Going over my pictures of our recent trip to Italy this morning, I came upon some pictures we took of “The Holy
Stairs.” I still today think of that moment in which my hubby and climbed those
stairs on our knees. You might think we are nuts and why would we do that? We also asked ourselves that question when we decided to climb 28 stairs on our knees.
What are the “Holy Stairs?”
The Holy Stairs are situated right
across the street from the Basilica of St John Latern in Rome, Italy. St John Latern Basilica is the first church
ever built in the history of Christianity. It was originally a palace owned by
the Latern family. Emperor Nero martyred the family, for becoming Christians,
about the same time St Paul and Peter were killed by the same brute. Nero
confiscated all their properties including their palace. In AD 313, the Emperor
Constantine made Christianity legal and for the first time, since the day
Christ ascended to the Father, Christians were allowed to finally openly
worship in public. Churches were quickly built not just in Rome but also
throughout the empire. In AD 391, the worship of other gods was made illegal.
Tradition and history teaches that Emperor Constantine’s mother,
Helena, had become a Christian. Though it would take Constantine many years
(age 42) to finally surrender his life to Christ, he opened the door for the
Church to finally come out of hiding, be legal and the killing of the innocent
was finally over. Think about it, 313 years (the USA is not that old) after
Christ ascended to the Father, it was forbidden to be a Christian, and if you became
one, the chances are you most likely would have been killed for your faith.
It’s a miracle it did not die from its start. It was a miracle from above for
313 years grace was flowing and the Church persevered.
Constantine’s mother St Helena made it a mission to mark places
in the Holy Land and build churches over the Holy sites of Christ. She also
brought back many relics to Rome, including the Holy Steps.
According to ancient Christian tradition and history, St Helena
(335AD), the mother of Constantine, had the stairs transported from Pontius
Pilate’s palace in Jerusalem to Rome. The Holy Stairs are the stairs Jesus
climbed several times the day He was sentenced to death, so they are known as
the Scala Pilati or Scala Santa (Pilate’s Stairs or the Holy Stairs.)
While on my knees as I climbed the Holy Stairs many things
flashed through my mind. I offered prayers at each step for those who had asked
for prayer during our pilgrimage and I contemplated on the suffering my Lord
Jesus endured that day, 2,000 years ago as Pontius Pilate asked the crowd what
should I do with this man who I find has done no wrong. The crowd cried:
“CRUSIFY HIM! CRUSIFY HIM!”
It was a very warm day as I climbed the Holy Stairs on my knees
and my strength was taken from me from the very beginning. My knees are not
young any more and the old hard wood worn with grooves from centuries gone by as other pilgrims, made the course I had undertaken seem impossible. The steps are made of marble, and old wooden
planks are laid over the marble stairs for protection. I am usually not one to
sweat, but early into my climb, sweat was dripping from my brow and my shirt
was as if I had stepped into a pool of water.
“ Lord, I’m going to do this, I am going to experience this
pain, so small, so little and can not even compare to what you experienced
2,000 years ago on these stairs. Lord, help me, one step at a time.”
My life flashed before me and all the stairs in my life; the
joy, the sorrows, the good and the bad.. How He had taught me the importance of
taking each day at a time, not always listening to His advice, but trying to
learn from the Master, how to cherish every day, how to not run ahead of His
will; I’m a stubborn one…"forgive me Father."
“Lord, help me to take each step, each moment and not worry about
the next stair I need to climb. Let me just rest here first on this stair, and
when I’m rested, help me to make the next one. I offer up to You, this pain, so
simple, for You to use in the lives of those who asked me to pray. I know it
cannot compare to what so many in this world suffer everyday. But, it’s all I
can give at this moment, use it however You see fit. I know it cannot compare
to what You did for me and the world as You climbed these stairs 2,000 years
ago. I unite this pain with Yours, use it.”
It’s hard to explain, but as I climbed each step on my knees, I
was transported back 2,000 years and my simple pain could feel His pain, so
intense, so real, how my Savior gave His all for me and He never said a word.
He could have defended Himself, but He never said a word. After He climbed
these stairs, He was scourged at the pillar of Pontius Pilate’s palace, He was
mocked, beaten, crowned with thorns and called king of the Jews, and then
ordered to climb down these stairs and carry a cross to a hill outside the
city. Outside the city; nails were driven into His hands and feet into a wooden
cross and the bottom of His cross was dropped into a earthen hole, and there He
hung on the cross. There He hung and
said “Father Forgive them for they do not know what they do.”
