Passiontide
Passion Sunday marks the beginning of Passiontide, the final two weeks of Lent in the Christian liturgical year. It commemorates Christ’s suffering and crucifixion, as reflected in the Latin word “passio” meaning “suffering”.
The second week, Holy Week, concludes on Holy Saturday. Passion Sunday prompts reflection on Jesus’ suffering and crucifixion. While challenging, these events remain central to the Bible.
Tracey Emin’s current exhibition at Tate Modern, “Tracey Emin: A Second Life”, offers a poignant exploration of suffering through art. Emin, a British artist known for her autobiographical works across various media, was recently made a Dame in 2024 and is a leading contemporary artist. Emin’s life has been marked by hardship, and art has been her outlet for processing these experiences. Eddy Frankel’s review in The Guardian advises visitors to seek raw, unapologetic emotions like love, grief, and sadness, rather than a good time. Frankel suggests it’s a transformative experience.
In 2020, Emin faced a diagnosis of aggressive cancer. The diagnosis and subsequent surgery profoundly impacted her life and artistic focus. Post-recovery and remission, she describes her post-cancer life as a “second life” filled with renewed creative energy.
Emin, though not religious, incorporates some Renaissance-inspired artworks, including a crucifixion scene, in her final gallery. For Emin, her paintings offer hope.
Christianity acknowledges that suffering is an unavoidable part of life and doesn’t offer a spiritual remedy for pain. Instead, the New Testament teaches that sharing in Christ’s suffering leads to his resurrection.
James Fraser (server and member of the PCC)
22 March 2026
