Photos by Stacie Joy
Once again on this Good Friday (yesterday!), parishioners from St. Brigid-St. Emeric on Avenue B took part in a Stations of the Cross processional that started outside the church on the SE corner of Eighth Street ...
The solemn walking pilgrimage — symbolizing the path Jesus walked to Mount Calvary — continued to 12th Street... east to Avenue C... south to Seventh Street.
This year's journey to the cross seemed a little more intense. (For instance, one of the Roman guards had a 6-foot-long bullwhip.)
... and eventually back to the church...
Sunday services are at 10 a.m. in English and noon in Spanish.
Was J-man dodging stray bullets when he passed the park?
ReplyDeleteThe most stunning depiction of this is surely "The Mill and the Cross," directed by Lech Majewski in 2011, which does not spare the viewer any of the horror and cruelty, from the two thieves dragged out of the cells to be crucified with Jesus, to the crows pecking at the eyes of the dead. It's all there in terrifying detail. Not for the squeamish!
ReplyDeleteI'm a lifelong Catholic (Yes - Gay & Proud). BUT - The acting out of the Passion of Christ so often seems S&M oriented, and so often there are very disturbing tinges on anti-Semtism thrown in. I think such specatacles are sick medieval left overs that we can do without. However - we could emphaasize that Jesus died as a political prisoner of the Roman Empire. I'll acknowledge the Christ of Liberatuon Theology. Just the thoughts of this old liberal Catholic.
ReplyDeleteI have been researching the origins of easter and it's actually a celebration of the spring equinox. Germanic paganism introduced their god Ēostre and then the christians really went cray with the son of their god coming back from the dead. Kinda seems like a movie that keep getting worse and worse with each new iteration.
ReplyDeleteĒostre is a goddess of fertility.
DeleteI am a former Catholic and altar boy who identifies as both a gay man and an atheist. I try to respect each person for their belief system as long as it doesn't hurt or affect others. I dread this day every year as a nearby resident because of the theatrics and hyperbole behind the glorification of a supposed cruxifixction. Why add more salt to the wound? How do they expect passers by to react to or engage with this? It is disturbing to reenact any type of violence whilst trying to covey messaging or lessons to be learned out in a shared, public space which belongs to all of us. Not everyone follows Catholicism or is a believer. This barbaric display should remain inside the church for their parishioners to enjoy.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite processional was the year Amanda Lepore portrayed Mary Magdalene.
ReplyDeleteOh yeah. I haven't thought of the Rome all day, thanks for the reminder. SPQR.
ReplyDelete