Pages

Friday, April 06, 2012

Good Friday

GOOD FRIDAY commemorates the passion and death of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Here are some of my photos of church art that depicts the Passion.

Saint Joseph Roman Catholic Church, in Louisiana, Missouri, USA - stained glass window of the agony in the garden

The Agony of Our Lord in the Garden of Gethsemane, at Saint Joseph Church, in Louisiana, Missouri. Photo taken in February 2011.

Saint Joseph Roman Catholic Church, in Freeburg, Illinois, USA - stained glass window of the Agony in the Garden

Saint Joseph Church, in Freeburg, Illinois. June 2009.

Christ the King Chapel, Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows, in Belleville, Illinois, USA - First Sorrowful Mystery, The Agony in the Garden

In Christ the King Chapel, at the Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows, in Belleville, Illinois. June 2008.

Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic Church, in Maplewood, Missouri, USA - stained glass window of the Agony in the Garden

Immaculate Conception Church, in Maplewood. May 2010.

Saint Anthony of Padua Church, in Saint Louis, Missouri - Man of Sorrows

The Man of Sorrows. A statue of Christ after being scourged and crowned with thorns. At Saint Anthony of Padua Church, in Saint Louis. February, 2007.

Shrine of Our Lady of Sorrows, in Starkenberg, Missouri, USA - mosaic of Mary.jpg

Mosaic of Jesus’ mother Mary, the woman of sorrows. On an outdoor altar at the Shrine of Our Lady of Sorrows, in Starkenburg. May 2007.

Shrine of the Sacred Heart at the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis, in Saint Louis, Missouri, USA - crown of thorns and nails.jpg

Crown of thorns and nails, at the Sacred Heart shrine of the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis. September 2007.

Passionists Nuns Chapel, in Ellisville, Missouri, USA - Passionists emblem.jpg

Sign of the Passionists depicts the three nails used to affix Christ to the Cross. The text, “Jesu ΧΡΙ Passio” is Greek and Latin for “The Passion of Jesus Christ”. At the Passionist Nuns Chapel, in Ellisville. April 2007.

Museum of the Basilica of Saint Louis, King of France, in Saint Louis, Missouri, USA - Instruments of Christ's passion and death.jpg

The Arma Christi, or instruments of Christ's passion and death, at the museum of the Basilica of Saint Louis, King of France, in Saint Louis. August 2007.

Saint Francis de Sales Oratory, in Saint Louis, Missouri, USA - Arma Christi

Arma Christi, at Saint Francis de Sales Oratory. April 2011.

Saint Bernard Roman Catholic Church, in Albers, Illinois, USA - First Station of the Cross - Jesus is Condemned to Death

Pontius Pilate condemns Jesus to death. Saint Bernard Church, in Albers, Illinois. November 2008.

Saint Ann's Roman Catholic Church, in Normandy, Missouri, USA - First Station of the Cross, Jesus is condemned

Saint Ann Church, in Normandy. April 2009.

White House Retreat, in Oakville, Missouri - station of the cross.jpg

At the White House Retreat, in Oakville. February 2007.

Saint Boniface Roman Catholic Church, in Germantown, Illinois, USA - second station of the cross, in cemetery

At the cemetery of Saint Boniface Church, in Germantown, Illinois. November 2008.

Cathedral of Saint Raymond Nonnatus, in Joliet, Illinois, USA - station of the cross.jpg

Jesus falls while bearing the Cross. Cathedral of Saint Raymond Nonnatus, in Joliet, Illinois. September 2007.

Saint Mary Roman Catholic Church, in Carlyle, Illinois, USA - 2nd and 3rd Stations of the Cross

At Saint Mary’s Church, in Carlyle, Illinois. November 2008.

All Souls Roman Catholic Church, in Overland, Missouri, USA - station of the cross.jpg

Jesus meets His mother Mary. All Souls Church, in Overland. October 2007.

Holy Family Roman Catholic Log Church, in Cahokia, Illinois, USA - station of the cross.jpg

Veronica wipes Jesus’ face. At Holy Family Log Church, in Cahokia, Illinois. July 2006.

Tapestry of the Way of the Cross with Saint Veronica, at the Saint Louis Art Museum

Tapestry at the Saint Louis Art Museum. September 2010.

Saint John Nepomuk Chapel, in Saint Louis, Missouri - VIII station of the cross 2

Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem. Saint John Nepomuk Church, in Saint Louis. April 2007.

Saint George Catholic Church, in Hermann, Missouri - station of the cross.jpg

Jesus being stripped of His garments. At Saint George Church, in Hermann. November 2006.

Saint Cecilia Roman Catholic Church, in Bartelso, Illinois, USA - 11th Station of the Cross, Jesus is Nailed to the Cross

Jesus being nailed to the Cross, Saint Cecilia Church, in Bartelso, Illinois. November 2008.

Saint Mary Roman Catholic Church, in Trenton, Illinois, USA - 11th Station of the Cross

At Saint Mary’s Church, in Trenton, Illinois. November 2009.

Saint George Roman Catholic Church, in New Baden, Illinois, USA - XIth station of the cross, Jesus is nailed to the cross

Saint George Church, in New Baden, Illinois. November 2008.

Our Lady of Lourdes Church, University City, Missouri - rood 2.jpg

The Crucifixion of Our Lord, at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, in University City. September 2006.

Saint Louis Art Museum, in Saint Louis, Missouri - crucifix.jpg

At the Saint Louis Art Museum. June 2007.

