Schedule for the Day
Morning
- Stations of the Cross—in groups or by accommodation
- 10:45 The Passion, presented by L'Arche at the Basilica of Saint Pius X
Afternoon
- 14:45 Liturgy of the Passion of the Lord at the Basilica of Saint Pius X
After Dinner Parents' Roundtable Discussion:
- "Hope Through Suffering"
- In English: at the Basilica of the Rosary
- In Italian: at the Congress Palace
- In French: at the Basilica of Saint Pius X
Vigil for young people (in hotels)
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."
Matthew
… If all we do is suffer—endure, resist, bear up—we will collapse and fail at what is asked of us.
From morning to evening, let us not think of this evil as something taken from us, but as something we offer. Let us not fall short of this small Christ in our midst. Let us not leave him alone—he who must draw us forward, who cannot carry the work of Christ by himself…
Emmanuel Mounier
philosopher, father of a severely handicapped child
The Passion
The lights dimmed. The murmur of voices ceased. Music filled the Basilica of Saint Pius X.
So began the performance of "The Passion," staged by a small ensemble from L'Arche, organized and directed by Claudine Le Drappier and Joriane Guesquin.
What struck us immediately was the three-part staging. On the left: the "Passion," retold according to the Gospels we have inherited. In the center: the "chorus"—a brilliant theatrical device—which explained in different languages what was happening onstage, following the ancient model of Greek tragedy. On the right: scenes of suffering today: old age, loneliness, violence.
The use of slides was particularly effective.
We noticed that several handicapped performers were in the cast. It bears saying: when supported, they can express themselves on stage with remarkable skill, even in demanding roles.
The San Paolo Group
Iuri's Friday
I liked that the sun came. I liked Jesus's cross—it was red. I said hello to lots of bishops. There was one who was black like Nasser. I prayed in French for the people who love me and for my friends. I liked the ice cream.
Iuri