Cross
Gift to The Verbum Dei Missionary Fraternity of San Francisco, from Most Holy Redeemer Parish
April 2023
Acrylic on maple, 44" x 70"
Commissioned by Fr. Matt Link and the MHR Parish, to Sr. Sara of Verbum Dei, San Francisco.
This commission was a gift, from Most Holy Redeemer Catholic parish to Sister Sara and her Verbum Dei community, for her instruction to the RCIA catechumens and candidates. For a year, Verbum Dei has been borrowing the parish’s San Damiano-style cross (painted by Robert Roederer) to use for their monthly Taizé prayer services. Robert’s design was loosely modeled after the San Damiano Cross, which is the one Brother Eric de Saussure (1925-2007) took inspiration from when he painted his bright red cross for his Taizé Community, in France, where the practice of such praying-in-song originated. Brother Jean-Marc wrote of his community’s take on representing the crucifixion:
“Icons of the cross do not emphasize the pain of Christ's sufferings or portray much of the physical horror of the crucifixion. They show Christ very simply, recalling his divinity and the immovable faithfulness of his love in the midst of extreme suffering, allowing the event to speak for itself.”
For this assignment, the church staff provided me with a panel of walnut, in the exact shape and size of Robert’s cross. I closely studied Br. Eric’s version, with the bold red-orange, gold leaf, and simplified composition. His has Christ, the Virgin Mary, St. John the Apostle, and a single angel. Mine features two additional angels.
I also took cues from other crucifixions - ones featuring bold color palettes, and depictions of Christ that strike deep chords within me. Byzantine enamelwork, creations by Fernando Llort, Giotto, Russian icons, van der Weyden… even Francis Bacon!
Was it a coincidence that a few years ago I inherited the maquette for the cross Most Holy Redeemer owns (I am a parishioner there, but still)? Or that I saw the San Damiano cross in Assisi, Italy, during my first trip there, just the October before this commission? These and other “coincidences” are, I believe, traces of the handiwork of the Holy Spirit.
Fr. Matt Link, Michael Kirkland, and Michael Poma orchestrated this project. It has been a transformative blessing for me, for which I will be forever grateful.
Learn more about the Verbum Dei order at: https://verbumdeiusa.org/
