In Salvador de Bahia, the archdiocese is preparing to live Holy Week by highlighting a profound practice of piety: the Clock of the Passion. This devotion, which proposes meditating hour by hour on the last twenty-four hours of Jesus' earthly life, from the Last Supper to His burial, is at the heart of the third edition of the "Semana Maior" project. This pastoral program, led by the Catholic communication network Excelsior, aims to accompany the faithful in the mystery of Redemption.
The origin of this practice dates back to the end of the 19th century. It stems from the writings of the Servant of God Luísa Piccarreta, an Italian mystic who, at the age of 17 in 1882, reportedly received a request from the Child Jesus in a vision to compose these twenty-four meditations. Father Jailson Jesus, rector of the Sanctuary of Saint Anthony Beyond Carmo and a doctor of Church history, clarifies that it is a "devotional practice born from a private revelation". The objective is twofold: to offer spiritual reparation for the outrages suffered by Christ and to unite oneself interiorly to His sufferings.
Although this devotion does not belong to the official and obligatory teaching of the Church, its scriptural foundation remains solid. Father Jailson emphasizes that private revelations must never be separated from the public Revelation of Our Lord. In this regard, he recalls the teaching of Saint Paul in the Epistle to the Colossians on the importance of uniting our own sufferings to those of Christ. According to the priest, this approach allows one to transform pain, often experienced as a tragedy or a defeat, into a redemptive reality. "If we die with Him, with Him we shall rise," he explains, insisting on the dimension of hope carried by this union with the wounds of Jesus.
The "Semana Maior" project this year integrates digital and radio content dedicated to the Clock of the Passion. The structure of this prayer allows the faithful to accompany Christ in each specific moment of His agony and death, becoming aware of the particular offenses suffered at each stage. This approach is part of a desire for reparation and spiritual closeness with the Savior.
However, Father Jailson Jesus offers an important pastoral caution regarding the practice of these mystical meditations. He strongly advises against engaging in the Clock of the Passion alone without adequate accompaniment. The priest recommends studying the work beforehand and seeking the spiritual direction of a minister of the Church. As with any devotion born of popular piety or particular revelations, he reminds that ecclesiastical oversight is necessary to guarantee conformity with the norms of the faith and the healthy spiritual growth of believers.