Saint George Catholic Church, in Hermann, Missouri - processional crucifix.jpg

Processional crucifix, at Saint George Church, in Hermann. November 2006.

Saint Martin Roman Catholic Church, in Starkenberg, Missouri - crucifix.jpg

At Saint Martin Church, in Starkenburg. May 2007.

Saint John Nepomuk Chapel, in Saint Louis, Missouri - crucifix

Saint John Nepomuk Church, in Saint Louis. April 2007.

Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic Church, in Union, Missouri, USA - altar crucifix.jpg

Altar crucifix, at Immaculate Conception Church, in Union. July 2007.

Mary Queen of Peace Roman Catholic Church, in Webster Groves, Missouri, USA - crucifix.jpg

At Mary, Queen of Peace Church, in Webster Groves. October 2007.

Saint Anthony of Padua Roman Catholic Church, in Saint Louis, Missouri, USA - crucifix

At Saint Anthony of Padua, in Saint Louis. May 2008.

Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis, in Saint Louis, Missouri, USA - crucifix

Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis. May 2008.

Museum of the Basilica of Saint Louis, King of France, in Saint Louis, Missouri, USA - crucifix.jpg

At the museum of the Basilica of Saint Louis, King. August, 2007.

Sainte Genevieve Roman Catholic Church, in Sainte Genevieve, Missouri, USA - station of the cross

Ste. Genevieve Church, in Sainte Genevieve. December 2007.

Saint Francis de Sales Oratory, in Saint Louis, Missouri, USA - crucifx.jpg

At Saint Francis de Sales Oratory. September 2007.

Saint James Roman Catholic Church, in Catawissa, Missouri, USA - crucifix.jpg

At Saint James Church, in Catawissa. October 2007.

Saint Joseph Roman Catholic Church, in Apple Creek, Missouri, USA - Station of the Cross

Jesus is taken down from the Cross. Saint Joseph Church, Apple Creek. December 2007.

Saint Louis University Art Museum, in Saint Louis, Missouri - Collection of the Western Jesuit Missions - station of the cross.jpg

From the collection of the Western Jesuit Missions, at the Saint Louis University Art Museum. December 2006.

Our Lady of Sorrows church, Saint Louis, Missouri - altar of Mary

Mary holding Christ after being taken down from the cross. Our Lady of Sorrows Church in Saint Louis. October 2006.

Our Lady of Sorrows Roman Catholic Church, in Saint Louis, Missouri, USA - statue

Our Lady of Sorrows Church. June 2008.

Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis, in Saint Louis, Missouri, USA - Pietà, decorated for Christmas

At the Cathedral Basilica. January 2008.

Old Saint Ferdinand's Shrine, in Florissant, Missouri - Pietà.jpg

At Old Saint Ferdinand's Shrine, in Florissant. December 2006. Magna velut mare contritio mea! This derives from the Lamentations of Jeremiah 2:13 — “To what shall I compare you? Or to what shall I liken you, O daughter of Jerusalem? To what shall I equal you, that I may comfort you, O virgin daughter of Sion? For great as the sea is your destruction: who shall heal you?

Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic Church, in Maplewood, Missouri, USA - Pietà

Immaculate Conception Church, in Maplewood. May 2010.

Saint Alphonsus Ligouri ("Rock") Roman Catholic Church, in Saint Louis, Missouri, USA - pieta

Saint Alphonsus Ligouri church, in Saint Louis. April 2011.

Saint Raphael Church, in Saint Louis, Missouri - station of the cross.jpg

Jesus being placed in the tomb, at Saint Raphael Church, in Saint Louis. November 2006.

Saint Mary's Catholic Church, in Alton, Illinois - XIVth Station of the Cross.jpg

Saint Mary’s Church, in Alton, Illinois. January 2007.

Saint Patrick Roman Catholic Church, in Grafton, Illinois, USA - XIVth Station of the Cross, Jesus is laden in the Sepulchre

Saint Patrick Church, in Grafton, Illinois. October 2010.

Please note that many of these photographs depicting the Passion of Our Lord were taken in the year 2007. My girlfriend Lisa died unexpectedly after a long illness during Holy Week of that year. I joined my suffering to that of Christ.

3 comments:

  1. These are beautiful. Thank you for taking the time to post them. Peace to you this Easter!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Is it really necessary that you post so many images. It really clogs up Google Reader. I'm about ready to delete you from my subscriptions.

    ReplyDelete
  3. These are quite beautiful and I think it's spiritually enriching to reflect on the differences between them. My favorites are:

    -- The Agony from Immaculate Conception in Maplewood. Notice how Christ has his head down on the rock and appears exhausted and "at the end of his rope," while the angel's expression is one of both concern and determination -- as if to say "Yes, you can do this."

    -- The First Station from St. Ann in Normandy, which places the hands of the finger-pointing crowd on one side and the hands of Pilate (as he washes them of responsibility) on the other.

    -- The Fourth Station from All Souls in Overland. Is that a tear I see on Mary's cheek?

    -- The 11th Station from St. Mary's in Trenton. The expression on Christ's face is quite moving to me; the man doing the nailing, on the other hand, looks indifferent, as if he'd done this a hundred times before (which he probably had).

    -- The corpus of the St. John Nepomuk crucifix. Almost looks like it could have been modeled after a concentration camp survivor or a famine victim.

    Thanks for posting these!

    ReplyDelete