Christ of Holy Saturday!

This article is reprinted from the April 15, 2010 edition of the Catholic Standard & Times, the newspaper for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. I requested an electronic .jpeg of the article, however the Standard was unwilling to provide one. So, in order for you to read the article, I am posting it to my site, http://catholicsacredarts.blogspot.com 

I understand the Catholic Standard & Times will have an electronic format mid summer. Until then, I will just publish my articles here as they appear once a month in the Standard & Times.

When we attend Mass at our local parishes in Philadelphia, we are surrounded by many examples of sacred art and architectural features that help us in our prayerful pursuit of the Catholic spiritual life. Sacred art is intended to help us in our spiritual journey and provide us inspiration as we journey along in our everyday lives, trying to become more deeply immersed in our relationship with God. A great example of sacred art that helps us focus our prayer intentions is located at Saint Rita’s Church, Broad and Ellsworth Streets in Philadelphia.

The piece, “Christ of Holy Saturday,” by Philadelphia artist, Anthony Visco (www.anthonyvisco.org ) is the first thing you notice when you enter the lower chapel at Saint Rita’s. Struck in bronze, the full figured relief depicts the crucified Lord, lying on his burial shroud in anticipation of future resurrection on Easter.

Christ, in the tomb after the horrendous events of the crucifixion presents a very tranquil Jesus, hands crossed, with the wounds of the cross visible to all believers. Christ’s face slightly tilted with partially closed eyes gives us a hint that His repose is just temporary, waiting to be raised by the Father in glory.

The beautiful representation of Christ in repose shows us in a starkly mute fashion that we as Catholic believers are called to share in the Passion of Jesus through the Sacraments of Catholic Initiation. In Baptism, we too, die with Christ and are reborn through water and the Holy Spirit into a new life with God.  At Saint Rita’s Church, the close location of a holy water font, placed strategically placed in front of the crucified Jesus Christ offers a powerful symbol of hope every time we immerse our hands into the water, recall our sacramental death and rebirth in Baptism. Jesus portrayed at death keenly illustrates for us there is new life through the Sacraments of the Church.

The placement of “Christ of Holy Saturday,” is a masterful representation of the image of Christ envisioned by Saint Rita of Cascia, in which the image came to her in a vision during a period of prayer. The vision of Saint Rita, reproduced for all of us is one that draws us more deeply into an appreciation of the death and ultimate Resurrection of Jesus, which follows the solitary period of Holy Saturday in the tomb.

Most significantly the artistic bronze prepares us for a celebration of the Holy Eucharist, in the chapel on the other end of the chapel. There daily Mass is celebrated and the Blessed Sacrament is exposed for Eucharistic Adoration on a daily basis. In placing the deeply moving representation of Christ’s death at the entrance to the chapel at Saint Rita’s Church, the faithful Catholic makes a sacramental journey from the font to the Eucharistic celebration, the ultimate indication that Jesus’ suffering and death was the transition to a resurrection to new life.

During our observance of Lent, each of us needs to keep the journey and the ultimate destination in mind, namely the joy of Easter, when Christ overcame suffering and death.

Sacred art invites us to travel on a personal and community spiritual journey with faith. At Saint Rita’s Parish in South Philadelphia( www.stritashrine.org ), the artistic journey begins at the entrance to the chapel and leads us to the Eucharistic liturgy.

Throughout the entire Archdiocese of Philadelphia there are numerous examples of qualitative sacred art that assists us in our pilgrimage of faith. Make it a point to visit, “Christ of Holy Saturday,” at Saint Rita’s. At the same time, make it a point to look around your own parish church for good examples of sacred art that will help deepen your prayerful Catholic spirituality.

Testament

Recently, I have had the great pleasure to review the DVD series, Testament, prior to the May 25th release of the DVD collection. If you have ever wondered about the state of biblical archeology in the 21st century, like I often do, this series is one you must own.
Dr. John Romer, one of the best known archaeologists is the field of biblical archeology takes the viewer on a magnificent journey to the foundational roots of the Bible. The series is filmed on location in most of the ancient sites of biblical events, including Jericho, Jerusalem & Egypt. Most questions that are normally asked about the origins of the Bible are logically and methodically explored in great detail by Dr. Romer. In addition to tracing the great historical roots of the Old and New Testaments the series carefully and sensitively examines the spiritual developments of the great religions of Christianity and Judaism by actually visiting the sites of their greatest accomplishments and achievements.
In addition to visiting the ancient sites, the host quite easily takes the viewer through a lesson in biblical archeology that is vibrant and relevant to an inquisitive world in 2010 looking for answers to their faith. Stories ranging from the Garden of Eden, to the Flood of Noah and the events of the Hebrew Exodus are all covered extensively by Dr. Romer as he quite happily wanders through the ancient world and holy sites for both Christians and Jewish believers alike.
While most people do not immediately pick biblical archeology as the first DVD series they might choose to explore, this DVD series is indispensable to any collection for students of all faiths, seeking to understand the world’s religious roots. If indeed anyone has ever read through the Bible, and had some questions regarding the origins of the theological stories, this series provides answers in a professional and academic manner, while remaining sensitive to the biblical theology.
May 25, 2010 is the release date for the series on DVD. The series was originally broadcast on Discovery Channel in 1988. It is available for preorder at Acorn Media Group. Their website is http://acornonline.com . The price of the collection is $59.99

