Via Crucis

On Friday, young Catholic actors literally brought the Gospel to the streets of Sydney. What better sign of pilgrimage than the Stations of the Cross: the journey of Jesus to Calvary.

As soon as I got home from class, I turned on my computer and from 10pm to 1am, I was immersed in mystery and mercy as I experienced the Via Crucis or Way of the Cross. The 4th Station (according to this modified version of the traditional Stations) was Pilate Condemns Jesus to Death.



This station took place in front of the Sydney Opera House: perhaps the most iconic symbol of Sydney if not the entire nation and continent of Australia. It was then, as Pilate sends Jesus to be scourged, crowned, and mocked, that I realized how ironic this whole event is. Of course, the cross itself is a paradox--and to some degree an ironic symbol of life and death, defeat and triumph, shame and glory. However, the irony of this particular Via Crucis in that for three hours, the very busy and secular Sydney Business District (SBD) practically shut down so that our "Lord" may walk the streets of this place where so many people wish to keep him out. So many times we treat our faith like a secret that we want to keep to ourselves. But not on Friday night in downtown Sydney whose modern streets on which luxury cars, taxis, and SUVs typically pass, were transformed into the ancient roads of Jerusalem.



For three hours, a park, a harbour, a museum, an opera house became shrines at which the faithful prayed and lifted their mind and heart to the mighty Creator to called this great island from the depths of the sea. I found it somewhat amusing to see the Australian secular media try to report on this event. I got the impression that they didn't quite know what to make of it. The young pilgrims, on the other hand, knew exactly what was going on. And what a contrast that was! World Youth Day is sometimes criticized as being one big party of young people who act like they're at a rock concert. But what Sydney saw was young people meditating, reflecting, and praying. There was little flag waving. The drums were silent. And the youth of the world journeyed with Jesus as He walked towards the Place of the Skull. "We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You because by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world."



Overall, I thought that the Via Crucis through the SBD was very well produced like all the events so far at WYD 2008. I, of course, liked the fact that it was all in English except for some songs in various languages--including Latin. The lighting was fabulous and the crucifixion scene was remarkably beautiful in so many ways. Well...what would you expect from Fr. Cavarra, the director of the Stations who used to work as a director for TV and operas.



Please go here if you missed any part of such a wonderful production.