"We cannot come to the full contemplation of the Lord's face by our own efforts alone, but by allowing grace to take us by the hand" (Novo Millennio ineunte, n. 20). John Paul II
Through the ages both East and West have both retained the desire to express the face of Christ in art. But the East has been better able to preserve the tradition in icons, which for many is a form of prayer and of worship. Yet when I checked for more modern images, I found most from Western artists. Each day this week I will present some of these striking works of art with a short meditation. The face of the suffering Jesus is the face of all suffering mankind. In His face we see our limitations and even our own deaths taken away.
"The Church is called to reflect His Face, the face of Christ Teacher, Prophet, Priest and King, in order that we can say of her in relation to Christ what Christ said of Himself in relation to the Father: "He who has seen Me, has seen the Father" (Jn 14,9).
The basic mission of the Church is to be the transparence of Christ and of His face. Human beings have the inalienable right to be able to see the face of the Lord in the face of the Church, in order that in her and through her they can see and contemplate Him."
Bishop Rino Fisichella Reflections on the Holy Father’s Apostolic Letter ‘Novo Millennio ineunte’ - L'Osservatore Romano
Images: Top - Fra Angelico, 1438 - Italy
Bottom - Joan Gasco- 1513- Spain
