Awake’s Way of the Cross with Survivors Offers Meaningful Holy Week Prayer

Awake’s annual Way of the Cross with Survivors, held last week, invites us to see the traditional Stations of the Cross from the perspective of people who have experienced harm in the Catholic Church. A recording of this powerful event, which is roughly 37 minutes long, is available below.  

The service focuses on Jesus’s difficult journey to his crucifixion.

Each station includes a reflection written by a victim-survivor who describes how that station resonated for them in their own personal journey of suffering. The writer also shares where they found healing and hope. (Please note that these reflections are not graphic but some do mention episodes of abuse.) 

Each station includes a stunning desert scene, and concludes with these words:

As we travel on this desert journey,
Jesus, walk beside us.

Awake began the practice of praying the Way of the Cross with abuse survivors during Lent 2021, and it quickly became one of our most valued offerings. You can find the text of this year’s service, which can be used to pray along with the recording, on this document.

To give you a sample of this meaningful prayer experience, we include the Fourth Station here.  

The Fourth Station: Jesus Meets His Mother

Reflection by Mike

I carried the burden of my abuse alone, all throughout my childhood and as an adult into my 40’s. I didn’t want my parents to suffer the crushing anguish and deep despair I was suffering. I kept it all inside, similar to Jesus carrying the burden of the cross all by himself and seeing his mother off in the distance. I finally told my mother about the abuse I endured as a child. Once I did that, we cried and cried and cried until we couldn’t cry any more. Drying our tears, my mother said, “Thank you for telling me. We can now come to terms with everything that happened to us as a family, so many years ago.” Like my mother accepted my pain and comforted me, Mary’s loving gentle heart accepted Jesus’ pain, and comforted him on his journey to Calvary.

As we travel on this desert journey,
Jesus, walk beside us.

Awake is a community that strives to be compassionate, survivor-centered, faithful, welcoming, humble, courageous, and hopeful. We thank you for choosing your words with care when commenting, and we reserve the right to remove comments that are inappropriate or hurtful.