Our Lady of Mount Virgin

Our Lady of Mount Virgin (OLMV)

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Our Lady of Mount Virgin is a beautiful Church. Every day I drive by this church on my way to and from work. They are one of the Church's nearby me that has a beautiful garden with Statues and the stations of the cross. This is one of my places to meditate and contemplate on the mysteries of the Rosary and also Jesus's walk to Calvary.

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No matter what time of year it is, this prayerful garden is beautiful. The outdoor Stations of the Cross provide a unique opportunity to walk in Jesus's footsteps in a more literal sense, moving from station to station as pilgrims have done for centuries. Each station is thoughtfully positioned throughout the garden, creating a natural prayer path that leads visitors through Christ's Passion.

The beauty of praying the Stations outdoors lies in the connection between God's creation and the sacred mysteries. In spring, budding flowers seem to echo the hope of resurrection even amidst the sorrowful mysteries. Summer's full bloom reminds us of the abundant life Christ promised through His sacrifice. Autumn's changing colors reflect the transformation that comes through suffering, while winter's stark beauty mirrors the solemnity of Good Friday, making Easter's joy even more profound.

Our Lady of Mount Virgin
Stations of the Cross

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Everything in this garden is a memorial to someone. Even the benches that are placed near and around these Saints are dedicated for a loved one. There is so much prayer and love here, you can feel it as you enter and walk these gardens

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Beautiful Statues to Meditate on their Lives

Saint Teresa of Calcutta (Mother Teresa)

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Sitting here on this warm spring day, I look at Mother Teresa's statue and feel the gentle breeze that reminds me of her tender care for the poor. The sun warming my face makes me think about how she brought warmth and comfort to people who had nothing.

As I watch the new flowers blooming around her statue, I can almost see her gentle smile as she held dying people in her arms. She shows me that Jesus calls each of us to love and serve others, especially those who are forgotten by the world.

When I'm here looking at her statue, I feel challenged to ask myself: How can I serve others with the same loving heart she had?

Saint Joseph and Jesus

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Saint Joseph's statue has such a kind and gentle face. Sitting here in the warm sunshine, I imagine how this good man must have felt raising Jesus as his own son.

I meditate on Joseph holding Jesus in his arms and how he provided for his family with his carpenter's hands. As I close my eyes and feel the peaceful quiet of this garden, I wonder what it was like for Joseph to watch Jesus grow up, knowing He was the Son of God.

When Jesus walked to Calvary, Joseph was already in heaven, but I believe his heart was still with his beloved son. Looking at this statue fills me with hope that Saint Joseph watches over all families, especially during hard times.

Saint Michael the Archangel

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Saint Michael's statue stands tall and strong against the blue spring sky. From where I sit, I can see how powerful and protective he looks with his sword raised high.

The peaceful feeling in this garden reminds me that good always wins over evil, even when times seem dark. As I watch the shadows move across his statue, I think about how Saint Michael protects us from spiritual dangers we can't even see.

Being here on this beautiful day, surrounded by God's creation, I feel safe knowing that this mighty angel watches over all of us. When worry tries to creep into my heart, I look up at his statue and remember that God's power is greater than any fear.

Saint Pio of Pietrelcina (Padre Pio)

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The morning light hits Padre Pio's statue just right, and I can see the peaceful expression on his face. Sitting here, I think about how this holy priest carried the wounds of Jesus on his own body for fifty years.

The birds singing around me seem to echo the prayers he must have said during his suffering. When I pray the Stations of the Cross here, I feel like Padre Pio truly understands what Jesus went through.

He didn't just read about Jesus's pain—he felt it in his own hands and feet. As I rest on this bench near his statue, I find comfort knowing that someone who suffered so much can pray for me when life gets difficult.

A Place of Living Prayer

What makes Our Lady of Mount Virgin's garden truly special is how it serves as a bridge between heaven and earth. The memorials throughout the garden create a communion of saints—not just the statues of officially canonized saints, but the memory of all the faithful departed who are remembered here.

Each bench, each plaque or brick, each donated element represents someone's love and loss, hope and faith.

The garden becomes a place where the living pray alongside the memory of the dead, where earthly sorrow meets heavenly hope. This is particularly powerful during the Stations of the Cross, which themselves represent the ultimate intersection of human suffering and divine love.

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Seasonal Reflections and Year-Round Beauty

Throughout the changing seasons, the garden offers different perspectives on the eternal truths it represents. During Lent, the garden serves as an ideal place for deeper reflection and penance. The outdoor setting adds a dimension of sacrifice—braving cold winds or gentle rain to complete the Stations mirrors in a small way the discomfort Christ endured.

In the Easter season, the garden bursts with new life, making it a perfect place to contemplate the Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary. The resurrection is celebrated not just in the liturgy but in the very flowers and trees that surround the sacred statues.

Summer brings families and individuals seeking quiet moments away from life's busyness. The shade of mature trees provides natural cathedral spaces for prayer, while the longer daylight hours extend opportunities for evening reflection.

A Sanctuary for All Seasons of Life

Whether someone comes to this garden in joy or sorrow, in thanksgiving or petition, they find a space that meets them where they are. The combination of the Stations of the Cross and the various saints' statues provides multiple entry points for prayer and reflection. Someone struggling with a particular challenge might find themselves drawn to Mother Teresa's example of serving others, while another person might seek Padre Pio's intercession for physical or spiritual healing.

This garden truly embodies the Catholic understanding of the communion of saints—that we are surrounded by a cloud of witnesses who have gone before us in faith. Their statues serve not as objects of worship, but as reminders of lives well-lived and as intercessors who continue to care for us from heaven.

Our Lady of Mount Virgin's Station of the Cross garden stands as a testament to the enduring power of faith, the reality of love that transcends death, and the peace that comes from walking with Christ through both suffering and joy.