After we got off the stairs, catching our breaths, I found a
prayer book in the gift shop of the “Scala Santa” in which many pilgrims use as
they climb the Holy Stairs. Wish I had seen it before we started our climb, but
am also grateful for my spontaneous, sincere Jesus experience and me. Since
I’ve returned home, I realized what a wonderful devotion to meditate on the 28
steps in which our Lord climb up to be condemn to death and then climb down
after being beaten, to carry the CROSS…
Let Us Pray
Lord Jesus Christ, son of the living God save the world at the 6th
hour You were raised onto the scaffold of the cross, and shed Your precious
blood to obtain pardon for our sins, we humbly beg You to grant us, after our
deaths, the possibility of crossing the threshold of paradise. You who live and
reign for ever and ever..AMEN
Christ, though He was in the form of God, humbled Himself by
becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. (Philippians 2,
6-8).
We adore You, Christ, and we praise You, because, by Your Holy
Cross, You have redeemed the world.
Stair 1: While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when He
had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to His Disciples, saying, “Take it:
this is my Body.” Then He took a cup, and when He had given thanks, He gave it
to tehm, and they all drank from it. “This is my blood of the new covenant,
which is poured out for many,” he said to them ( Mark 14, 22-24)
We adore You, Christ, and we praise You, because, by Your Holy
Cross, You have redeemed the world.
Stair 2: So He got up from the meal, took off His outer
clothing, and wrapped a towel around His waist. After that He poured water into
a basin and began to wash His Disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that
was wrapped around Him ( John 13, 4-5)
We adore You, Christ, and we praise You, because, by Your Holy
Cross, You have redeemed the world.
Stair 3: Then Jesus went with His Disciples to a place called
Gethsemane, and He said to them, Sit here while I go over there and pray.” He
took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along side Him, and He began to be
sorrowful and troubled. Then He said to Him, and He began to be sorrowful and
troubled. Then He said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the
point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” (Matthew 26, 36-38.)
We adore You, Christ, and we praise You, because, by Your Holy
Cross, You have redeemed the world.
Stair 4: He went a little farther and fell on His face, and
prayed, saying, “Oh My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me;
nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will (Matthew 26, 51-52)
We adore You, Christ, and we praise You, because, by Your Holy
Cross, You have redeemed the world.
Stair 5: Judas advanced towards Jesus to give Him a kiss. Jesus
said to him “Judas, is it with a kiss that you betray the Son of man?” (Luke
22, 47-48)
We adore You, Christ, and we praise You, because, by Your Holy
Cross, You have redeemed the world.
Stair 6: With that, one of Jesus’ companions reached for his
sword, drew it out and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his
ear. “Put your sword away” Jesus said to him, “for all who draw the sword will
die by the sword.” (Matthew 26, 51-52)
We adore You, Christ, and we praise You, because, by Your Holy
Cross, You have redeemed the world.
Stair 7: Then those who had arrested Jesus took Him to Caiaphas,
the high priest, Peter followed Him, but at a distance. (Matthew 26, 57-58)
We adore You, Christ, and we praise You, because, by Your Holy Cross,
You have redeemed the world.
Stair 8: And as soon as he had spoken, one of the officers who
stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand. “Is this how you answer the
high priest?” he demanded. If I have said something wrong,: Jesus replied,
“testify as to what is wrong. But if I spoke truth, why did you strike me?
(John 18, 22-23)
We adore You, Christ, and we praise You, because, by Your Holy
Cross, You have redeemed the world.
Stair 9: After a little while, those standing near said to
Peter, “Surely you are one of them, for you are a Galilean.” He began to call
down curses, and he swore to them, “I don’t know this man you’re talking
about.” Immediately the rooster crowed the second time. Then Peter remembered
the word Jesus had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows twice you will have
disowned me three times.” And he broke down and wept. (Mark 14, 69-72)
We adore You, Christ, and we praise You, because, by Your Holy
Cross, You have redeemed the world.
Stair 10: Very early in the morning, the chief priests, with the
elders, the teachers of the law and the whole Sanhedrin, reached a decision.
They bound Jesus, led Him away and handed Him over to Pilate. “Are you the king
of the Jews?” asked Pilate. “Yes, it is as you say, “Jesus replied (Mark 15,1-2)
We adore You, Christ, and we praise You, because, by Your Holy
Cross, You have redeemed the world.
Stair 11: “You are a king, then!” said Pilate. Jesus answered,
“You say I am king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is
to testify to the TRUTH. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.” (John
18,37)
We adore You, Christ, and we praise You, because, by Your Holy
Cross, You have redeemed the world.
Stair 12: Then Pilate took Jesus and had Him flogged. (John
19,1)
We adore You, Christ, and we praise You, because, by Your Holy
Cross, You have redeemed the world.
Stair 13: The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and
placed it on His head. They clothed Him in a purple robe and went up to Him
again and again, saying, “Hail, king of the Jews!” And they slapped Him in the
face. (John 19, 2-3)
We adore You, Christ, and we praise You, because, by Your Holy
Cross, You have redeemed the world.