Embrace the Catholic Sacred Arts!

                             Our Lady of the Word by Paul M.Whittle

Catholics in areas of the United States are always reading about parishes and Catholic facilities either closing or merging due to the shifting demographics of the Catholic population in the country. One of the fortunate side effects of this parish consolidation is the opportunity to rid ourselves of quite frankly “bad” Catholic art that has cluttered our Catholic Churches. While there are scores of examples of poorly executed pieces of art that has made its way into our Catholic sacred spaces, there are many talented and capable artists and artisans that labor to introduce their quality art on a regular basis.

The Second Vatican Council made it especially clear that artisans were extremely important in the design and furnishing of materials intended for our most sacred places. Subsequent Popes since Paul VI, including Benedict XVI have made the restoration of quality art as an important mission of the Church as it plans its liturgical structures. Last year, Benedict XVI even had a conclave of artists at the Sistine Chapel to illustrate the critical importance their talents and artistic inspirations are to the life of the living and worshiping Catholic community.

Unfortunately, however, the planning and design of Catholic parishes does not always make considerations for the inclusion of original and qualitative art into the liturgical design of a new parish church. In most cases, architects are enlisted to provide the plans for the Catholic parish, but they have little understanding of the ritual and sacramental form and functions required of the new building. In addition to this oversight, architects and liturgical designers are drawn to,” over the counter,” statuary and, “catalog,” ordered artistic accessories that are mass produced and found in Catholic Churches in some variation all over the United States.

The Catholic Church historically has always been one of the strongest patron and supporter of artists and their respective crafts. Unfortunately, since the rise of the Industrial Revolution with the ability to mass produce articles, the Church has been caught in the machinery of, “off the shelf,” ordering of sacred art and liturgical accessories. The significance and magnificence of the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel is simply this: It is a one of a kind work of art! Appreciation of original commissions of liturgical art is something that needs a boost of confidence in the United States as we redesign and redistribute our parishes into new geographical distributions of the Catholic faithful.

                 Artist Paul Whittle at work on Our Lady of the Word

There are examples in every location in the United States of qualitative artists working in their uniquely vocational field of liturgical arts. In the Philadelphia metropolitan area, one artist of particular note is Paul M. Whittle. Mr. Whittle attended and graduated from the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts in 1995 with a BFA degree. He has also received the Perkins Scholarship for the, “Visual Arts” for six consecutive years.

A particular project that Mr. Whittle has completed and installed is, Our Lady of the Word at Saint Aloysius Church in the Diocese of Trenton. If your parish is considering adding a new piece of Catholic art, they should consider Mr. Whittle. He can be contacted at paulmatthewwhittle@gmail.com

His work is an example of superlative artistry, available to Catholic parishes throughout the United States. Catholics from all walks of life, clergy and hierarchy and local parishioners should really seek out artisans like Mr. Whittle when building or redesigning their local parish churches and not settle for over the counter art when an original piece of art is readily available.

While the migration of Catholic parishioners continues to change and evolve, we have the chance to artistically accentuate our new Catholic parishes with works of artistic quality that are befitting our worship of Almighty God.

Catholic Sacred Arts are indeed alive and well in the United States. As a faithful community of Catholic believers, we need to cultivate the patronage of these talented artisans and include their artistic interpretations of Catholic images as part of the evolution of Catholicism in the United States.

The Catholic Church in the United States is no longer an immigrant church, one that needs to rely on importation of statuary from foreign countries. We are a vibrant and living People of God that includes many talented vocational Catholic artists in our own parish communities. We have an opportunity to utilize their God given talents that are reflective of a Catholic Church in the 21^st century, living and growing in faith and love and hope.

