Sonnets of the Cross: The Via Dolorosa: A Heroic Crown of Sonnets on the Stations of the Cross

"John McDonough's sonnets employ a rare and difficult verse form, the heroic crown of sonnets, to offer a moving contemporary perspective on the traditional Catholic devotion of the Way of the Cross. The rich language and evocative drawings invite us to reflect on the Passion of Christ, and on the constant presence of sin and grace in our own lives." ---Father Michael G. Ryan, St. James Cathedral, Seattle "John McDonough, through his poetry and words, has the unique gift of reconciling the redemptive gift of God with the trials associated with the human condition. His words are transforming and powerful beyond measure." -- Bob Ladouceur, Religious Studies Instructor, Football Coach, De La Salle High School. These moving and beautiful Stations of the Cross were created in the form of a Heroic Crown of Sonnets. The Heroic Crown of Sonnets is a challenging type of poetry. The first line of each sonnet is tied to the last line of the preceding sonnet. The fifteenth sonnet consists of the first line of each of the proceeding fourteen sonnets. The accompanying art adds a moving visual dimension. The poet, who has personally walked the Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem, has a powerful ability to make profound connections between key social justice issues of today and the suffering experienced by Jesus Christ. Drawing from life experiences to which many can relate, he presents some of the most moving meditations on the Stations that you will ever read, making the stations and Christ's journey compelling for readers today. The sonnets reflect and meditate on themes in response to Christ's life that resonate with themes we have heard voiced by our beloved new Pope Francis. They comfort those who are mourning loss: loss of life, loss of strength and ability in a family member, the loss of faith in our world when we witness blatant and overpowering injustice, by drawing parallels to Christ's suffering, and the suffering of the people and family who witnessed this. How painful it is when those we love grow weak and fall, when those we love are treated unjustly. "A Pieta in Poetic Form" The author portrays the deeply felt suffering of Jesus' mother Virgin Mary in ways emotionally evocative of the Pieta. Jesus' love for the women who witnessed his walk to the crucifixion shines through as well as his gentle but painful acceptance of his fate. We see Mary as a mother who must endure watching her beloved son's death, and the compassionate Christ feeling her grief more sharply than His own. A 91-year old recent widow, who lost a son years ago to a tragic accident, commented "I just completed reading the sonnets of the Cross, and I am blown away by the depth and beauty of them. I will read them every day of Lent." The illustrations evoke a rare depth of emotion, a connection to the space and time that brings us into the scene. They were created for this book by David McDonough, the author's brother, who is a Vietnam veteran, and an accomplished artist living in Longview, WA. The Sonnets add a new, evocative, and compassionate perspective to your experience of walking with Jesus on the road to Calvary. The Stations of the Cross are a devotion during the Lenten season that precedes Easter Sunday.