Sonnets of the Paschal Mystery takes the reader on a journey through the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The work is divided into three Heroic Crowns of Sonnets. A Heroic Crown is a rare, difficult type of poetry consisting of a series of fifteen sonnets interlocked by the last line of each sonnet becoming the first line of the sonnet that immediately follows it. The fifteenth sonnet is then comprised of the first lines of each of the preceding fourteen sonnets. The first Heroic Crown presents a new set of Stations - Stations of Passiontide - which begin with Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday and end with his sentence of death on Good Friday. The second Heroic Crown, the Stations of the Cross, follows Jesus along the Via Dolorosa - from his condemnation by Pontius Pilate to his interment in the tomb. The third Heroic Crown, Stations of the Resurrection, begins with Jesus' Resurrection and ends with Pentecost. The voices in all of the sonnets are those of the people who witnessed the actual events described but they are also our own as we revisit and reflect upon the seminal events that are the foundation of our salvation. The reader is drawn into the numinous experience we call the Paschal Mystery, moving with Jesus from hope to the edge of despair and then to the Victory we hope we shall all one day share. These sonnets reflect Catholic social justice teachings, bringing compassion to the poor, the disenfranchised, the ill, the suffering, the abandoned, the refugee, all of us, as they describe Christ's passion. They inspire hope as they chronicle the Resurrection, the Holy Spirit, Jesus' forgiveness. They reflect the journeys of the women who were part of Jesus' life, including his Mother Mary, Mary Magdalene, Veronica, and others. The sonnets have brought comfort to those who are grieving, as they portray the agony of not only Jesus, but his mother and those who loved him during his earthly life. They have brought hope and insight to those seeking to understand all that happened in from Holy Week to Easter to Pentecost. Read them for Lent, then Easter, as you journey through these seasons. Many of the sonnets are enhanced by notes and scripture readings. The Sonnets were released on Ash Wednesday 2018. Here are some reviews of The Sonnets of the Cross, which are included in this edition, and available separately as well: "John McDonough's sonnets employ a rare and difficult verse form, the 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 lives. " -Father Michael G. Ryan, St. James Cathedral, Seattle. "Through his poetry and words, John McDonough has the unique gift of reconciling the redemptive gifts 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, Concord, CA. ." . . Read this work--then come back to it and read it again, for you will discover something new each time." -Joseph T. Carrieres, Author and Philosopher. Note: The Sonnets of the Cross: The Via Dolorosa, is included in this collection. You can find it separately, on amazon.com.