Chaminade and Art
Blessed William Joseph Chaminade-His Vision and Spirit

This series of bas-reliefs represents facets of the Marianist spirit.  They are the work of Spanish artist Antonio de Oteiza, Capuchin.  These ceramic sculptures were commissioned by Spanish Marianists to commemorate the September 3, 2000, beatification of Father William Joseph Chaminade (1761-1850), founder of the Marianist Family.  Chaminade's spirit, and that of the Marianist Family, is the "Spirit of Mary."  The "Spirit of Mary" is not mere devotion, but a style of life and a program of action.  It is steeped in scripture, and takes as model the person and story of Mary, Mother of Jesus Christ.  Oteiza's ceramics highlight the events of Mary's life that are the source of inspiration for the Marianist spirit.

Open to the Spirit (Luke 1:26-38)

The whirlwind of God's spirit (Ceramic 1) finds Mary open and sensitive to the "Good News" of the Incarnation.  Mary's disposition at the annunciation is one of discernment followed by a firm commitment.  Her participation in God's plan of salvation is a joyful (Magnificat) and total dedication (Servant of the Lord) to the "Spirit of Recreation."  This disposition of Mary is the basis for Chaminade's spiritual method.  Chaminade taught his disciples the importance of silence: Silence of words, of signs, of the imagination, of the mind and of the passions.  Here is the reason why the artist called this bas-relief, "The Annunciation of the Silences."

Holy Dynamism (Luke 1:26-38; John 19:26-27)

The Annunciation is the beginning of God's plan of salvation.  Thus, the Incarnation achieves its full meaning only in Christ's passion, death, and resurrection.  Nazareth and Calvary, Mary's "yes" at the Annunciation and at the foot of the cross, are intimately linked.  At the moment Mary responded, "Let it be done to me according to your word," she became engaged in the whole of God's design to recreate creation in his Son.  The Annunciation is the beginning of a holy dynamism that makes of Mary the first disciple of her son, and the mother of his brothers and sisters.  Mary's posture in this sculpture (Ceramic II) is erect, confident, and full of holy dynamism.  The people in the lower left corner are the sons and daughters she will lead to her son.

"Do Whatever He Tells You" (John 2:5)

These words pronounced by Mary at the wedding feast at Cana were addressed to the servers when the wine ran short, and Jesus seemed less than concerned by the predicament of the newlyweds.  Chaminade used this same expression,  one of confident faith, to designate the spirit and scope of the Marianist apostolic mission.  What should the members of the Marianist Family do to further the Kingdom of God?  The answer is, "Do whatever he tells you."  Marianist mission is universal.  It is open to all people, and is concerned with the whole person.  The artist shows (Ceramic III) Mary standing between Jesus and the headwaiter.  Jesus is the miracle worker.  She is the go-between, instilling faith, hope, and charity in each one of us.  She prepares us to do "whatever he tells us."

"Behold Your Son" (John 19-27)

Standing at the foot of the cross are the tiny broken figures of Mary and the beloved disciple (Ceramic IV).  The effigy of Christ is formless. The pain and disfigurement it expresses are monumental.  At this truly crucial moment, Jesus entrusts the beloved disciple to his mother.  With this gesture he inaugurated the Church of his followers.  Christ's work is accomplished, but it needs to be announced and implemented by his disciples.  Among them, Mary plays the role of the mother who opens the way to her son.  Thus, Chaminade was convinced that each person needs to be formed by Mary in the spirit of her son.

John's Home (John 19-27)

La Casa de Juan (Ceramic V) or John's Home represents the answer of the beloved disciple.  As said in John 19:27 "from that hour the disciple took her into his home."  The symbol of the home stands for the disciple's heart.  Mary becomes an intimate part of John's life.  For Chaminade, and many other spiritual writers, the beloved disciple represents all future disciples of Christ, men and women.  Church is truly Church only if she adopts Mary's faith, hope, and charity.  In the words of Blessed William Joseph, "Jesus confided to Mary our Christian formation."

Allied with Mary

The "Spirit of Mary" is more than lofty thoughts and pious sentiments.  It has practical consequences and leads to what Chaminade called the "Alliance with Mary" (Alianza con Maria - Ceramic VI).  The expression designates a common bond with Mary.  In this pact of solidarity, Mary is giving us protection and guidance, but our alliance with Mary is foremost a common mission, the active commitment to the cause of Jesus.  Chaminade calls upon his followers to entrust their lives to Mary and her mission.  For Chaminade, Marianists are missionaries of Mary.

