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Stations of the Cross
A way of the cross
was erected in the woods on the Feast of the Seven Dolors, April
12, 1889, with approval of Archbishop Peter Richard Kenrick.
As more and more
pilgrims came to Starkenburg, Father Hoehn decided that more
elaborate stations should be purchased with assistance from the
Pilgrims. In 1900, Father Jacob Denner, a former student of
Father Hoehn's, came to spend his Christmas vacation here. While
walking through the woods to the Grotto, Father Hoehn mentioned to
Father Denner that he would like to get donations for this
purpose.
Three days later,
a letter was received from Mr. Joseph Highberger from Westphalia,
Kansas. He had attended many Pilgrimages at Starkenburg, and
wanted to buy new stations for the woods, to replace the very
simple ones. Mr. Highberger and Fr. Hoehn went to St. Louis,
Missouri, shortly after the new year 1901 to purchase the new
stations. New images were purchased at B. Herder. Artist A.T.
Kaletta, of St. Louis had made them.
During the
summer, the stations were begun with quarry stones for the
foundation and the remainder of brick. The crosses that were
erected on the stations were made of wood, a condition made by the
Church in order to gain indulgences. Mr. Highberger donated the
images, but various pilgrims donated each of the fourteen niches.
On Sunday, August
4, 1901, Rev. P. Servatius Rasche, O.F.M., superior of the
Franciscan Monastery at Hermann, blessed the new Stations of the
Cross in the presence of parishioners and some Pilgrims from St.
Louis. The following morning, the feast of Our Lady of Snows, a
solemn Mass of Thanksgiving was celebrated by Rev. Father Boehm of
Dutzow, assisted by Father J.M. Denner and Father Hoehn.
For forty years
they stood, until the weather began to deteriorate the soft brick
structure. Some were partly eroded, others had been demolished by
falling trees, but the images remained intact. They were inserted
into the framework when, in 1949, under the direction of Rev. P.
Minwegan, O.M.I., the stations were torn down and rebuilt of
reinforced concrete. They are 13 feet high, on a base of solid
concrete. This third set of Stations was blessed in 1950 by Rev.
Father Coleman Borgard, O.F.M., of Hermann.
Shrine of Our Lady of Sorrows
605 Bluff St.
Rhineland, MO 65069
573 236 4390
pastor@historicshrine.org
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