Rennes-le-Château and Paschal Full Moon (Station XIV)

Evidence that Saunìère's Stations of the Cross were not unique

Paul Smith

Revised 27 July 2017



Bérenger Saunière purchased religious ornamentation for his church from Maison Giscard of Toulouse. Maison Giscard always seems to have manufactured Station of the Cross XIV that showed the Paschal Full Moon. There are some examples that do not show the Full Moon (in Seuillet, Allier; Saint Lubin, Muides-sur-Loire, Loir-et-Cher, etc), but these represent a minority of examples and sometimes involve Station XIV that underwent renovation whereby the deteriorated condition of the Moon could have been painted over.

The timing of Easter Sunday (Pascha) is determined by whenever the night of the Full Moon occurs during the Vernal Equinox, which varies from year to year (Pascha is celebrated on the first Sunday after).

Here are a few examples




Paschal Full Moon




Rennes-le-Château (Aude)
Photo Credit © Paul Smith, 1990




Saint-Félix-de-Sorgues (Aveyron)
Photo Credit © Pierre Jarnac




Ségur-le-Château (Corrèze)
Photo Credit © Pierre Jarnac




Saint Julien Sainte Basilisse (Mouthoumet, Aude)
Photo Credit © Ben Hammott




St Saturnin (Cher)
Photo Credit © Patrick Mensior




Labécède-Lauragais (Languedoc-Roussillon)
Photo Credit © Patrick Mensior




Dommartin-le-Saint-Père (Champagne-Ardenne)
Photo Credit © Patrick Mensior




Saint Pierre-ès-Liens (Cirey-sur-Blaise, Haute-Marne)
Photo Credit © Patrick Mensior




Saint Jean-Baptiste (Naussannes, Dordogne)
Photo Credit © Patrick Mensior





Saint Hilaire (Vouécourt, Haute-Marne)
Photo Credit © Patrick Mensior





Saint-Aubin-de-Lanquais (Dordogne, Aquitaine)
Photo Credit © Patrick Mensior








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