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Finding Christ in Our Suffering

Rome, Italy 

I have always been drawn to the suffering Christ. Perhaps it is because in our suffering, He always draws nearer to us, never allowing a moment of it to pass without His presence. In our moments of pain and sorrow, Christ holds us more closely. St. Theresa of Calcutta beautifully writes that such moments are nothing but the kiss of Jesus — a sign that we have come so close to Christ that He can kiss us.

Outside of the Santa Scala (Holy Stairs)

I think of this as my brothers and I stand before the Santa Scala (Holy Stairs) — one of the most important shrines in Rome. According to ancient tradition, these 28 steps are the same steps that Jesus ascended en route to the judgement hall of Pontius Pilate during His Passion. This staircase is said to have been brought from Jerusalem to Rome during the 4th century by St. Helena, the mother of Emperor Constantine. Today, pilgrims around the world climb these stairs on their knees as they prayerfully meditate on Christ’s Passion.

When you approach the Holy Stairs, the weight of history and the rawness of Christ’s suffering feel palpable. Each step, as you ascend on your knees, is an invitation to enter more deeply into the mystery of His Passion. There is something deeply humbling about the experience. The physical act of kneeling and ascending seems to mirror our own journey through life: often laborious, sometimes painful, but always drawing us nearer to the Cross.

These steps serve as a reminder that suffering is not the end, but a path that leads us to a deeper union with Him. In every pain, every moment of weariness, Christ is there, sharing in our suffering and lifting us closer to Himself. As we follow Him on this journey, we discover that each step, though challenging, brings us nearer to the love and grace that await us at the foot of the Cross.

-Michael James, St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy of Chicago

Seminarian John Rahimi proclaims the reading of the day.
The pilgrims stop at St. John Lateran

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