The Via Crucis explained

(Vatican Radio) In a series of reflections, the Secretary of the Vatican Congregation for Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments, Archbishop Arthur Roche, walks Vatican Radio through the Holy Week liturgies, explaining their significance, symbolism and place within the history of Christ’s Passion, Death and Resurrection.

He explains the Via Crucis, the Good Friday Way of the Cross.

Listen:

“I’ve always in the years that I have been in Rome..took part in the Via Crucis. It is a very powerful moment. There are thousands there, with the Pope, as the cross comes out of the Coliseum that great place where in Roman times people were put to death for their faith. Families, faithful from all parts of the world gathering on that night, a powerful moment one of great silence and witness…following Our Lord, step by step through that terrible journey that brought him to a very cruel death on the Cross”.
“It recalls for us the persecution of that is going on. You know we look to the Coliseum as being a terrible period in the history of Christianity, but more Christians today are suffering for their faith – are losing their lives – in witness to Christ than ever before in the history of the Church. So to take part in the Via Crucis is to walk with them in a very special way”.

Produced by Emer McCarthy