Holy Souls’ Altar

Moving to the holy souls’ altar, one passes the first of the confessionals, which were variously made in Italy, Spain, Germany, Belgium and England. Above each confessional, in niches backed with alabaster, are statues of some of the saints. In the order followed, they are S. Bernadette (turning to look at the statue of our Lady of Lourdes), S. Catherine Labouré, S. Francis of Assisi, S. John Vianney (the Curé d’Ars), S. Vincent de Paul and S. Agnes.

The holy souls’ altar has memorial tablets to imagesioners killed in the great war and the dark marble emphasises the dedication of this particular altar – it is old convent Siena with a deep purple veining separated by bands of black marble bordered by a light gold fillet.

The large crucifix is after one at Limpias in Spain and was carved in Rome. The mosaic depicts our Lady of sorrows.