Holy Week is upon us once again. The stores are filled with decorative Easter bunnies and kids are excited for egg hunts and extra chocolate. With all the commercialization, it has become easy (even convenient) for us to forget what this week gave to us so long ago…freedom. The Way of the Cross at the St. Joseph Shrine of the Mountains in Yarnell, Arizona, is a beautiful, tranquil spot where you can slow down and remember.
Located in a somewhat remote part of Arizona, Yarnell is captivating in its desert beauty. The gentle hills and rambling trails seem unending. Spaceman and I took a road trip a few years back through Nevada and Arizona. It seems he cannot get enough desert scape having come from Finland. For me, having grown up with the desert readily accessible, the desert scape has lost some of its wonder so getting the chance to see it through new eyes (his eyes) is always a treat.
On this particular trip we stopped in at the Shrine of St. Joseph of the Mountains and walked The Way of the Cross. Seeing the stations of the cross in this rugged terrain impacted me greatly. I often come back here in my mind when I want peace…especially during Holy Week. For anyone who wants to escape the hype of our society, I recommend a visit here. Happy Easter!
Details: The Shrine of St. Joseph of the Mountains, Yarnell, AZ 85362; (928) 778-5229; www.stjoseph-shrine.org
*Check with them before visiting as they sustained damages by the Yarnell Hill Fire.
That’s too bad they were hit by a fire. Luckily, it seems, they survived, even with damages.
Yeah, such a beautiful spot!