Why did Jeremy take of his shoes to walk through the Stations of the Cross? "I took off my shoes to walk barefoot when I did the Stations of the Cross because to me, I feel so much of Christ’s suffering and he went through so much for us why can’t I just offer up a little bit of penance for suffering for His sake.  Walking on the rocks is really uncomfortable on the feet, especially when you start out from wearing your shoes and you really feel the pain of the rocks in your feet. Once you go on further, personally I feel more of Christ’s suffering instead of the pain in my feet.  After we’re done and you put on your shoes you have a whole new meaning of the luxury of having shoes. It’s just one of the greatest feelings. It’s really personal for me, I get a real sorrowful feeling.  The meaning for me of the Stations of the Cross are trying to become closer to Christ through His pain and suffering for us on the Cross and really realizing how much He actually went through just in those last few moments of His life for all of our sins and for the love of everybody.  As we went through the Stations of the Cross, the messages that I personally reflect on are those that touch us personally in our lives. I try and find Christ’s suffering in everything I do and notice just the little things I do in life that can hurt somebody or maybe turning away from somebody when I need to be there. I really reflect upon that and try and put that into my life after hearing reflections and actually seeing it reflected to the same way that Christ went through it on His way to the Cross.  My particular favorite stations of the Cross are the crucifixion, it really means a lot to me, and that’s just the total end of all His suffering for us. And also the resurrection, because that also gives us brand new life and love and knowing that his suffering for us on earth has been over and He’s opened up a whole new way of life for us through His rising from the dead.  The crucifixion is important to me because it’s just the whole way of pretty much my faith. If Christ wasn’t crucified then we wouldn’t have pretty much everything we have on earth right now. We wouldn’t even have our Savior to save us from our sins. So it means a lot to me that He went through all that suffering and was actually crucified willingly for us and saved us.  Personally I do penance for whatever intention I have in my heart maybe for that day. Today it was just for our group and for our pilgrimage. It’s just an extra thing that people can do to offer something in their life through suffering, not suffering that we get in life but suffering that we put upon ourselves for the love of Christ. It’s just something everyone can do to show their love for Christ and offer something up to him."