Stair 14: Once more Pilate came out and said to the Jews
gathered there, “Look, I am bringing Him out to you to let you know that I find
no basis for a charge against Him.” When Jesus came out wearing the crown of
thorns and the purple robe, Pilate said to them, “Here is the man!” (John 19,
4-5)
We adore You, Christ, and we praise You, because, by Your Holy
Cross, You have redeemed the world.
Stair 15: As soon as the chief priests and their officials saw
Him, they shouted, “Crucify Him!, Crucify Him!” (John 19,6)
We adore You, Christ, and we praise You, because, by Your Holy
Cross, You have redeemed the world.
Stair 16: And He bearing His cross went forth to a place of a
skull, which in Hebrew is called Golgotha. (John 19, 17)
We adore You, Christ, and we praise You, because, by Your Holy
Cross, You have redeemed the world.
Stair 17: As the soldiers led Him away, they seized Simon from
Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and
made him carry it behind Jesus (Luke 23, 26)
We adore You, Christ, and we praise You, because, by Your Holy
Cross, You have redeemed the world.
Stair 18: Large numbers of people followed Him, including women
who mourned and wailed for Him. Jesus turned and said to them, “Daughters of
Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children.”
(Luke 23, 27-28)
We adore You, Christ, and we praise You, because, by Your Holy
Cross, You have redeemed the world.
Stair 19: And when they crucified Him, they divided His
garments, casting lots to determine what every man should take. (Mark 15, 24)
We adore You, Christ, and we praise You, because, by Your Holy
Cross, You have redeemed the world.
Stair 20: When Jesus saw His mother there, and the disciple whom
He loved standing nearby, He said to her, “Women, here is Your Son,” and to the
disciple, “Here is Your Mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into
his home. (John 19, 26-27)
We adore You, Christ, and we praise You, because, by Your Holy
Cross, You have redeemed the world.
Stair 21: Jesus said; “Father, forgive them, for they know not
what they do.” (Luke 23, 24)
Stair 22: And when the sixth hour came, there was darkness over
the whole land until the ninth hour. And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out with
a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God why
have you forsaken me? (Mark 15, 33-34)
We adore You, Christ, and we praise You, because, by Your Holy
Cross, You have redeemed the world.
Stair 23: One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at
Him: “Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us? (Luke 23, 39)
We adore You, Christ, and we praise You, because, by Your Holy
Cross, You have redeemed the world.
Stair 24: But the other criminal rebuked him. Don’t you fear
God.” He said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly,
for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing
wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into Your Kingdom.”
Jesus, answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in
paradise.” (Luke 23, 40-43)
We adore You, Christ, and we praise You, because, by Your Holy
Cross, You have redeemed the world.
Stair 25: Later, knowing that everything had now been finished,
and so that scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” A jar of
vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of
the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. When He had received the drink,
Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, He bowed His head and gave up His
spirit. (John 19, 28-30)
We adore You, Christ, and we praise You, because, by Your Holy
Cross, You have redeemed the world.
Stair 26: Joseph bought a long sheet of linen cloth. Then he
took Jesus’ body down from the cross, wrapped it in the cloth, laid it in a
tomb that had been carved out of the rock. Then he rolled a stone in front of
the entrance, (Mark 15,46)
We adore You, Christ, and we praise You, because, by Your Holy
Cross, You have redeemed the world.
Stair 27: But when they looked up, they saw that the stone,
which was large, had been rolled away. As they entered the tomb, they saw a
young man dresses in white robe sitting on the right side, and they were
alarmed. “Don’t be afraid, he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene,
who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid
Him.” (Mark 16, 4-6)
We adore You, Christ, and we praise You, because, by Your Holy
Cross, You have redeemed the world.
Stair 28: After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, He was taken
up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God. Then the disciples went out
and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed His word
by signs that accomplished it. (Mark 16, 19-20)
We adore You, Christ, and we praise You, because, by Your Holy
Cross, You have redeemed the world.
Remember:
From the letters of Saint Paul of the Cross
Jesus’ pain is the miracle of miracles of God’s love. The most
effective means for converting souls is Jesus Christ’s Passion.
Through daily mediation upon Jesus Christ’s Passion you will
learn charity, patience and meekness.
It is the door that leads the souls to an intimate union with
God, to interior reflections and to the most sublime contemplation.
Carry the pain of Jesus Christ in your heart, and every pain
will be sweet for you.
When you are at the peak of your afflictions, take up a crucifix
and let it preach to you. Oh, what a sermon you will hear! How soon your heart
will be returned to peace!
I wish that the whole world could feel the enormous grace that
God, in His pity for us, grant us when He makes us suffer!
In essence, the mercy that God gives to his servants is the
cross. He gives us afflictions, trials and tribulations of every sort, so as to
bring us closer to His divine son Jesus, in order to then place us in the
Kingdom of Heaven.
Me and my hubby are so glad we climbed the Holy Stairs. Was an amazing time with Jesus, we will never forget.
