Way of the Cross to Focus on Loss of Sense of Sin (Pope prepares for Holy Week)

VATICAN CITY, APRIL 6, 2006 (Zenit.org).- The loss of the sense of sin and its consequences for humanity will be central themes of the text of this Good Friday's Way of the Cross at the Colosseum.

The text for the Stations of the Cross this year has been written by Archbishop Angelo Comastri, the Pope's vicar for Vatican City.

Vatican sources told ZENIT that the meditations for each of the 14 Stations that Jesus went through in his passion will be published in a volume by the Vatican Publishing House, beginning April 11.

These texts will guide the meditation of tens of thousands of pilgrims, who will participate in the ceremony that starts at 9:15 p.m. local time. Benedict XVI will preside.

At the end of the Way of the Cross, the Pope will address a few words to those present and impart the apostolic blessing.

Since February 2005, Archbishop Comastri, 62, former archbishop of the National Shrine of Loreto in Italy, has been vicar general for Vatican City State and president of the office of the Vatican's chief engineer.

The archbishop preached the Lenten spiritual exercises in the presence of Pope John Paul II and the Roman Curia in March 2003.

Last year's meditations for the Way of the Cross were written by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, at the request of John Paul II.

Last year's meditations for the Way of the Cross were written by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, at the request of John Paul II.

I will NEVER forget those stations! As (then) Cardinal Ratzinger made he way from one station to the next, the media followed him in lackluster manner. Then, at Station 9 - Jesus falls for the third time , he gave the following meditation.

MEDITATION

What can the third fall of Jesus under the Cross say to us? We have considered the fall of man in general, and the falling of many Christians away from Christ and into a godless secularism. Should we not also think of how much Christ suffers in his own Church? How often is the holy sacrament of his Presence abused, how often must he enter empty and evil hearts! How often do we celebrate only ourselves, without even realizing that he is there! How often is his Word twisted and misused! What little faith is present behind so many theories, so many empty words! How much filth there is in the Church, and even among those who, in the priesthood, ought to belong entirely to him! How much pride, how much self-complacency! What little respect we pay to the Sacrament of Reconciliation, where he waits for us, ready to raise us up whenever we fall! All this is present in his Passion. His betrayal by his disciples, their unworthy reception of his Body and Blood, is certainly the greatest suffering endured by the Redeemer; it pierces his heart. We can only call to him from the depths of our hearts: Kyrie eleison – Lord, save us (cf. Mt 8: 25).

FULL TEXT

That caught the attention of the mainstream media and this news was immediately spread through Reuters, Associated Press and Agence Presse France, immediately. Is there any wonder that the Holy Spirit chose Francis Ratzinger to serve as pontiff!

Is there any wonder that the Holy Spirit chose Francis Ratzinger to serve as pontiff!

Yes, there is some wonder: I wonder why you are calling Joseph Ratzinger, "Francis."

But, substantively, the meditation you quote is the kind of thing the MSM would latch right on to: makes me wonder if the writer had some desire to get them excited about something. Heaven knows they wouldn't likely pay any attention to the usual Catholic meditations!

While the topics in this quote of yours touch on some important things, I will grant you that much, I would like to ask a more probing question, if you don't mind: is such a meditation of an enduring nature, like the ones that were written by St. Alphonsus de Liguori or St. John of the Cross, or any of the many Doctors of the Church? What will be thought of this paragraph you cite in 100 years, for example?

Will Catholics of those days look back and ask: "Well, if the man who would soon be Pope gave public acknowledgment of the crisis in the Church, what did he do about it once he was elected?"

The present state of the Church is certainly a point of concern during the stations, but is it a central theme? Is not the Passion of Christ, the real man, the first matter of consideration? It's nice to be reminded about the evils of secularism, pride, self-complacency, faithless theories, abuse of the Eucharist, etc., but is just lumping all these sins into one neat package for a minute or two sufficient?

Pope Paul VI mentioned that the smoke of satan entered the Church through some crack, and the world was shocked. But what then? Was there any continuation of the theme? Any follow-up?

This might sound like a stretch, but it is true: the valid and lawful head of the Church at the time of Christ's Agony in the Garden was Caiaphas. He was then what the pope is now, and as such he enjoyed a degree of infallibility in theological matters. On that occasion, in Scripture, he is quoted asking his officers whether it is not expedient for one man to suffer in place of the Israelite nation. But what did he do about it? He committed deicide.

Oh, by the way, one more item: the High Priest, Caiaphas, had a first name. It was "Joseph."

"Pope Paul VI mentioned that the smoke of satan entered the Church through some crack, and the world was shocked. But what then?"

"He committed deicide.

Oh, by the way, one more item: the High Priest, Caiaphas, had a first name. It was "Joseph."

I'm sure you mean well even with a hint of alarmism, but how angry can Jesus get if the same "Joseph" repents? How angry can God remain when He is the One who has Power over Life and death. Did He not "lay" down His life and take it back again?

Did He not pray, "Forgive them Lord, for they know not what they do."

"Don Bosco"...just like the Saint (one of my favorites too) with the prophetic dreams. I like the dream where the Holy Father leaves wayward Europe to bring more souls into the Church. And the 3rd responds to the Message of Christ. In fact, it was an African Priest that told me of an old African saying. "A young man can climb a mountain, but the old man can see the other side of the mountain without having to leave his home." The priest explained this when describing Pope John Paul 2.

We can get nervous, but the Holy Spirit is always in charge even in spite of ourselves,

in spite of High Priest Caiaphas,

in spite of historical anti-popes,

and in spite of angry bloggers and happy bloggers.

Thus, the closer Satan gets to the Thrown of Christ, the worse his Just punishment for inflicting sin and misery upon the world. Satan approaches his eternal doom. He knows it, and we should recognize it. If the end is that much nearer, than so is Eternal Joy.

If distractions and conspiracies much larger than all of us are put together to usurp us, then how much more should we look to the Holy Eucharist who will never leave us (just as God's Promise will never leave the Jewish nation)!

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