Day XL. Passion Sunday, Holy Week.
"My God, my God, why have you abandoned me" (Responsorial Psalm for today - Ps 22:2).
San Giovanni in Laterano. Today we return to the Cathedral of Rome. Across the street are the Scala Santa or Holy Steps. These were from Pontius Pilate's palace and were used by Christ. Saint Helen brought them here from Jerusalem in the early 4th century. The faithful climb up them on their knees. In fact, they had to be covered with wood lest they be eroded away from the thousands who prayerfully ascend them each day. At the bottom are beautiful statues to help the pilgrim prepare for the ascent (see photo). Then as you go up the stairs, you are drawn into prayer through the beautiful frescos, especially of the crucifix which is suspended on the knees of God our Father (see photo). At the top is a chapel called the Sancta Sanctorum or Holy of Holies in which an icon of the Christ, the Acheiropoeton, which is said to have not been painted by human hands.
It was begun by Saint Luke but finished by an angel. Outside is this beautiful mosaic of Christ commissioning the apostles to go and baptize the nations in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. On the left, Jesus gives the keys to Peter and blesses Constantine. On the right, Saint Peter hands the keys to Pope Leo III (795-816) and blesses Charlemagne.
Photo: Scala Santa or Holy Steps
At the bottom are beautiful statues
to help the pilgrim prepare for the ascent
I thought you might be interested in the Palm/Passion Sunday celebration with the Holy Father, John Paul II, in the piazza of Saint Peters. We gathered an hour before, everyone bringing their own palms or olive branches with them from home. The Liturgy began with a tremendous procession of lay people from every nation, hundreds of priests, bishops, cardinals, honored concelebrants, and then the Holy Father. We gathered around the obelisk which is crowned with a true relic of the Holy Cross of Christ, the same obelisk which stood sentinel over the execution of Saint Peter a few yards from here.
We listened to the deacon intone the Gospel of the triumphant entry into Jerusalem (Lk 19:28-40) and then sang songs of praise as the procession started the climb up to the holy altar. One of the songs was “Christus vincit! Christus regnat! Christus, imperat!” These words engraved on the oblelisk: Christ conquers! Christ reigns! Christ rules! (and continues: Christus ab omni malo plebem suam defendat! – Christ will defend his people from every evil!).
Gathered around the altar, we listened to the proclamation of the Passion. It was very moving. Just as we came to the part of the crucifixion, dark ominous clouds covered the piazza. A few drops fell and the crowds scattered, just as they did 2000 years ago. It is amazing how little tolerance we have for adversity. The clouds cleared at the close of the Gospel and we gathered in sunshine around the altar to celebrate the Most Holy Eucharist.
After Mass, the Holy Father presided over the handing over the World Youth Day cross from the Italian youth to the Canadian youth. He also proclaimed its theme: “You are the Salt of the Earth! You are the Light of the World! World Youth Day will be in Toronto July 2002. I can’t wait!