It just tore my heart to pieces to see what all he went through, what he did for us, what he did for me; I’m nobody.”attendee Jason Hicks, on Christ
HANCEVILLE – On Friday, March 18, the Cenacolo Community performed the Living Stations of the Cross live in the piazza at the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Hanceville. Hundreds of people were there to witness the powerful, yet solemn performance.
“I’d like to thank Mother Angelica and all the Sisters for allowing us to be here once again. What a beautiful setting that helps introduce us to the story of Holy Week,” said the Most Rev. Robert J. Baker, S.T.D., bishop of the Birmingham Diocese.
In the Catholic Church, the Stations of the Cross is a devotion that commemorates the day Jesus Christ died. There are 14 devotions, or stations, that focus on specific events of his last day, beginning with his condemnation. While doing the Stations of the Cross, individuals move from station to station, stopping at each to recall, meditate and pray until all 14 are complete.
In Catholic churches, the Stations of the Cross can be seen along the walls as a set of 14 small statues or images depicting the events Jesus endured that day so long ago. The stations are most commonly prayed during Lent on Wednesdays and Fridays, especially on Good Friday, the day of the year on which it is believed the events actually occurred.
“It just tore my heart to pieces to see what all he went through, what he did for us, what he did for me; I’m nobody,” said attendee Jason Hicks with tears in his eyes. “It was really beautiful. They also did a great job with the narrating to go along with it to really drive the point home. Personally, this came at a good time in my life and this has really put things in perspective for me.”
The Cenacolo Community is part of the international Comunità Cenacolo, (Community of the Cenacle/Upper Room). It was founded in Italy in 1983 by a faith-filled religious sister named Elvira Petrozzi. Mother Elvira felt certain that God was calling her to serve the poor of the modern world, the disillusioned young men and women who live in desperation and hopelessness who are convinced that life has no meaning or value. Unable to find peace or joy in their lives, they seek to fill the emptiness with the illusory pleasures of the world, such as drugs and alcohol, only to find themselves filled with intense interior isolation.
Placing complete trust in the direction of the Holy Spirit, Mother Elvira tells all who live in darkness that Jesus Christ is the only one who can heal and transform their shattered lives. He changes despair into hope, sadness into joy, hatred into forgiveness and death into life.
There are now over 60 Cenacolo communities throughout the world. Four of them are located in the United States; three are in Florida and one, Our Lady of Joyful Hope, in Hanceville.
“I’ve never seen the Living Stations of the Cross, especially at The Shrine; we are new to Cullman,” said attendee Tammy Carpri afterwards. “It was a beautiful experience and it really brings us in touch with the Easter season. A few weeks ago I saw it advertised and thought about going, but we kind of forgot about it, but today I remembered and decided to go. God obviously brought us here, there are no coincidences,” she smiled warmly.
The Living Stations of the Cross was truly an inspiration to behold. Plenty of tears were shed, hearts were humbled and prayers were said. All that attended felt they had been abundantly blessed and many vowed to come back to see it again, year after year after year.
For more information about the Cenacolo Community, visit them online at www.hopereborn.org.
