Just read about a devotion called VIA LUCIS.

Do you know about it and how it can be practiced?

Enrique

-- Enrique Ortiz (eaortiz@yahoo.com), April 13, 2004

Answers

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-- Enrique Ortiz (eaortiz@yahoo.com), April 13, 2004.

Via Lucis means "The Way of Light". This could refer to either a prominent Buddhist philosophy, or a Jewish study also known as Kabbalah. I'd be surprised to see either of these referred to in Latin though? So maybe it is yet another "Way of Light" you are referring to. I know of nothing Catholic which goes by that name however.

-- Paul M. (PaulCyp@cox.net), April 13, 2004.

Or alternatively, Via Lucis could mean "way to the sacred groves", whatever those sacred groves are. Lucus, sacred grove, taking plural dative. Let's have some fun with Latin.

-- Bob (ak3183@msn.com), April 13, 2004.

Found on the page of Parroquia de San Lorenzo, Huesca, Spain.

It is a devotion similar to the Via Crucis, but having as theme the RESURRECTION.

So far I have found nothing in English. Here is a sample in Spanish:

Primera estación. JESÚS, RESUCITADO CONQUISTA LA VIDA VERDADERA Pasado el sábado, ya para amanecer el día primero de la semana, vino María Magdalena con la otra María a ver el sepulcro.Y sobrevino un gran terremoto, pues un ángel del Señor bajó del cielo y acercándose removió la piedra del sepulcro y se sentó sobre ella.Era su aspecto como el relámpago, y su vestidura blanca como la nieve.De miedo de él temblaron los guardias y se quedaron como muertos.El ángel, dirigiéndose a las mujeres, dijo: No temáis vosotras, pues sé que buscáis a Jesús, el crucificado.No está aquí; ha resucitado, según lo había dicho. Venid y ved el sitio donde fue puesto. (Mt 28, 1-6) Gracias, Señor, porque al romper la piedra de tu sepulcronos trajiste en las manos la vida verdadera,no sólo un trozo más de esto que los hombres llamamos vida,sino la inextinguible,la zarza ardiendo que no se consume,la misma vida que vive Dios.Gracias por este gozo,gracias por esta Gracia,gracias por esta vida eterna que nos hace inmortales,gracias porque al resucitar inaugurastela nueva humanidady nos pusiste en las manos estas vida multiplicada,este milagro de ser hombres y más,esta alegría de sabernos partícipes de tu triunfo,este sentirnos y ser hijos y miembrosde tu cuerpo de hombre y Dios resucitado. SEGUNDA ESTACIÓN SU SEPULCRO VACÍO MUESTRA QUE JESÚS HA VENCIDO A LA MUERTE Muy de madrugada, el primer día después del sábado, en cuanto salió el sol, vinieron al monumento.Se decían entre sí: ¿Quién nos removerá la piedra de la entrada del monumento?Y mirando, vieron que la piedra estaba removida; era muy grande.Entrando en el monumento, vieron un joven sentado a la derecha, vestido de una túnica blanca, y quedaron sobrecogidas de espanto.Él les dijo: No os asustéis. Buscáis a Jesús Nazareno, el crucificado; ha resucitado, no está aquí; mirad el sitio en que le pusieron. (Mc 16, 2-6)Hoy, al resucitar, dejaste tu sepulcroabierto como una enorme boca, que gritaque has vencido a la muerte.Ella, que hasta ayer era la reina de este mundo,a quien se sometían los pobres y los ricos,se bate hoy en triste retiradavencida por tu mano de muerto-vencedor.¿Cómo podrían aprisionar tu fuerzaunos metros de tierra?Alzaste tu cuerpo de la fosa como se alza una llama,como el sol se levanta tras los montes del mundo,y se quedó la muerte muerta,amordazada la invencible,destruido por siempre su terrible dominio.El sepulcro es la prueba:nadie ni nada encadena tu alma desbordante de viday esta tumba vacía muestra ahoraque tú eresun Dios de vivos y no un Dios de muertos. TERCERA ESTACIÓN JESÚS, BAJANDO A LOS INFIERNOS,MUESTRA EL TRIUNFO DE SU RESURRECCIÓN Porque también Cristo murió una vez por los pecados, el justo por los injustos, para llevarnos a Dios. Murió en la carne, pero volvió a la vida por el Espírituy en él fue a pregonar a los espíritus que estaban en la prisión.(1 Pe 3, 18) Más no resucitaste para ti solo.Tu vida era contagiosa y querías

-- Enrique Ortiz (eaortiz@yahoo.com), April 14, 2004.

We are all familiar with the “Way of the Cross”, Via Crucis; but not all of us have heard of the “Way of Light” beyond the cross, Via Lucis! The Via Crucis is especially appropriate during the forty days of Lent. However, during Eastertide, the Stations of the Cross no longer relate to the liturgical season. The “Way of Light” provides us with a complementary devotion in which we can continue our walk with Jesus, the Risen Lord, during the fifty days of Easter and Pentecost, substituting Christ’s passion and death, with the events recorded in scripture, which took place from the day of his Resurrection right up until Pentecost. The Way of Light is intended to heighten the reality of the life and joy of the Risen Saviour in the consciousness of the faithful. It is an Easter proclamation in figurative art. Like the “Way of the Cross”, the “Way of Light” is the journey heavenward, nourishing the pilgrim’s faith, hope and love. A Christian life cannot avoid the cross. However, the “Way of Light” reminds us that its destiny is the joy of Easter! The first “Way of Light” was blessed on Easter Sunday 1994 at the hill of Becchi, the birthplace of St John Bosco, a place Pope John Paul II referred to as “the Hill of the Young People’s Beatitudes”. The inspiration was that of a Salesian priest, Fr Sabino Palumbieri and the artist, Giovanni Dragoni, captured the vision with fourteen stations carved in wood. Growing in popularity in Italy, firstly but becoming known elsewhere in less than ten years, the Via Lucis is likely to become as common as the Via Crucis. The first South African “Way of Light” was inaugurated at Bosco Youth Centre, Gauteng, on Pentecost Sunday 1998, and has already helped many to discover this Way as an inspirational and attractive devotion. The artist who illustrated this South African Via Lucis is Fr Pierre de la Croix, a French Missionary of Africa, who has a tremendous gift for inculturating the gospel through his art. A feature of this “Way of Light” is his illustration of each scene with personages reflecting the multi-racial composition of South African society. The apostles are neither all black nor all white, but a mixed bunch! Apart from St Peter, they are purposely depicted with youthful looks. Based on Scripture, the fourteen “Stations of Light” remind us, in a world so full of despair and hopelessness, that we ought to be an Easter people. The Youth Ministry team at Bosco Youth Centre, in the Diocese of Johannesburg, has been able to realise how much this devotion appeals to young people as an antidote to the prevailing culture of death and pessimism. Several parishes in South Africa have weekly Via Lucis devotions during Eastertide, in the same way as they have the Via Crucis in Lent. To make this devotion available in every home and parish during the Easter season,an A5 booklet has been printed in full colour, each page depicting one of the unique illustrations found at the Bosco Way of Light. Each facing page has a scripture text and a prayer for that station. Also available are A3 (R50) and A5 (R30) size prints of each of the fourteen stations, printed in full colour and packed together with a leaflet containing the scripture reading and prayers for each station. The texts are available in English, French, Zulu or Sotho. - Set of Posters A4 of the 14 stations: R30 -- Set of Posters A3 of the 14 stations: R50 - - Colour A5 booklet: R20 -

-- Enrique Ortiz (eaortiz@yahoo.com), April 15, 2004.