Saturday, 26th June. It is the oldest part of the church and since the 18th century it has kept the decorations which have been superimposed on one another, whilst the constantly lit candles had blackened all the decorations on the altar and the fine silver frame protecting the statue of the Virgin Mary. The chapel now, between a wall from the times of the Crusaders and one from the Byzantine period, stands with all the majesty of its history and the regained simple beauty of its original structure.
The Custodial Vicar, Fr. Artemio Vítores, presided Vespers and gave a brief but profound reflection on the name of the altar of the Virgin Mary: Tota pulchra est Maria. The statue (Catalan art of the early 20th century) of the maiden of Nazareth is exquisite. The skill and patience of the Maestro Marek Wesolowski, a restorer from Krakow, are exalted by the lighting but it is easy to understand how his fine work, bringing back to the light the very meticulous decoration of the dress, was truly necessary. The statue seems enveloped in a chiffon dress and the flickering of the candles’ flames seems to make it move and shine. The angels really look ready to take flight… below, in the case made new by the restoration, the statue of the Child rests in a silver cradle.
There are some friars from St. Saviour, others from Ain Karem, the Sisters and the friar of Emmaus have arrived, as have some friends: all to celebrate for this church which, since the end of last November, has a ceiling with gold relief, so that when you enter during the day, it is though a rising sun has come to visit us from above!. Fr. Artemio interprets our joy sprinkling us generously, at the end of the blessing of the restored chapel.
Up above, on the side wall there is an empty space, ready to welcome St. Francis inventing the crib? The Holy Innocents? Fr. Jerzy is thinking rather of St. Jerome, whose grotto opens up just underneath. Because “The Word was with God and the Word was God” is a different way of telling the perennial news of the Nativity of the Lord.
Then there was dinner, in the refectory of the convent…, but we arrived hurrying not to be late, because it was lovely admiring the work that had been done so well.
IB
The Custodial Vicar, Fr. Artemio Vítores, presided Vespers and gave a brief but profound reflection on the name of the altar of the Virgin Mary: Tota pulchra est Maria. The statue (Catalan art of the early 20th century) of the maiden of Nazareth is exquisite. The skill and patience of the Maestro Marek Wesolowski, a restorer from Krakow, are exalted by the lighting but it is easy to understand how his fine work, bringing back to the light the very meticulous decoration of the dress, was truly necessary. The statue seems enveloped in a chiffon dress and the flickering of the candles’ flames seems to make it move and shine. The angels really look ready to take flight… below, in the case made new by the restoration, the statue of the Child rests in a silver cradle.
There are some friars from St. Saviour, others from Ain Karem, the Sisters and the friar of Emmaus have arrived, as have some friends: all to celebrate for this church which, since the end of last November, has a ceiling with gold relief, so that when you enter during the day, it is though a rising sun has come to visit us from above!. Fr. Artemio interprets our joy sprinkling us generously, at the end of the blessing of the restored chapel.
Up above, on the side wall there is an empty space, ready to welcome St. Francis inventing the crib? The Holy Innocents? Fr. Jerzy is thinking rather of St. Jerome, whose grotto opens up just underneath. Because “The Word was with God and the Word was God” is a different way of telling the perennial news of the Nativity of the Lord.
Then there was dinner, in the refectory of the convent…, but we arrived hurrying not to be late, because it was lovely admiring the work that had been done so well.
IB