{"id":60769,"date":"2021-10-31T16:38:44","date_gmt":"2021-10-31T15:38:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/topa.be\/sint-pauluskerk\/beschrijving\/spc-the-calvary-garden\/spc-the-passion\/"},"modified":"2021-11-07T17:04:06","modified_gmt":"2021-11-07T16:04:06","slug":"lijdensverhaal","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/topa.be\/en\/sint-pauluskerk\/beschrijving\/calvarietuin\/lijdensverhaal\/","title":{"rendered":"SPK The Passion"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Saint Paul\u2019s, the Antwerp Dominican church, a revelation<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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The Calvary garden: on a pilgrimage 'round the corner'<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The Passion<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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To testify to Jesus\u2019 gruesome passion\u00a0angels<\/strong>\u00a0at both sides of the path show the visitor the\u00a0tools of the passion<\/strong>. The positioning of these heavenly \u2018squires\u2019 was inspired by Bernini\u2019s Ponte Sant\u2019Angelo (1669), which Dominicus van Ketwigh admired during his stay in Rome from 1714 till 1716. The tools have been distributed as follows: crown of thorns (E1<\/strong>), (cloth with) the 5 wounds (E2<\/strong>), the inscription INRI on the cross and a sponge (E3<\/strong>), the seamless robe (which was diced for) and the dice (E4<\/strong>), the cross (E5<\/strong>), the ladder (E6<\/strong>), the shroud (E7<\/strong>), the scourge and the ropes (E8<\/strong>), the (alleged) cloth of Veronica (E9<\/strong>), whipping post and the crown of thorns, glove, nails, scourge and dice (E10<\/strong>). The angels show their grief: they look sad and some are weeping.<\/p>\n

Jesus\u2019 suffering is also depicted in the 4 medallions (Willem Ignatius Kerricx, 1741) against the church wall. Together with the calvary they constitute the 5\u00a0Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary<\/strong>. The remarkable idiosyncrasy that Mary is present in every scene should not surprise us too much since both the commissioner and his brother Jan Baptist had been great promoters of the daily devotion of the rosary since 1703. Each mystery is accompanied by a poem.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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First Mystery, the Agony<\/u><\/strong> (DM1)<\/strong><\/p>\n

WHO WILL O DEAR GOD
\nMY SOUL GIVE TEARS
\nWHEN I SEE THEE SADDENED
\nFOR MY MALICIOUS LIFE
\nWHEN I SEE THEE DISTRESSED
\nAND SWEAT BLOODY SWEAT
\nTHEN I SHOUT WITH REPENT
\nMY SINS ARE MY SUFFERING.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Second Mystery, the Flagellation<\/u><\/strong> (DM2)<\/strong><\/p>\n

O SWEET INNOCENT LAMB
\nTIED TO A COLUMN
\nSHRED AND TORN
\nAND THIS FOR OUR SINS.
\nI HOPE THAT THY BLOOD
\nWILL SAVE MY SOUL
\nBECAUSE I LOVE THEE GOD
\nABOVE ALL.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Third Mystery, Crowning with Thorns<\/u><\/strong> (DM3)<\/strong><\/p>\n

O CRUEL CROWN OF THORNS
\nO BRIGHT STABBING THORNS
\nOUT OF LOVE FOR THIS CROWN
\nI WILL NOT AVENGE MY SUFFERING
\nO JESUS MAY THIS CROWN
\nPROVOKE ME TO LOVE
\nTHIS IS MY PRAYER THROUGH THE BLOOD
\nLEAKING FROM THE THORNS.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Fourth Mystery, Carrying the Cross<\/u><\/strong> (DM4)<\/strong><\/p>\n

WILL I O SWEET JESUS
\nSTILL COMPLAIN IN MY SUFFERING
\nAS I SEE THEE WITHOUT BLAME
\nWILLINGLY CARRY THY CROSS
\nAH SAD MOTHER OF GOD
\nHOW GREAT WAS THY SORROW
\nMAKE THAT TRUE REPENTANCE
\nCRUSHES MY SINNY HEART.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Peter<\/strong>\u00a0(A1<\/strong>), in a cavern right of the tomb, is tortured by remorse because of having denied Jesus. This is symbolized by the crowing rooster above him. He has put the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven on the ground and he is on his knees, humbly asking to be forgiven.<\/p>\n

By representing Jesus\u2019 crucifixion high on top of this steep hill, the cross becomes somewhat triumphant. The skulls at the foot of the cross refer to the name of the spot: \u2018Calvary\u2019, i.e. \u2018Place of skull\u2019.<\/p>\n

