The photo to the right was taken in the Jesuit chapel at the University of Central American in San Salvador, El Salvador.  This is the Jesuit community whose members were brutally assassinated, along with their housekeeper and her daughter.  This photo is one of the stations of the cross in the chapel showing, in powerful drawings, the images of the unjust torture of innocents.  
(To see the full El Salvador Stations of the Cross, click here.)

Throughout the centuries, the account of the passion of Jesus has been told to help believers understand the mystery of suffering and how Jesus' surrender defeats the power of sin and death.

At this point in our retreat, we are prepared to contemplate, in detail, the passion of Jesus.  Our desire is to enter into the gospel story and to be there with Jesus.  We want to be touched by the power of this drama.  The one we love, and want so much to be with, invites us into his story to experience his suffering, with him.  The depth of our compassion for him leads to an even deeper intimacy.

Take each part of the story and experience its meaning.  The garden struggle to surrender; the betrayal, the arrest and abandonment by his disciples; the trials; the mockery, the crowning with thorns, the beating, and the way of the cross are scenes we want to become very much a part of our consciousness this week.

Throughout each day this week, we want to know the profound love of Jesus for us.  As we go through the ordinary struggles of living, and face the most difficult challenges of our lives, we want to experience Jesus' solidarity with us.  As we contemplate upon the meaning of his passion, we want to see his solidarity with all who have, are and ever will suffer.

Use the resources to the right to get started, and enter these reflections more deeply.  We have added an online Stations of the Cross, to offer this powerful centuries old devotion as a resource for our journey this week and next week.

Every night, let us give thanks for the graces we receive by walking through our lives more conscious of the passionate love of Jesus for us.