Since Lent began this year, we had the Way of the Cross in a short but 'hitting' manner with points for reflection written by the Brothers themselves. There are no niceties or pietistic frills - just the journey in its raw form coupled with a personalized reflection for each station. My attempt was to get our attention on to Jesus and walk along with him along the dry, dusty, and rough road rather than engage ourselves in some emotional sympathy drama, a sort of pity for 'someone' being persecuted and killed while I remain a sympathizing observer from the VIP box.
Morever I wanted the Brothers to exercise their creativity and explore ways of making prayer more alive and personal. Being a para-liturgical service, the Way of the Cross provides a good platform for improvisation without the hassles of the code of canon!
Very many of the Brothers find this whole process relevant and meaningful. However there are few who 'do not feel the holiness'! Reason: Neither transitional hymns, nor ready-made printed prayers before, during and after the journey. And of course, the whole practice winds up within 35 mins. This group prefers to have the service for more than an hour but inside the Chapel, (that means, the fans will be on, there will be the carpet under our feet, lesser mosquitoes, and kneeling/genuflecting will not too difficult a task!).
Imagine the irony: The way of the cross in the comforts of our Chapel! That's like sanitizing something so mundane that it looses its very earthy-feel, and yet claiming to experience the original!
Morever I wanted the Brothers to exercise their creativity and explore ways of making prayer more alive and personal. Being a para-liturgical service, the Way of the Cross provides a good platform for improvisation without the hassles of the code of canon!
Very many of the Brothers find this whole process relevant and meaningful. However there are few who 'do not feel the holiness'! Reason: Neither transitional hymns, nor ready-made printed prayers before, during and after the journey. And of course, the whole practice winds up within 35 mins. This group prefers to have the service for more than an hour but inside the Chapel, (that means, the fans will be on, there will be the carpet under our feet, lesser mosquitoes, and kneeling/genuflecting will not too difficult a task!).
Imagine the irony: The way of the cross in the comforts of our Chapel! That's like sanitizing something so mundane that it looses its very earthy-feel, and yet claiming to experience the original!
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