Stations of the Cross

(It's not quite right that the name of the priest integral to this post, and even the name of the Hermitage, escapes me now, so I apologize in advance.)

So the story goes that an Italian priest touring the country paid a visit to the Hermitage in Kananga, Leyte and fell in love with it. When he went back to Rome, he sent over money to the sisters in the Hermitage to have sculptures built in the forested area next to them chronicling the Stations of the Cross. In local currency, the money totaled a million, and back in Rome, the depletion of his entire life savings. Humbly, he told Mother Tita, the Mother Superior, "Sister, I'm a pauper now."

Last week, pop invited all of us to the Hermitage, for our yearly homage to the walk that Jesus was made to do to His death thousands of years ago. The construction was recently finished. I found that the life-sized structures are not without flaws. They are not works of art. You will likely spend a lot of time studying the curves dulled or overdone by the concrete works.

But the generosity was not made in vain. At the end of the homage, I was slightly reeling from the resonance of the meditation that pop read before each Station. The significance after all is in these meditations. It is after all, in our remembrance of the sacrifices that Jesus walked through, and not in the aesthetics of the commemoration.

Thank you, to the pauper priest from Rome, whoever you are. By giving these gifts so we will never forget, I believe you will always have your mark in this Hermitage, as it had left its mark on you.

The last Station.Each Station is enhanced by a landscape. There's a paved pathway that follows these Stations along the perimeters of the area. In the middle are grown gemelina trees, a collection of which imbue an enchanting atmosphere. It was a long but meaningful homage we did; and visually dramatic with the splendid natural landscape of fields and mountains, and not to mention the glorious sunset that visualtracked our own walk.This collection of gemelina trees is enchanting. I bet at night, it is enchanted.The hills are alive.Last note (by the toilet).

BTW: the Hermitage is very strict now. Ladies in jeans are not allowed, whoever benefactor you are.

~~~
(These photos are not very good. In my next visit, I'll dare to take out my camera more.)