In WYD 2008 in Sydney, station of the Cross was held all over the city with theatrical performance from different youth actors which gave the world a glimpse of what Passion Play is. In 2011, Next year, Madrid will culminate the WYD Station of the Cross by showing to the world a bit of their Holy Week procession in Spain, encouraging the Youth to Pray through visual art. Instead of actors who will portray the 14 station of the cross, Madrid will showcase fourteen different images of the Passion and death of the Lord used all over Spain during Holy Week. Filipinos can relate to this since it is our Spanish Conquistadors who imparted us the culture of holding a procession of different Holy Images during Holy Week. Both Spain and the Philippines hold the same culture and tradition of processioning statues and images of scenes from the Passion as well as the saints of a particular diocese. In Makati City alone, almost 100 statues and images are processioned every Good Friday.

In August of 2011, Madrid will host a Stations of the Cross that offers a sampling of the typical Spanish Holy Week. The celebration will show different scenes that can usually only be found in the streets of Spain during Holy Week. The event will be attended by representatives from designated brotherhoods and religious associations.

Fourteen pieces from ten different cities will illustrate the Stations of the Cross that will be celebrated during the youth event. Benedict XVI will preside over the ceremony, giving various pilgrims the opportunity to say that the Holy Father has prayed over each station.

The representative from the Murcia Brotherhood, Rafael Cebrián, emphasizes the importance of this “bold and extraordinary initiative.” It is quite unusual to see these statues in the middle of August. Cebrián also stresses that “each one was made for a specific catechetical purpose, portraying a different scene of the Passion of Christ; we will continue the mission of these artistic creations by sharing the Passion with youth from all over the world”. He goes on to comment on the religious significance of the sculptures, describing them as “a warm embrace between God and the common man.”

Francisco José Portela, Art History Professor at the Co mplutense University in Madrid, explains the historical and artistic value of each piece and of the collection as a whole, which is comprised of both antique and contemporary statues. These sculptures “represent the value of Spanish imagery over the last four centuries”. He also points out, “These pieces bring extremely sacred art out into the street”. In regards to the selection of the various stations, Portela affirms that “although not all statues in existence will be present, each piece brought to Madrid will serve as a true representation of the Spanish Stations of the Cross”.

Auxiliary Bishop of Madrid César Franco is appreciative of generosity with which the various brotherhoods have embraced this initiative. With this representation of the Stations of the Cross, “We will demonstrate how the Passion of Christ is lived out in Spain”. According to Bishop Franco, the Stations of the Cross are meant to: “Introduce young people to faith as art and bring them closer to the faith through beauty”.

Fr. Javier Cremades, who is responsible for coordinating WYD central acts, explains, “This celebration will represent the thousands of processions that take place throughout all of Spain.” Fr. Cremades says, “This is not a collection of artistic works put on public display, but rather an opportunity to pray in the presence of religious treasures”.

The statues will be placed between the Plaza de Cibeles, where the Stations of the Cross will begin, and Plaza de Colón, where the celebration will conclude.

Fr. Cremades says that the various brotherhoods will be responsible for transporting the statues and ensuring their safety. The pieces will be carried throughout the streets of Madrid during the processions on Thursday and Friday night.

Stations of the Cross (Scene – City – Artist):

1 The Last Supper – Murcia – Francisco Salzillo
2 The kiss of Jude – Malaga – Antonio Castillo Lastrucci
3 The denials of Peter – Orihuela – Federico Collaut-Valera
4 Jesus is condemned to death – Madrid- Anonymous
5 Jesus carries his cross – Madrid – José R. Fernández-Andes
6 Jesus falls the first time – Madrid – Nicolás Fumo
7 Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus – León – Anonymous
8 Veronica wipes the face of Jesus – Jerez – Francisco Pinto
9 Jesus is stripped of his garments – Granada – Manuel Ramos Corona
10 Jesus is nailed to the cross – Zamora Ramón -Álvarez
11 Jesus dies on the cross – Malaga – Copia de Mena
12 Jesus is taken down from the cross – Cuenca – Luis Marco Pérez
13 Jesus in the arms of his mother – Valladolid – Gregorio Fernández
14 Jesus is laid in the tomb – Madrid – Gregorio Fernández