Photos of Mosaics at Resurrection Cemetery

NOVEMBER IS THE month dedicated to the holy souls, who need our prayers. A pious practice is to visit cemeteries, especially those that contain the relics of loved ones, although out of charity it is commendable to offer prayer at any cemetery. Since Saint Paul commands us to pray without ceasing, we have plenty of time to give prayerful consideration to all things.

A cemetery is a holy place, and ought to have the honor, respect, and beauty which we give to church buildings; and we ought to be generous in supporting them.

Resurrection Cemetery, located in the unincorporated community of Affton, in Saint Louis County, Missouri, is close to Kenrick-Glennon Seminary and the Archdiocesan pastoral center. Founded in 1928 as New Saints Peter and Paul Cemetery, it was renamed Resurrection in the 1940s.

A section of this cemetery features a series of mosaics set into monuments. These are placed in two rows between two small chapels. This was developed in about 1974 and these mosaics were among the last commissions of the Ravenna Mosaic Company, which was responsible for the mosaics at the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis.



The mosaics illustrate salvation history and serve as a visual catechesis to visitors. My intention was to photograph both sides of these monuments, and when I arrived it was overcast, which is ideal; however, the sun came out, and I was only able to capture the east side of each.



The sacrifice of Abraham.



Jacob's ladder.



Moses and the manna in the desert.



The Annunciation.



The Nativity.



The Baptism of Our Lord in the Jordan River.



Jesus raising the dead.



Christ the King.



Christ the Good Shepherd.



Jesus granting Peter the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven.

Click here for photos of the other mosaics.