Spring 2012  Cross Collection

This Lent, as was done for Lent 10 years ago, we displayed Father Christopher's (Father W. N. Christopher Davis '48 ) collection of crosses. Also added were two belonging to Father Damian Kearney, O.S. B. and the "Portsmouth school cross" (from school letterhead etc.) now sold as a silver or gold necklace in the school bookstore. As described then "Wood, alabaster, paper, silver, glass, mosaic, cameo and gold crosses are represented. One cross is made of house nails, another of silver tubes, one has a papal portrait and yet another has splinters of wood encased in glass. The artistic forms of the crosses are varied as well, showing a crusaders' cross, Celtic cross, an Armenian procession cross, a Byzantine cross and Trinity cross." Added this year was a straw cross and a second reliquary cross, this one once owned by Father Damian's great uncle, a priest in England in th late 1800s. The  mosaic (the first picture below) won in student voting this year, as it did 10 years ago. It is also pictured in the collecion in another photograph. Second place was tied between Father Christopher's 33 Anniversay Cross (large raised center cross made with  varied polished woods) and the Irish Blessing Cross shown in the center of the last picture.