In the early evening of Good Friday we pause and reflect on the profound events of the day. We allow our thoughts to turn to prayer and to hope.
Our evening Good Friday devotion, Maria Desolata, retraces the way of the cross from Mary’s perspective helping us to relate these great events to our daily lives.
Patty Wickman ‘Passion Painting’
This evening at the beginning of Maria Desolata we looked at Patty Wickman’s Passion Painting (1977).
In her home setting of Southern Californa the artist paints Mary, in her desolation and vulnerability, resting and dreaming at home after the events of the day. Images of the day flood her mind. We see the statue of the lamb in the garden, recalling Gethsamene, the cockerel that crowed, and, suspended above Mary a Passion flower in the shape of a cross. In contrast to the disciples’ sleep in Gethsamene, this is a sleep of vision and inspiration, a sleep of hope and resolution, in the face of the day’s tragic events.
In our own home setting we too reflect, rest and dream on the depths of this day. Our prayers and hopes today are that, for us and for all Christians, the tragic events shown to us in the Cross will be transformed and woven into hope and renewed vision.
St Chrysostom's Church News and Views 
beautiful…both the painting and the reflection…