A Prayer at Eastertide

The scene on the opposite page, portraying the figure of Christ at prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane, is a part of the entrance to the Shrine of Saint Joseph of the Mountains, located near Yarnell, Arizona. At this spot the Catholic Action League, after ten years of intensive effort, has developed an edifice, roofed by the sky and carpeted by the earth, which is at once beautiful and sacred. Beautiful to those who are only tourists and sightseers, and both beautiful and sacred to those who have made a pilgrimage to the spot for the purpose of worship, and the following of the path of the fourteen Stations of the Cross which present the entire story of the suffering and death of Jesus.The setting of the shrine is well suited to its conceived representation. Built on the slopes of a small mountain which is jewel-studded with huge gray granite boulders that are many times the size of the gleaming white figures they shade, the general environment is not unlike that portion of the Holy Land where the events depicted actually took place. This applies not only to the immediate physical surroundings, but also to the mood of the area generally. From any point along the trail which passes before the altar, the figures, and the crosses, the view of the mountains in the distance, the quiet hush of the wind as it breathes gently through the trees, the calm serenity of the intensely blue sky overhead, the tangy smell of the growth along its border and the good earth itself, all of these serve to produce a predisposition to reverence and prayer that is almost irresistible. This feeling is experienced by not only those who come to worship and pay homage, but also by those who come merely to explore and admire.

From an artistic standpoint, the figures, which compose the shrine in its present and much expanded from the original form, are exquisite. Done by Felix Lucero, a veteran of World War I who devoted a self-appointed twenty year period to the carving of religious figures in the fulfillment of a vow which he made during nine daysisolation in no-man's-land, there is little doubt that great inspiration guided the hands that fashioned the statuary. Those who come to stand before the shrine, be it in respectful admiration, or in solemn and devout appreciation, must of necessity carry away with them at least some small bit of the feeling that moved the builders as they contemplated not only their finished work, but also the great lessons taught and set forth by the scenes recreated with such singleness of purpose. Here, in this place, the story of the Passion of Jesus is now recorded in perpetuity, for all to come and see. In meditating on the story the scenes tell, a spell of piety is experienced. As the various representations are visually explored in the light of Biblical teaching, the inanimate becomes animate as the spiritual significance of what the eye beholds penetrates the understanding. This spot has an aura of having been hallowed. Here indeed is a place that lends itself eloquently to meditation, prayer.

Grant, Lord, that we this Eastertide May share the vision of Him who died, And ponder, yea, grasp eagerly The wisdom He proclaimed of Thee. To worldly tasks we give our strength; To Thy great truths, scant thought at ingth, And then complain when through this life We grope, stumble and harvest strife. Teach us to set our values right, Thine only is the "righteous might;" Ours yet to learn, first seeking Thee Yields peace, repose, serenity. Ewald A. Stein

Shrine of St. Joseph Ho! Hum! It's Spring!

You've seen it all before: birds, bees, blue skies, billowy clouds, and blossoms dripping color. Poets sharpen their pencils, but nothing comes off because the season is too gay and much too giddy to stay for a sonnet or a couplet. One should write of spring on cold winter nights when the howling wind rattles the shutters. One shouldn't do anything in spring, but just loaf, and get outside, and see what a bright, fine world it is.

Of course, the Proctors are different. They get outside, but they don't do any loafing. Come spring and the Proctors grab their cameras and away they go, seeking the most beautiful cactus flowers to pose for their pictures. The credit line over photographs: "By R. C. and Claire Meyer Proctor" has appeared frequently in these pages. They are fine photographers and among our favorite people and their reputation is spreading. Their pictures have appeared in magazines as far away as England. In this issue they tell us about cactus photography. They answer a lot of questions for us about when and where to go to take the prettiest pictures. To get the results they get, they should know a lot about photography and a lot about cactus. They do.

A rather remarkable pioneer is with us this month George H. Smalley is the name and he and Nat McKelvey from down Tucson way have gotten together to give us "Reporter on Horseback," in which they put down a few of Smalley's reminiscences of news-gathering in Arizona territory around the turn of the century when the West was young and rather hilarious. No doubt it is fun being a reporter today, but it sure was a rootin' tootin' profession back yonder when. We are proud to salute Mr. Smalley, distinguished Tucson resident and president of the Arizona Pioneers' Historical Society.

We also present within these covers another interesting Arizonan the Cactus WrenArizona's state bird, whose closeup is done for us by the Crocketts. The Cactus Wren lives in the desert country and having been properly introduced, you will find your spring wanderings more eventful. Just watch for the Wren, gay fellow.

But ho! hum! it's spring! It is afternoon and the bright Arizona sun is coming down like it was poured out of a bucket, soft and inviting. An editor's office is just no place to be on a warm spring afternoon. You look out the window and there is spring beckoning. You look at your typewriter. Good, faithful friend! You're going to have to shift for yourself until tomorrow. It's spring, you know! Ah! Spring! Here we go to see what a bright, fine world it is outside... R.C.

ARIZONA HIGHWAYS is published monthly by the Arizona Highway Department, Phoenix, Arizona. All communications should be addressed to ARIZONA HIGHWAYS, Arizona Highway Department, Phoenix, Arizona. The Tariff: $3.00 per year, in U. S. and possessions: $3.50 elsewhere in the world. 35 cents per copy. "Entered as second-class matter Nov. 5. 1941. at at the post office in Phoenix, Arizona, under the Act of March 3, 1879." Narrative and illustrated material herein published are the property of the person to whom credited and annot be reproduced without permission. ARIZONA HIGHWAYS will not be responsible for unsolicited manuserints or illustrations. Material contributed for editorial consideration should be accompanied by return postage. ARIZONA HIGHWAYS is copyrighted, 1948, by the Arizona Highway Department, Phoenix, Arizona.