The Calvary garden: on a pilgrimage 'round the corner'

Because according to Jewish tradition Adam was buried near Mount Calvary, just outside Jerusalem, Christians welcomed this fact to represent Adam’s skeleton (Ad) as a symbol of death at the foot of the cross, which stands for (hope for) eternal life. The same (old) Adam, naked, and with the shovel of his labour (Ad) is here looking up as a living person at the ‘new Adam’, as Jesus Christ is being called (Rom. 5:14-21, especially Cor. 15:22,45-49)

In a cavern underneath the cross, Mary (M) is holding her dead Son (JC) on her lap and mourns over Him: the Pietà. Jesus’ sacrifice of love is symbolically repeated by the pelican that in the last resort opens its chest to give its innermost parts to its young so that they may be fed and can survive.

Jesus’ lifeless body (Willem I Kerricx) lies in state movingly ‘true to life’ in the cave on the ground floor: the Holy Grave. The Roman soldier Longinus (V3), who pierced Jesus’ heart, belongs rather to the Calvary on top of the hill, but here he actually represents the sentry by the tomb.

Finally Jesus’ resurrectionThis is the core of the Christian faith, namely that Jesus rose from the grave on the third day after his death on the cross and lives on. This is celebrated at Easter. has been brought into vision ‘live’ (by Michiel I van der Voort): He (JC) meets Mary Magdalene (MM) in the garden – the gospelOne of the four books of the Bible that focus on Jesus’s actions and sayings, his death and resurrection. The four evangelists are Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. ‘Gospel’ is the Old English translation of the Greek evangeleon, which literally means ‘Good News’. This term refers to the core message of these books. of the day of EasterThe feast that celebrates the resurrection of Jesus on the 3^rd day after his death on the cross. This means that Jesus lives on despite his death. This feast is celebrated on the 1^st Sunday after the 1^st full moon of spring. (John 20:14-17). She was the crown witness of that great mystery, namely that He has overcome death. Initially she thought that He was the gardener, which accounts for His spade. When she recognized Him, from her disbelief she wanted to touch Him, but she was told: “Do not touch Me” (‘Noli me tangere’, which is the traditional name for this scene). Awe struck she slightly kneels and crosses her arms.

The four evangelists, who have put the account in writing, are at the side of the garden opposing the church wall. They can be recognized by their winged symbols and their writing materials. John (Ev2) and Luke (Ev3) are writing; Matthew (Ev1) is looking up to Heaven. Mark (Ev4) is holding a scroll on which we can read the first verse of his gospel.

The two most important apostles (A), Peter and Paul, are part of the right row of angels. They can be recognized by their physiognomy and their respective attributes – two keys and a sword – and both of them are holding a scroll.

In Peter’s (A1) one can read from his first letter:

“CHRISTUS HEEFT VOOR ONS GELEDEN. I Petr. II. 21”
[Christ also suffered for you; I Peter 2:21]
“DOOR DE VERRYSENISSE JESU CHRISTI. I Petr. III. 21”
[Through the resurrection of Jesus Christ; I Peter 3:21]“

On Paul’s (A2) scroll we can also read from his letters:

“CHRISTUS IS GESTORVEN ENDE VERRESEN. Rom. XIV,9”
[Christ died and came to life; Rom. 14:9]
“WIJ PREDIKEN DEN GECRUYSTEN CHRISTUS. I Cor. 1,23”
[We proclaim Christ crucified; I Cor 1:23]“

Further all prophets make their appearance, the ‘major’ (P) and the minor (p) ones, to announce Jesus’ sacrifice of love on Mount Calvary with one of their quotations and in Dutch too.

That the Dominicans had a great liking for Mary Magdalene (MM) can be concluded from her being present no less than three times, including the apparition to her on Easter morning. The reason is that Mary Magdalene, who is identified with several characters of the New TestamentPart of the Bible with texts from after the birth of Jesus. This volume holds 4 gospels, the Acts of the Apostles, 14 letters of Paul, 7 apostolic letters and the Book of Revelation (or Apocalypse)., including the sister of Lazarus and Martha, was the patron of the Dominican third order in the Southern Low Countries (until the beginning of the 19^th century). This patronage is linked with the history of the order, which served the place of pilgrimage Sainte Baume until it was destroyed during the French Revolution. The legend says that after Mary Magdalene had gone ashore in Saintes-Marie-de-la-Mer, together with Lazarus and Martha, she retreated in ‘Sainte-Baume’, filled with remorse over her sinful life (‘baoumo’ is Provençal for ‘cave’). On the first platform of the ‘hill’ she is flanked by her brother and sister, while she lies meditating about the extremes as a repentant sinner in the cave. For this meditation she uses a skull (and originally also a cross in her left hand). The mysterious peacock-like bird may symbolize her vanity. Her most important attribute is the small vase of costly balm, which she anointed Jesus’ feet with in the house of Simon the Pharisee and which also refers to her intention to embalm Jesus’ dead body on Easter morning. In that cave she lived a life of prayer and solitude for thirty years. According to the legend she was assisted by archangel Michael (E), who, dressed as a Roman soldier and armed with a ferula and flaming sword, chased the dragon (Dra) that lived there. The same fending off powers are attributed to her sister Martha of Bethany (Mta), who is holding a cross in her hand as a weapon. Her brother Lazarus (L), who is blessing as a bishopPriest in charge of a diocese. See also ‘archbishop’., is holding the sword of his decapitation. On their way to the Holy Land many pilgrims also passed by Sainte-Baume, including Jaak Pussens in 1633.

Finally we find Mary Magdalene against the stairs tower, where, true to the legend, seven times a day angels raise her in ecstasy high above the clouds, so that she can hear heavenly music until she may enter Heaven definitively.