December 18, 2005

These four Sundays of Advent present the deep mysteries of Death, Judgment, Heaven, and Hell. On this fourth Sunday, as she does on every Sunday and major feast, the Church professes in the Creed that Christ descended to Hell. Thomas Merton wrote that in Hell “no one has anything in common with anybody else except the fact that they all hate one another and cannot get away from one another and from themselves.” In the Summa (3, 52, 1) St. Thomas Aquinas says that when Jesus died on the cross he approached the edge of total separation from God so that we might not have to suffer that damnation. By so doing, he conquers the devil by showing such power. It is better to say Christ descended “to Hell” for Hell is absence from him and so for Christ actually to go “into Hell” would be a contradiction.

In this holy season the Church worships the Divine Humility by which the Second Person came to us as a man so that we might receive his grace and share his victory. The saints already share in that glory and their intercessions help us to do the same. So it is a blessing that at the closing of the parish’s 50th anniversary year, we are able to complete the series of images of saints in our sanctuary. As I explained in a recent bulletin, in addition to a couple of particular gifts, these icons are made possible by a legacy of a late friend of mine who did much to promote religious art. They are the painstaking work of our own parishioner Ken Jan Woo, whose wife Camille lent her talents in gold leafing. I am also grateful for the helpful consultation and approval of Cardinal Egan’s building and liturgical experts.

The angels on the top panels are in the Sienese style. The saints on the sides of the marble columns represent various generations and races and regions, from Asia and Africa to Europe and America. On the front panels are the Four Evangelists and Peter and Paul. The wood panels have been treated in a way that could last 500 years, and the framing is by the same Euclides Pagan who did meticulous work on the previous installation. The Victoria restoration company, which has done our major roof and wall repairs, has done the installation with professional skill and religious devotion. Our Christmas bulletin will contain a guide to the names of the saints.

Next to the offering of our own souls and personal gifts to our Lord, I cannot think of a more radiant Christmas gift to Christ himself than these great works which will also enrich the cultural life of our city and the whole Church. We hope to consecrate them to our Lord on Epiphany Sunday, January 8.

Fr. George W. Rutler