Hugh J.McNichol is a Catholic author and journalist writing on Catholic topics and issues. He attended Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary in Philadelphia, where he studied both philosophy and theology. He writes frequently at http://verbumcarofactumest.blogspot.com & http://nothing-left-unsaid.blogspot.com . Hugh writes about his Irish Catholic upbringing and educational experiences at http://graysferrygrapevine.blogspot.com . He has contributed works to Catholic News Agency, Catholic Online, The Irish Catholic, Dublin, the British Broadcasting Company, London and the Philadelphia Bulletin, Catholic Exchange, Pewsitter.com, Blogger News Network & The Catholic Business Journal,CatholicMom.com. & Catholic.net Comments are always welcome at hjmn4566@gmail.com

Extending and Transforming the Tradition of Catholic Architecture

The School of Architecture and Planning at Catholic University in Washington is having a symposium from April 30th  through May 1st. The theme for the symposium is  Extending and Transforming the Tradition of Catholic Architecture.
There are many individual artists and architects involved with the planning and designing of new Catholic Churches in the United States and this upcoming symposium offers an opportunity to experience the trends that are evolving within the professional architectural community and the Catholic artisan communities that will effect the designs of future Catholic Churches.
While the School of Architecture and Planning at Catholic University does not exclusively design for future Catholic places of liturgical worship, the attention it is focusing on the topic is long overdue. For over forty years since the end of the Second Vatican Council, most of the Catholic Churches in the United States were a hybrid design that included space for the Sacred Liturgy and a place for other pastoral activities. For the most part, they did not reflect the large temples of worship America experienced in the 19th and 20th centuries of building churches exclusively designed for the Catholic Sacred liturgy.
However, in recent years the trend is moving once again towards the use of Catholic Churches exclusively for the celebrations of the Sacred Liturgies. What this means is that there is a Catholic renewal of art and architecture that is sweeping the parish communities in the United States when they plan and implement the designs for a new parish church.
Once again, the uniquely Catholic requirements for effective celebrations of the Holy Mass are the most important requirements of the new church design, coupled with the use of modern materials and ecologically sensitive configurations intended to enhance the church worshiping space as one devoted to the praise of God...exclusively.
In some cases, the merger and closure of parish communities in the United States has allowed the development of a mega cottage industry that reuses and recycles  items from closed parishes such as stained glass and marble altars. In an attempt to incorporate materials of the highest artistic quality from the 19th and 20th centuries, the new Catholic Churches built in the United States pay homage to the spiritual and temporal sensitivities of their spiritual forefathers. Also with the building of new churches there is an opportunity for new artists and artisans to have an opportunity to provide new visions of Catholic saints and liturgical accessories that are befitting a place in a sacred and transcendent Catholic worshiping community.
While the symposium is hosted by the School of Architecture and Planning, the keynote speaker for the event is His Eminence Justin Cardinal Rigali, Archbishop of Philadelphia. Cardinal Rigali in his own Archdiocese of Philadelphia has been a strong supporter of the restoration of traditional Catholic Church designs for his parishes. During his tenure, His Eminence has even restored the traditional Altar of the Blessed Sacrament to the main body of the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, an example followed to all of the parishes in his Archdiocese.
Keenly aware of the need for a renewal of the sense of the sacred in our Catholic spirituality, Cardinal Rigali has made the pursuit of spiritual renewal as a pastoral priority for Philadelphia and also for the National Shrine in Washington, D.C. Cardinal Rigali is a member of the National Shrine's Board of Directors and Artistic Advisory Board. With the backing of such a prominent American Cardinal, the great renewal of Catholic architectural traditions, extending into the 21st century, the symposium has the potential to provide resounding influence on Catholicism in the United States for years to come.

Anticipation...Holy Saturday!

Anticipation...Holy Saturday!

Holy Saturday...anticipation!

Holy Saturday is the period of Holy Week when Catholics remember Jesus' entombment. It is a preparation day. Today is a day of quiet and prayerful reflection on the true gravity of the crucifixion and Jesus' redemptive sacrifice. Throughout the world our Churches are empty of the Blessed Sacrament and quiet in anticipation of Easter's triumph over darkness and evil, sin and death.

The quietness of the day permits us to ponder the implications of physical death and how each of us in life and death, affects others. The day before Easter also permits the Elect and the Catechumens a period of solitude and reflection as they prepare to participate in a most meaningful manner in the Sacraments of Initiation. After the frantic activities of Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday & Good Friday…Holy Saturday is a pregnant pause before the realization of the resurrection is realized on Easter Sunday morning.

