Nature continues to undergo transformation as spring decisively enters in.The city of Rome is in full "movimento" as well not only because of the pilgrims and tourists flocking the city during Holy Week but also due to the full blast preparation for the big event of the beatification of Pope John Paul II come 1st of May. Shall we have a repeat of his funeral event in April 2005 attended by around a million people?
For those who flock towards the direction of St. Peter's Basilica passing through Via della Conciliazione, there is a curious "art exhibit" by the left side of the road: 49 pieces of life-size statues in bronze featuring the 14 stations of the cross or the traditional Via Crucis. It was done by our company Domusdei pddm, srl for a Chilean foundation - Cross of the Third Millenium in Coquimbo Chile. Several press releases have been done about the "art display" but I want to invite my readers to consider the "contemplative work" of Gabriele Bellan who photographed all the stations and shared the photos and his reflections on them in his blog. It could be a good way of doing your "Way of the Cross" now even as you sit before your computer.
I'd like to feature here one of his photos -- to contemplate Jesus' "handing of himself" to his torturers, on one level, and to his Father, on a deeper level. Following Jesus our Lord, we usually find ourselves, on the same "spot" -- accepting and therefore, handing ourselves over to life situations, both voluntarily and involuntarily, but trusting always that there is a Greater Other who is in-charge so no matter how tough times could be, we try to stay the course and be faithful. The story of Jesus did not end with the cross.
