reminder of the powerful message of love and grace that Jesus brought to the world through His teachings and sacrifice. Furthermore, it is also a reminder that we, as Christians, must strive to embody these same values in our daily lives.

Beyond its religious significance, however, making a palm leaf cross on Passion Sunday is a reflection of a rich cultural tradition passed down from generation to generation. It provides an opportunity to engage in a creative and reflective activity, to connect with the wider community of believers, and to express our faith in a tangible way.

Song Connections

The Passion Song by Sean Carter is a powerful retelling of the story of Holy Week, the final week leading up to Jesus Christ’s death on the cross and resurrection from the dead. This song masterfully captures the intense emotions of this deeply significant period, from the joyful celebration of Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem to the sorrow and grief of his betrayal, trial, and eventual crucifixion.

The song opens with the jubilant chorus, “Hosanna, Hosanna, blessed be the Rock,” as Jesus rides into Jerusalem on a donkey, surrounded by cheering crowds. The joy in the air is palpable, and both the lyrics and the music capture the excitement and sense of hope that Jesus’ arrival inspired in his followers.

However, the tone quickly shifts as the song moves into the events of Holy Thursday and Good Friday. In hauntingly beautiful verses, the lyrics describe the Last Supper, where Jesus broke bread with his disciples and spoke of his impending death. We hear the anguish in his voice as he prays in the Garden of Gethsemane, asking God to let the cup of suffering pass from him, even as he submits to God’s will.

The chorus comes back in, but this time the refrain has changed to “Crucify him, crucify him, let him bleed for our sins.” The transition is stark, betraying the duplicity of the crowd and the depths of humanity’s collective sinfulness. But even as the verses continue to describe Jesus’ trials and the horrors of his crucifixion, there is an undercurrent of hope and redemption that runs throughout. The bridge of the song proclaims that “death has lost its victory, and the grave has been denied,” echoing the power and significance of Easter Sunday, when Christ rises from the dead.

The Passion Song is a deeply affecting meditation on the final days of Jesus’ life, weaving together music and lyrics to create a unified work of art. It captures the emotional spectrum of Holy Week, from exultation to sorrow to hope, in a way that is both creative and reverent. Listening to this song is like taking a journey through the events of that fateful week, feeling the triumphs and the tragedies along the way, and ultimately emerging with a renewed sense of the power and majesty of Christ’s sacrifice.

Johnny Cash & the Carter Family – 1962

LIVE TV PERFORMANCE – “Were You There” is a spiritual that is most commonly associated with the Passion of Christ. The lyrics describe various elements of the Passion narrative, including Jesus’ arrest, trial, crucifixion, burial, and resurrection. The song invites the listener to participate in the narrative, asking questions like “were you there when they crucified my Lord?” and “were you there when they laid him in the tomb?” In this way, the song creates a powerful sense of communal participation and empathy with the suffering and sacrifice of Jesus.

Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Were you there when they nailed Him to the cross?
Were you there when they nailed Him to the cross?
(Ohh, sometimes it causes me to tremble)
Tremble

Acrostic Poems

Haiku

Iambic Pentameter Sonnets

GOSPEL

SECOND READING

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