St. Francis Receiving the Stigmata

Photograph by Loci B. Lenar

The following excerpt regarding the stained glass window of St. Francis is written by Fr. Daniel Grigassy, O.F.M. and can be found in the booklet, Franciscan Saints Surround Us, published by St. Bonaventure Church, 174 Ramsey Street, Paterson, NJ:

The image of St. Francis shows him receiving the Stigmata, the five brand marks of Christ on his hands, feet, and side.  From the beginning of his conversion, he had a great devotion to Christ crucified.  He spent most of his life preaching the glories of the cross and the joyful hope of the Resurrection. 

St. Bonaventure tells us that Francis had begun a fast of forty days in honor of the Archangel Michael whose feast is on September 29.  One morning near September 14, the feast of the exaltation of the Cross, as he was in deep contemplation of the mysteries of the cross, he saw what appeared as a seraph with six bright wings brilliant as fire coming down from heaven.  The figure was not only winged but also crucified.  Francis was thrilled at the sight, his heart filled with joy and pain, both at the same time.  This was truly Christ graciously and intimately appearing before him. St. Bonaventure writes: "...the awe-inspiring vision of Christ nailed to the cross aroused in his soul a joy of compassionate love."

After the vision vanished and his encounter with Christ ended, Francis was internally "Aglow with seraphic love in his soul."  Yet externally, marks like those of the Crucified were left onn his body: "The figures of the nails appeared immediately on his hand and feet.  His right side too showed a blood-red wound as if it had been pierced by a lance, and blood flowed frequently from it."

Bonaventure concludes: "Francis came down from the mountain a new man...bearing in his body the image of the Crucified...fashioned in his members by the hand of the living God."

The Stigmata represents the visible conformity to Christ and remains the deepest witness of Francis's intense love for the Passion of Christ.

(The stained glass window of St. Francis can be seen inside St. Bonaventure Church, Paterson, NJ. The window was photographed on August 4, 2012 while attending Mass.   -Loci B. Lenar)

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50 artists from Progetto Arte Poli give facelift to new churches

The following excerpt is from RomeReports.com:

For 60 years the Italian artist Albano Poli has been working to renew the aesthetics of Catholic churches as well as promoting meditation through art.

From his art gallery in Rome, he creates stained glass windows, mosaics and statues with a group of artists known as Progetto Arte Poli. It's a team of around 50 people located in Verona, Italy.

ANDREA MEZZETTI
Assistant, Progetto Arte Poli“Around 80 to 90 percent of our work is related to the Church. From sunrise to sunset, we are thinking about how to give a greater sense to the liturgy. We're also helping priests to deepen their celebration of the Eucharist at Sunday Mass, in every religious rite.”

Among the art pieces in the gallery, there is a giant mosaic of John Paul II that highlights his facial features. There's also this mosaic of the risen Christ made of marble in different planes.

This team of artists now has an international reputation for their work that has traveled to places like Japan, Brazil, Mexico, Germany, France and most recently in Chile.

ANDREA MEZZETTI
Assistant, Progetto Arte Poli
“We are doing important work in Coquimbo, Chile, which is the location of the tallest Cross in Latin America. It's the Cross of the Third Millennium, it's close to 300 feet tall and was created by Ramón Bravo. We were asked to make the bronze door to this great temple and bronze figure of the Blessed John Paul II.”

The Progetto Arte Poli was also responsible for the design of the vestments worn by priests at Mass.
Their work of precision art goes to show that many forms of artwork have a deeper meaning behind the beauty.