The last stop on the Lenten pilgrimage was the Shrine of Condemnation, which commemorates the final act of the trial that saw Jesus imprisoned in the hours following his arrest in Gethsemane. The Litostratus Chapel, included in the enclosure of the Sanctuary of the Flagellation, commemorates both the condemnation and the imposition of the cross. Inside the church, the floor is made up of large stone slabs, the presence of which has contributed to the belief that this was indeed the "Gospel Litostrotum." The solemn mass was presided by Don Stefano Vuaran while the homily was entrusted to Fr Carlo Giuseppe Adesso. A good number of faithful and local religious were also present. Fr Carlo started his homily with the story of the condemnation of Jesus Christ by Pontius Pilate, highlighting the inscription he had placed on the cross: "Jesus the Nazarene, King of the Jews". Joh 19, 19 Fr CARLO GIUSEPPE ADESSO Diocese of San Marino-Montefeltro "Obviously when Pilate composed the inscription "Jesus Nazarene King of the Jews" he had no intention of paying homage to Christ. But here enters the genius of the Evangelist John. He illuminates this event of history, this evento of condemnation, with the torch of the Holy Spirit and embroiders on what an eye cannot normally see: Jesus Christ is indeed the King, and not only King of the Jews, but also King of the Universe." Fr. Joseph then referred to the 3 thrones mentioned by St. Venantius Fortunatus, a poet born in Treviso, Italy, in 530. Fr CARLO GIUSEPPE ADESSO Diocese of San Marino-Montefeltro "The first throne is undoubtedly the cross. Venantius says: "Regnavit a ligno Deus": God reigned from the cross. The second throne is the crib, the manger. The third throne is very beautiful, and it is St. Thomas Aquinas who finds it because he takes the verse of a hymn by Venantius Fortunatus and makes it the first verse of the most famous Eucharistic hymn we know: "pange lingua gloriosi". So the third throne that sums it all up is the most holy Eucharist before which we bow in adoration." In every Lenten pilgrimage, Fr Carlo wanted to put the Eucharist at the center of his reflections, as the apex of Christian life. According to him, it will also be a period of return from the Easter experience that the faithful will be able to relive this year in the Holy City. Fr CARLO GIUSEPPE ADESSO Diocese of San Marino-Montefeltro "I believe that if the Church wants to return to being consistent with the sacrifice of Christ that flowed from the cross, it must put the Eucharist back at the center. Especially in the celebration of Easter, which is the mother of all Masses that we celebrate." As we look forward to experiencing "Major Week," let us walk together with Christ in his Passion, for the love of mankind.