(This update courtesy of LifeSite News.)
Today being Friday, many Torontonians may be thinking back to the extraordinary, surreal experience that took place in their Downtown last Friday. The Globe and Mail reported on July 29 that “some of the members of the Vatican press corps said the Stations of the Cross in Toronto was an unparallel spectacular performance.”
World Youth Day assigned Fr. Robert Gendreau, a Montreal priest and former professional actor, to direct this unusually complex production of the traditional re-enactmen of the suffering and death of Jesus. Gendreau assembled a cast of 56 amateurs to play the various roles in this re-enactment on the Passion of Jesus Christ that was to take place along Toronto’s wide University Ave. This particular version of the Passion was especially written by Pope John Paul for the Holy Year 2000 Passion Play that was performed at the Roman Coliseum.
The decision to re-enact the usual 14 scenes along University Ave on 12 fixed theatrical stages which would also be visible to the entire large crowd via huge outdoor television screens created an unprecedented logistical nightmare.
The first two stations at the City Hall Square were a disaster for viewers. Most of the 150,000 people who decided to view the pageant from that location were unable to hear or see anything. Few knew what they were supposed to do or where to go. The one screen, let alone the stage, was not visible to most of the mass of pilgrims and the audio system was hopelessly inadequate. It began to rain when the stations started. The crush of people was frightening at times. Many left to go home.
The young pilgrims did what was natural when not directed and ran through the City hall reflection pond shouting and waving their flags. They sang songs in their groups, danced and had a good time – admittedly a far better response than what happens when rock concerts go wrong.
Trying to move up University to the other stations was very difficult for your LifeSite reporter and anyone else. As the July 27 Toronto Star stated “an almost impenetrable mass of people filled University Ave.”
But if one persevered, and was not claustrophobic, it was possible to get to a decent viewing point for the fourth, or higher stations where the sound was much better and where many others had decided by good chance to plant themselves instead of going to City Hall. At these better locations everything changed dramatically.
One saw a sorrowful Christ, accompanied by stern Roman soldiers, carrying a heavy cross from station to station, followed by his Mother Mary and others. The World Youth Day cross was silently carried ahead of him. And as Jesus passed, the noisy, huge crowd fell reverently silent.
The actors were all exceptional and convincing. The role of Christ was powerfully played by 19 year old Robert Legere, a computer company employee, previously unknown by the director, who was observed in a café and asked then by Fr. Gendreau if he would like to play the role.
The stage settings and lighting were magnificent. The audio was powerful and adequate for all the later stations. Many viewers kneeled and recited the prayers before and after each enactment. They cheered when the Pope was shown on the giant screens, silently, prayerfully watching the Way of the Cross with them from his simple retreat on Strawberry Island.
Mysterious night descended and the power of the pageant caused the downtown throng of 600,000, young and old to become progressively much quieter.
They became perfectly silent during the crucifixion scene which took place on a large stage on the steps of the Ontario legislature. There has never been such a massive crowd on the great lawn in front of this building.
The television screens provided everyone at all the stages along University Ave, with close-ups of the dying, suffering Christ elevated high up on an especially tall cross for all to see him. Most anyone, whether Christian or non-Christian, could identify with the universal pageant’s messages of love, forgiveness, compassion, unjust persecution, repentance, the need to turn to God and the giving of one’s life for others.
The awesome crucifixion scene was accompanied by dramatic music sung by the World Youth Day choir and eerily effective production-generated thunder and lightening at the moment of Christ’s death.
No Broadway production could match the power and depth of this particular Way of the Cross. The actors seemed transformed by their roles and the crowd suspended at times between reality and unreality that were almost indistinguishable.
The Toronto Star’s published an astonishing, completely respectful, two page, full colour report on this event. It appropriately noted that at the end, “emotionally spent from the scenes they have witnessed, the pilgrims find comfort in each other.”
This likely most profound event of the entire World Youth Day program provided an unusually special blessing for this city and country that have often strayed far from following God’s will.
Advocates for life and family will undoubtedly have gained at least some increased degree of willingness of Canadians to re-think their mistaken views on the value of every human life and the need to support marriage and family.
Changing and softening hard hearts is not easy. It is said that only God can do that. He appears to have done that especially well on Friday July 26 in Toronto.
