OLMCFaithWalker: Good Friday reflections from a pilgrimage

Our Mt. Carmel pilgrims traveled to the Holy Land where Jesus was born and died.

They woke very,very early one morning and walked the Way of the Cross.

Louise shares her moving experience with us this Good Friday.

"On the seventh day of our pilgrimage early in the morning we started the day on the Via Dolorosa “The Way of the Cross”. We stopped and read each station along the way. Fr. John Paul led us after each station ( group of five taking a turn carrying the cross ) singing “O heal me , O heal me, O heal me Jesus, heal me. There are nine stations along the way the remaining five inside the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. After the ninth station Fr. John Paul, dressed in his white alb, was then given the cross to carry the remainder of the walk (we followed). He placed the cross upon his shoulder with dignity and ease and his tight grip on the cross spoke to me. My eyes transfixed on his hand my thought was “I am never alone, should never be overwhelmed, Jesus is always with me either carrying or bringing me always to Hope.

Later that morning, I witnessed Fr. John Paul kneel, touch The Stone of Unction (the stone where Jesus’ body was prepared for burial) with his eyes closed, a peaceful expression came across his face, I again witnessed faith. At our visit to the (believed) site of the High Priest Caiaphas’ home, we walked down the stairs into an area where excavations have shown a rock-cut flagellation post. Fr. John placed his hands upon the rock, closed his eyes and sorrow this time on his face. How blessed am I to have experienced such feelings in the core of my heart, while my eyes witnessed deep faith and the memory of John Paul’s hand tightly gripped to the cross understanding love, and lastly his look of sorrow while being in the places where Jesus may have walked. This has been a grace given to me as I search Jesus in these last days of Holy Week."