An earthly expression of Heaven

If you haven’t visited this church — you must, if you are able. There is much to impress visitors at the Basilica of Our Lady of Victory National Shrine in Lackawanna, New York: the architecture, altars, marble, paintings and murals, 134 stained glass windows - all demand hours to appreciate — and it’s impossible to miss the Stations of the Cross.

Located along the east and west sides of the Shrine, each is an example of impeccable craftsmanship, consisting of life-sized figures in scenes carved from a single piece of marble. Interestingly, the Italian quarry from which the material for the stations came also produced the marble used by Michelangelo to create the Pietà in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.

Pepini, the artist responsible for their creation, and his school of sculptors, took one year to complete each piece, using painstaking detail to depict the Passion of Jesus.

The Stations are but one noteworthy aspect of the Shrine. Take a look at this brief video for more of the history of one of the most beautiful churches in America: