A modern pilgrim?

The shell on this tombstone in Lake View Cemetery intrigues me.  A shell like this, specifically a scallop shell, is the pilgrimage symbol for Santiago de Compostela in Spain, where there is a shrine to the apostle St. James the Greater.  The shrine holds bones that are reputed to be those of the saint, also the patron saint of Spain, and has been a pilgrimage site for Christians since the 9th century.  Medieval pilgrims would wear a shell as a symbol of their journey, and such scallop shells are still available today.  Did Irvin make this journey and treasure it in such a way that a representation of it was to be on his grave marker?

Read Full Post »

A Grave Concern: Crosses at Calvary Cemetery

This Roman cross marks the final resting place of the Vincentian fathers.

I’ve already shown you the lovely monument for Anna Spahn, but take another moment to view it in admiration of the simple cross that provides the backdrop.

Not only does this photograph show you a lovely Roman cross in the foreground, but a Celtic cross stands in the background.

Read Full Post »

Harvard Grove crosses

As I mentioned in my introductory post about the cemetery, Harvard Grove is not in the finest shape.

Someone took the time to prop this broken cross up against this monument.

This cross has lost one of its horizontal arms.

Even with weathering, this cross is one of the best-preserved I saw all day – at least it is intact!

Read Full Post »

Engraved crosses

Most of the crosses I am drawn to first are sculptures that rise above the rest of the monument and stand high against the sky, but there are lovely crosses that are engraved into the tombstone itself, like this one for the Karmans.

I would love to know more about who these two men were and why they share a gravestone.  I wonder, based on Cook’s profession as a priest being listed and the presence of the rosary, if Labate was affiliated with the Roman Catholic church as well.

Finally, I have saved the simple Roman cross on this teenage girl’s marker for last.

Read Full Post »

Simple Roman crosses

Sometimes beauty is in simplicity, and these crosses today are good examples of that.

The plot for the Severance family is overseen by this large, simple stone cross.

Mary Frances Bolles’ gravestone is this cross, with her birthdate, name and death date engraved onto its face.

This cross marks the family plot of the Robinsons and Ewalds.

Read Full Post »