This period should be prayerful and quiet, as well as contemplative of the chronological and historical events that we call the Passion. This day should also provide anticipatory happiness as we prepare to celebrate the New Passover. Holy Saturday permits us to deeply saturate our parched theological spirits in images of the waters of Baptism, and symbols of restored life. This evening Mother Church will initiate a new fire and the Paschal Candle will stand in our churches providing radiant light and reminding us of Jesus' Easter triumph. We will profess our faith in the Creed, along with our newly initiated brothers and sisters. We will partake in the Eucharistic sacrifice, now the unbloody reenactment of Calvary.

In our Churches, new water will be blessed and there will be a sprinkling over all of us to recount our sacramental incorporation through the living waters of baptism, the warming power of the Holy Spirit in confirmation and the nourishment provided through our Eucharist, Jesus, the Bread of Life. It is a good and appropriate thing that this Holy Saturday period is quiet and contemplative, relaxed and subtly expectant.

The Easter Vigil and all of the subsequent liturgies of Easter will explode our sensual perceptions and provide us with a liturgical extravaganza of auditory, tactile and sensory stimulation. As we participate in the theological burst of liturgical expressions of Jesus' resurrected glory, we are able to closely relate to the Apostles, to Mary and to all the believers in Jerusalem on that first Easter morning. Sorrow turns to joy, darkness is transformed into new light and our joyous expectations of new and eternal life are renewed.

Our faith will again feel the intensity of the Paschal Mystery as the entire communion of the Church proclaims, "Alleluia! Alleluia!" We should most deeply recall the prayer from the blessing of the Paschal candle. "Christ yesterday and today, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End, the Alpha and Omega. All time belongs to Him and all glory, forever and ever. Amen.

The Chill of Good Friday!

Good Friday always make me shiver. When I think of the interior of my Catholic parish on this day, the cold realization of Jesus' suffering and death surrounds me. The Altar is stripped, the sanctuary is bare and the Eucharistic Lord's absence in evident by the open tabernacle doors. The intense sacrifice made by Jesus on the Cross is felt keenly in a Church sans Jesus in the tabernacle.

The quietness of the sacred space echoes faint, "Hosannas", and loud shouts of, "Crucify Him."Here in the parish Church ,in the shouting silence of the empty space, We Catholics begin to feel Jesus suffering and death. That is because we participate in His death through our own initiation at Baptism. Our common Baptism unites all of us and permits us to share in Jesus' Eucharistic sacrifice.

Good Friday does not mark the end for Jesus, nor for us…rather it a sign of hopeful expectation. That expectation transcends the historical and harsh reality of Jesus' crucifixion and death. The expectation is felt in Jesus' complete submission to the will of the Father, and the subsequent Father's power that raises Jesus from the dead. Most Catholics don't usually think of death as an expectant resurrection. Most Catholics separate Jesus' total dependence on the will of the Father from His suffering and death. Most Catholics forget to recall it is the Father that raises Jesus from the dead. We are too lost to think of these aspects of redemption. Too surrounded by the cold darkness of the power of evil. Too overcome with the physical death of Jesus. We don't like to think of a Church without a Eucharistic presence, without light and joy.

However as Catholics we need to focus on not just Jesus' death, but His impending resurrection. The impending resurrection is the theological extension of Jesus' faith in the Father. He suffers the Cross, because He believes in the Father's love. We too need to recognize the same in Jesus. We share in the mystery of Jesus' death because we are faithful of resurrection. The harsh reality of death undergoes a transformation in perspective when there is a belief in the resurrection.

God's love and power transforms the cross from a symbol of shame and death, into a true realization and expectation of new life. Jesus knows this. He trusts in the Father. The Father exhibits faithfulness to His Son and raises Jesus from the cold and empty tomb. It is only after I think of the cold reality of Good Friday am I able to sense the Father's incredible warmth and power. That's what makes us believers in faith. We know that we will not be abandoned in the solitude of death, but will participate in the Paschal glory of the warmth of the Resurrection.

When I remember that the Good Friday story has another lesson to communicate, is it possible to understand that my parish Church will be transformed on Easter Sunday morning. The liturgical reenactment of Jesus' passion is the beginning of the story, not the end. As believers, we have hope in God's power. We anticipate God's resurrection of Jesus on Easter Sunday. When we realize this, shivering stops and I am acutely aware that there is life and warmth in the Resurrection, for Jesus, for us all.

Good Friday...we prayerfully remember the Passion of the Lord.

The Eucharist, Gift of Finest Wheat!