Roots So the soldiers did this. But standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing near he said to his mother, "Woman, behold, your son!" Then he said to the disciple, "Behold, your mother!" And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home...When Jesus had received the vinegar he said, "It is finished;" and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit...But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear and at once there came out blood and water. John 19:25-27,30,34
Representation A purified version of the classical representation of the Arma Christi motif (the tools of Christ's suffering: ladder, lance, nails, etc.), this crucifixion is further a tribute to Christ triumphant over death. His head (invisible as always!) is no longer part of his suffering body, and the body itself, slim and almost sleek, suggests a powerful upsurge and breaking out of the confined space in which it has been imprisoned. The figures surround the cross and, painted in luminous greys and tender blacks, are like a silent ballet accompanying the Savior on his journey beyond.
Identification There is a place for me in this ballet, if I am able to grasp the essential truth of human life as it is embodied in Christ's Passion, Death and Resurrection.
This page, maintained by The Marian Library/International Marian Research Institute, Dayton, Ohio 45469-1390, and created by Jim Danis was last modified Wednesday, 04/18/2001 16:57:44 EDT by Jim Danis. Please send any comments to Johann.Roten@udayton.edu.
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