The artist rendered the alliance with Mary with a triple symbolism.  The gesture of Mary's outstretched arm suggest both a mantle and a banner.  We find protection under Mary's mantle, but the mantle is also a banner that invites active involvement in her mission.  Finally, the monumental figure of Mary symbolizes strength, force of attraction, and the fact that she is a spiritual model for us.

The Three O'clock Prayer (John 19:27-29)

The Three O'clock Prayer is a verbal icon or summary of the Marianist spirit.  Simple and unassuming as it may be, this prayer  not only captures the deepest memories of the Christian faith; but also conveys the particular spirit that continues to inspire the members of the Family of Mary.  It recalls the death of Jesus Christ as it is rendered in John 19:27-28.  Daily the Marianists pause at 3:00 p.m. to recall their alliance with Jesus and Mary and to renew their dedication with this prayer:

Lord Jesus, we gather in spirit at the foot of the cross with your Mother and the disciple whom  you loved.  We ask your pardon for our sins, which are the cause of your death.  We thank you for having thought of us in that hour of salvation and for giving us Mary as our Mother. Holy Virgin, take us under your protection and open us to the action of the Holy Spirit. St. John, obtain for us the grace of taking Mary into our lives as you did, and of assisting her in her mission. May the Father and the Son and the Holy spirit be glorified in all places through the Immaculate Virgin Mary. Amen. The upper half of the bas-relief (Ceramic VII) establishes the connection between the Three O'clock Prayer (see the dial on the right) and the crucifixion scene (left).  The huddled figures on the lower half represent Mary and St. John, and all those who "gathered in spirit at the foot of the cross" to commemorate Christ's death.

The Marianist Cross (John 2:5; 19-27) The crucifixion scene with Mary and John (Ceramic VIII) visualizes once more the essential aspects of the Marianist spirit.  The Marianist cross is a living cross.  It represents the embodiment of Chaminade's vision for the Marianist Family: "Our work is great; it is magnificent.  If it is universal, it is because we are missionaries of Mary, who says to us 'Do whatever he tells you.'"  He wanted us to realize that "Each of us has been called by the Holy Virgin to work for the salvation of all people."

She Will Crush Your Head (Genesis 3:15)

The series of ceramics ends with reference to Genesis 3:15 in its traditional reading:  "She will crush your head."  Mary symbolizes in her person the victory of good over evil.  In the end, the faithful will be vindicated just as Mary has reached fulfillment in heaven.  This perspective of eschatological happiness took on a somewhat militant tone in Chaminade's times.  To a novice at Bordeaux he explained, "All ages of the Church have witnessed the struggles and the glorious triumphs of Mary in enmity with Satan.  Mary has been victorious."  Later he counseled, "Remain steadfast in faith.  The devil is powerless against the person of faith."

The figure standing in front of the image of Our Lady (Ceramic IX), crushing the head of the snake, puts its hand on her foot.  The figure may be Blessed William Joseph Chaminade or any other person living in the "Spirit of Mary."  The gesture signifies the pledge of those who entrust their lives to the work of Jesus and Mary.

Blessed William Joseph Chaminade Icon

Below are some reflections from Joseph Malham, the writer of the icon shown at the right..

"Here are just a few thumbnail notes to give you all some insight as to the general aesthetic of the work.  An icon, as you know, is not meant to be a photographic reproduction of the saint or blessed, but rather an evocation of the spirit of the person, a rendering of them in a transfigured state, dwelling in the uncreated light of God.  I purposely kept the features of Blessed William oblique rather than direct, allowing for a timeless and universal dimension to shine through.

Blessed William is shown manifesting the passion of his life: his dedication to the mission entrusted to him by the Blessed Mother.  This dedication is signified by the disk he holds in his hand.  The disk is a traditional iconographic element used to take the viewer deeper into the mystery of the image, an aperture, as it were, within an aperture.  Within the disk is contained the image of Our Lady of the Pillar.  While Blessed William was not known primarily as a mystic, but a prayerful pragmatist, the image of Our Lady of the Pillar shows the ineffable moment of grace when he received his inspiration for the re-Christianization of France and ultimately for the congregation.  This element will keep that transcendental moment in a perpetually present state, a continual "now" and "yes" for all who engage and pray with this icon."