In 1882, the Roman Catholic priest in Lakeville, Connecticut, erected a 12 foot crucifix on the lawn of his parish church. The following summer, the local Protestants, offended by this structure, petitinoed him to remove it. His parishioners retaliated by boycotting the Protestant merchants, and the merchants called upon the local iron magnate to fire all his Catholic workers. It happened that the local iron magnate was also Chairman of the Democratic National Committee, and one of the leaders of the irate Protestants was a fomer Governor of Connecticut. Predictably, the story did not end there.

According to Christians, Jesus died as part of a divine plan to save humanity and, after His death, He rose to life again. The Cross and the Crucifix define Christianity as it symbolizes all that Christians believe in. For over 2,000 years Christians across the world have meditated upon, written about, created art and thanked God for the wonder of the Cross and Crucifix. Its presence is a photographer's dream. Culled from more than 150 images, this book presents 70 photographs I have taken in various cemeteries over the last 13 years which embody the theme: "The Crucifixion of Jesus". These photographic reproductions were taken in mostly Catholic cemeteries in the United States, Mexico, Brazil, Puerto Rico and Portugal.With each photograph the shooting location and the year the photo was taken are sited along with appropriate biblical quotes on Jesus, the Lord, the crucifix and the Crucifixion as well as suitable quotes from various writers and scholars. It is apparent to me that the Catholic cemeteries have carried on the artistic tradition of depicting Christ being crucified on the Cross. This is especially true with the Hispanic culture and its families that continue to depict the crucifixion of Jesus in their cemeteries. In a way they have created their own art form that exemplifies this important event. It is my hope my photographs show Christian art in a positive way and provides salvation to the readers as they page through the book.John T. Hanou

A famous book based on the theme of founding one's whole spiritual life on the lessons we learn from the Passion and Death of Jesus. Includes 31 meditations on different aspects of the Passion. Each meditation has 3 points, followed by a holy resolution to be taken and an example from the life of a Saint. The book also has many extras -- the Five Holy Wounds, visits to a crucifix, Mary Queen of Dolors, How to assist well at Mass, and more!