The way to Calvary is only a few paces away from Our Ladys chapel. Lined with oratories representing scenes from the Passion, it climbs the hillside to reach a magnificent shady esplanade.
| This Way of the Cross presents a two-fold feature: all the themes are taken from the Gospels, there is a 15th station, bigger than the others and depicting the Resurrection. - The agony in the garden
- The betrayal of Judas
- Jesus before Caiaphas
- The scourging at the pillar
- The crowning with thorns
- Behold the Man
- Jesus is condemned to death
- Jesus'mother was there
- The daughters of Jerusalem
- The crucifixion
- Jesus dies on the cross
- Jesus is taken down from the cross
- Our Lady of Sorrows
- The burial of Jesus
- The Resurrection of Jesus
The first five stations, as well as the 7th, the 8th and the 10th contain bas-reliefs by Alexandre Renoir. The purity of lines, the sincerity of religious feeling expressed, the majesty of Christs expression in all situations has given us a work of genuine art.
The other stations are of unequal artistic value. However it is worth noticing the lovely sculptured group in the 11th station (the three crosses), the Pieta (13th station) and Christ in His Glory, towering the Chapel of the Resurrection. This chapel is the work of Fabish, the sculptor from Lyon who did the statue of Our Lady in the Grotto, in Lourdes.
The chapel of the Resurrection was also a burial place. The remains of St Michael Garicoits were there for 60 years, and many miracles were obtained on his tomb. Two of his successors at the head of the Congregation were also interred there: Father Jean Chirou (1808-1873) and Father Auguste Etchecopar (1830-1897), whose process of canonisation is in process.. |
All the stations of the calvary