True to tradition His mother and His beloved disciple John, respectively (iconographically) right and left of Him, flank the cross. Mary (M<\/strong>) looks up at her Child; John (J<\/strong>) points Him out to us.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\"\"Because according to Jewish tradition Adam was buried near Mount Calvary, just outside Jerusalem, Christians welcomed this fact to represent\u00a0Adam\u2019s skeleton<\/strong>\u00a0(Ad<\/strong>) as a symbol of death at the foot of the cross, which stands for (hope for) eternal life. The same (old)\u00a0Adam, naked<\/strong>, and with the shovel of his labour (Ad<\/strong>) is here looking up as a living person at the \u2018new Adam\u2019, as Jesus Christ is being called (Rom. 5:14-21, especially Cor. 15:22,45-49)<\/p>\n

In a cavern underneath the cross, Mary (M<\/strong>) is holding her dead Son (JC<\/strong>) on her lap and mourns over Him: the\u00a0Piet\u00e0<\/strong>. Jesus\u2019 sacrifice of love is symbolically repeated by the\u00a0pelican<\/strong>\u00a0that in the last resort opens its chest to give its innermost parts to its young so that they may be fed and can survive.<\/p>\n

Jesus\u2019\u00a0lifeless body<\/strong>\u00a0(Willem I Kerricx) lies in state movingly \u2018true to life\u2019 in the cave on the ground floor: the\u00a0Holy Grave<\/strong>. The Roman soldier\u00a0Longinus<\/strong>\u00a0(V3<\/strong>), who pierced Jesus\u2019 heart, belongs rather to the Calvary on top of the hill, but here he actually represents the sentry by the tomb.<\/p>\n

Finally Jesus\u2019\u00a0resurrection<\/strong>\u00a0has been brought into vision \u2018live\u2019 (by Michiel I van der Voort): He (JC<\/strong>) meets\u00a0Mary<\/strong>\u00a0Magdalene<\/strong>\u00a0(MM<\/strong>) in the garden \u2013 the gospel of the day of Easter (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: \u201cDo not touch Me\u201d (\u2018Noli me tangere\u2019, which is the traditional name for this scene). Awe struck she slightly kneels and crosses her arms.<\/p>\n

The four\u00a0evangelists<\/strong>, 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<\/strong>) and Luke (Ev3<\/strong>) are writing; Matthew (Ev1<\/strong>) is looking up to Heaven. Mark (Ev4<\/strong>) is holding a scroll on which we can read the first verse of his gospel.<\/p>\n

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 \u2013 two keys and a sword \u2013 and both of them are holding a scroll.<\/p>\n

In Peter\u2019s (A1<\/strong>) one can read from his first letter:<\/p>\n

\u201cCHRISTUS HEEFT VOOR ONS GELEDEN. I Petr. II. 21\u201d
\n[Christ also suffered for you; I Peter 2:21]
\n\u201cDOOR DE VERRYSENISSE JESU CHRISTI. I Petr. III. 21\u201d
\n[Through the resurrection of Jesus Christ; I Peter 3:21]\u201c<\/p>\n

On Paul\u2019s (A2<\/strong>) scroll we can also read from his letters:<\/p>\n

\u201cCHRISTUS IS GESTORVEN ENDE VERRESEN. Rom. XIV,9\u201d
\n[Christ died and came to life; Rom. 14:9]
\n\u201cWIJ PREDIKEN DEN GECRUYSTEN CHRISTUS. I Cor. 1,23\u201d
\n[We proclaim Christ crucified; I Cor 1:23]\u201c<\/p>\n

Further all\u00a0prophets<\/strong>\u00a0make their appearance, the \u2018major\u2019 (P<\/strong>) and the minor (p<\/strong>) ones, to announce Jesus\u2019 sacrifice of love on Mount Calvary with one of their quotations and in Dutch too.<\/p>\n

That the Dominicans had a great liking for\u00a0Mary Magdalene<\/strong>\u00a0(MM<\/strong>) 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 Testament, 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 19th<\/sup>\u00a0century). 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 \u2018Sainte-Baume\u2019, filled with remorse over her sinful life (\u2018baoumo\u2019 is Proven\u00e7al for \u2018cave\u2019). On the first platform of the \u2018hill\u2019 she is flanked by her brother and sister, while she lies meditating about the extremes\u00a0as a repentant sinner in the cave<\/strong>. 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\u2019 feet with in the house of Simon the Pharisee and which also refers to her intention to embalm Jesus\u2019 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\u00a0Michael<\/strong>\u00a0(E<\/strong>), who, dressed as a Roman soldier and armed with a ferula and flaming sword, chased the dragon (Dra<\/strong>) that lived there. The same fending off powers are attributed to her sister\u00a0Martha<\/strong>\u00a0of Bethany (Mta<\/strong>), who is holding a cross in her hand as a weapon. Her brother\u00a0Lazarus\u00a0<\/strong>(L<\/strong>), who is blessing as a bishop, 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.<\/p>\n

Finally we find Mary Magdalene against the stairs tower, where, true to the legend, seven times a day angels raise her\u00a0in ecstasy high above the clouds<\/strong>, so that she can hear heavenly music until she may enter Heaven definitively.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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