Man in background

Josefina de Vasconcellos. Holy Family, Liverpool Cathedral

Man in the background

The Sculptor, Josefina de Vasconcellos  was commissioned on a  number of occasions to carve large statues of the Holy Family.  What never fails to strike me is that always Joseph is central to the scene.  He does not lurk in the background or act like some kind of bystander.  Josefina shows him as a strong fatherly figure who is a protector of both Mary and Jesus.  It is clear that Josefina had a soft spot for the shadowy figure from the Christmas story and was determind to give him the prominence he deserves.  Perhaps it was because she was graced with the female form of his name.

One particular statue of the Holy Family that she carved was very different.  It can be seen in Cartmel Priory in the Lake District.  It is called They fled by night and it is inspired by the flight into Egypt taken by the Holy Family to escape the threat of King Herod.

It is a very powerful statue.  Mary is shown to be exhausted with her head leaning backwards as she rests in Jospeh’s arms.  Joseph is holding her and and looking down with loving compassion.  Meanwhile in the foreground of the composition, Jesus is leaping forward as he embraces the future.

Photo : Mr.G They fled by night. Cartmel Priory

What I like about Josefina’s portrayal of Joseph is that he is not the shadow figure that we find in the Gospel.  Apart from Matthew’s ‘dream’ sequence when an angel tells Joseph it is all right to take Mary as his wife because it is all according to God’s plan, and an incident when Jesus was 12, Joseph plays no further part in the Gospel story.  There is a reference to him when Jesus is called the carpenter’s son.  But we are left wondering – what happened to Joseph?

We can invent our own story but I like to think that Joseph was content with his role in making the Incarnation possible.   In a world like ours which celebrates status and fame it isn’t a bad thing to be background people.  Those with a quiet but firm faith are the bedrock of the Church. They seek nothing more than to proclaim Jesus, not necessarily in words or spectacular deeds but with a fidelity towards Him which simply shouts faith in all they do and are.  In Josefina’s statues Joseph comes across as a dependable, caring and protective parent.  If I could choose a guardian angel, it would be like him.

The Church celebrates Joseph today  It is good to think of him as the dependable one who may be in the background but whose care of Jesus and Mary is truly godly.  Someone who can be relied upon come what may.  Is that you?

[Mr.G.]

Warmth of God’s Love

Tweet Number 72 from my friend Joyce Smith

This week, Joyce has sent some words to go with her photograph.
At this difficult time, what Joyce has written says all that needs to be said.

Dear Friends,

Another day when the sunshine and colours of spring remind us of
the warmth of God’s love and give us and all people hope,
that the darkness of war will end and a new day dawn.

With my love and prayers.

God bless,

Joyce

Mamre

Oak Trees wintering in Richmond Park, London. Photograph by Gill Henwood.

This little poem has a double inspiration.
My friend Gill sent me photographs of majestic oak trees in Richmond Park, waiting for Spring to burst open their new buds.
The other inspiration is Genesis 18 verses 1 – 8. Here Abraham also waited under the oaks of Mamre, for God to reveal to him the promise of new life and new purpose.

The poem includes another ‘waiting’; for those on a Lenten Pilgrimage to open their hearts afresh to God.

MAMRE

By the oaks of Mamre
Abraham sat in quiet contemplation
seeking solace in the heat of the day.
Waiting, though he knew not what for.
Expectation seemed to dust the winter tree over him.
Branches dormant, dead?
They waited too for a new life promised
by the whispering of God.

Abraham’s moment came.
Visited by the Three, he rose,
with hospitality bubbling in his heart,
receiving them as if they were God
– because they were God!

And us?
We wait too as the Three approach us
in quietness,
inviting us to open our Lenten hearts.

It’s different somehow for us.
Abraham fed God and received God’s promise.
God feeds us and, in the breeze of Mamre,
becomes the Promise.

Expect it!

Mr G. 16th March 2022

(inspired by Genesis 18: 1-3 & by Gill Henwood)

Forget me not

forget me not in bloom

Dementia prayer week begins today until March 19th

Dementia Prayer Week, which was previously run by the Pastoral Care Project , is now being promoted by the Religious order of The Redemptorists. They are also known as the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer (CSsR). The hope is that, through our prayers, we can offer support and spiritual care  for those suffering with Dementia. The invitation to prayer is also in support of those who are caring for loved ones and who try to cope with distress which this dreadful illness brings to all involved.

The symbol of the ‘Forget me not’ flower is an important part of our ‘remembering’.
I recently lost my cousin, who was very close to me,  and who was afflicted with Alzheimers and I find the message of the Forget me not flower very comforting. Forget-me-nots symbolize true love and respect. When you give someone these tiny blooms, it represents a promise that you will always remember them and will keep them in your thoughts. The Alzheimers Society have chosen this flower because of this.

The Prayer offered by the Redemptorists is this –

Loving God, Healer and Comforter, we pray for those who suffer from the anxiety, ambiguity and confusion of dementia, and in a special way for their caregivers.

Give them patience as they work through familiar daily scripts and questions asked, answered
and asked again.
Give them long memories to recall the fullness of their loved one’s life beyond these moments of forgetting.
Give them the grace to let go of what was and embrace what is in love.  

When the pain of being forgotten and the grinding trials become too much,
comfort them with the promise of your Resurrection
where every tear shall be wiped away and we shall know each other once more.

God of all mercies, sustain those who care for others.
Grant them what they need for the moments ahead.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Amen.

[Mr G]