Stations of the Cross |
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Photo Gallery |
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The Story of the Stations of the Cross and its Relevance in our Daily Lives.
Aside from the obvious profound religious lessons of
hope and love, the Stations of the Cross have many other lessons that easily
relate to our daily lives.
They tell
a moving story with many characters,
they graphically
depict humanity, inhumanity, love, hate, indifference and even sociopathic behavior.
Sympathy
… Is there one who would not weep,
‘whelmed in miseries so deep
Christ’s dear Mother to behold
…
These words from Jacopone da Todi’s Stabat Mater,
when read as part of the Stations of the Cross, make it all but impossible to be
immune to sympathy for Jesus’ mother, Mary, witness to the
unspeakable horrors inflicted on her Son.
Examples
& Lessons
The examples and lessons for personal behavior are plentiful in this story,
which is really a prayer. There are lessons for the
leaders of nations, political groups, and even religious leaders; students and
teachers, business owners and workers, neighbors and strangers, fathers and
mothers and siblings.
Compassion
I doubt a high school student with a strong Christian belief, and an
understanding and appreciation for the Stations of the Cross could purposely
injure a high scoring member of an opposing team for the sake
of increasing his own team’s chances of winning.
Nor could a young
girl, with an understanding of how important she is in the eyes of God, allow
herself to feel such hopelessness that she would completely give up on life.
Likewise, neither could a political office holder justify the harm done to a
segment of his constituency behind the idea that "the end justifies the means."
A
Special Place to Visit
Because of our magnificent outdoor Garden of the Stations of the Cross here at
Eagle Park, many of our parishioners know the strength of this prayer.
In our desire to increase that number, we make the prayer available to
you here in two forms¾one for adults and another for young
people.
We invite you to invest some time for personal growth and the
strengthening of your spirit by coming to
Eagle Park to experience this prayer - this story of hope
- in a unique fashion.
I feel confident in saying that with the beautiful Hudson River Valley as
a backdrop, the combination of these haunting sculptures and this story of hope
and love that is the
Stations of the Cross, will make a lasting impression on you; one you will carry
with you for the rest of your journey through life.
Stations of the Cross by Nino Di Simone
Taking humble clay to new heights, sculptor Nino Di Simone’s fifteen ceramic boards are sculptured in clay and baked in a handcrafted oven; all in the ancient tradition of the majolica artists of the Ceramic School of Castelli. Professor Di Simone chose subdued shades of gold and blue as the coloring for his haunting depictions. He presents only the crucified Christ glazed in the un-pigmented natural terracotta color.
Each monument is a brick and mortar structure 15 1/2 feet tall, 5 feet wide, and is 2 1/2 feet deep. Housed in the nook of each structure is one of the fifteen bas-relief sculpture boards. The boards measure 32 inches wide by 112 inches high.
Professor Di Simone’s three-dimensional (bas-relief) figures physically project as much as a foot from the board; On another dimension these haunting figures seem to reach out to tell their story.
The Grounds
Nestled on a hilltop overlooking the magnificent Hudson River Valley, the Garden of the Stations of the Cross at Eagle Park covers an area of some fourteen thousand square feet. It is comprised of a beautiful garden square (76 feet wide and 120 feet long), with ten of the towering monuments on three sides. The southern side of the square opens up to a narrowing path that gently rises to the fifteenth board, which depicts the Risen Christ.
With the majestic background of mountains and river, the power of Nino Di Simone’s Stations of the Cross is magnified by a hundred.
All are Welcome
Organize a parish trip, come by yourself or with your family, to Saint Augustine Church, Rt. 9 Eagle Park, Ossining, NY 10562 (914-941-0067).
A plenary indulgence is granted to the faithful who make the pious exercise of the Way of the Cross.
Photo Gallery
Stations of the Cross: the Prayers and Photos ,
Stations of the Cross: the Prayers
for the Young
The Artist at work: Nino di Simone
