Holy Family Sculpture
Traditional art of the Holy Family usually portrays a mother, father and child doing some normal family task. They often evoke a sense of serenity, warmth, and reassurance in a world of chaos that is constantly threatening human relationships. These representations have served to be important symbols offering hope that God’s grace remains active in this most important aspect of human development: the family. However, further reflection on the Christian tradition of the Holy Family can unlock new insights that could aid us as we continue to confront the darkness of our present age. We can discover that the concept of the Holy Family reveals something more powerful and compelling than happy newlyweds enjoying, with God’s grace, their firstborn and the family life that sustains them. Indeed, this was the intent of artist Michael Northrop when he designed this sculpture that is unique to St. Catherine’s. Local sculptor Joshua Diedrich executed Mike’s design at his studio at the Park Trade Center and parishioner Max Walter constructed the base.
In the scriptural tradition the father/older male often symbolizes the past which has given rise to the wisdom and customs that unite, nourish and strengthen our covenant relationship with God. They represent the faithfulness to tradition that provides the stable foundation upon which humanity can build a future. This is certainly true of the Holy Family where Joseph’s age varies but is usually depicted as significantly older than Mary. However, considering the few Gospel accounts of him, his faithfulness has brought him to an older age with no wife or significant family. His life therefore is incomplete and lonely. He can be imagined as a figure who must endure the condescending pity and sympathy of his neighbors, somewhat like Job. His faithfulness has produced a life we might term as unfair. Yet our tradition shatters these normal human assumptions by portraying him as a carpenter whose faithfulness has made it possible for him to experience and embrace the unexpected: Loves incarnation. This sculpture attempts to capture this amazing moment by depicting him kneeling and, with profound joy, cradling in his strong arms and hands the fulfillment of human hope. A Hope who is born of the lineage portrayed in the Jesse Tree painted on the wall behind the statues.
The mother or female in the scriptural traditions often represents the intersection of the present moment with the customs and wisdom of the past. The women, rooted in tradition, are able to embrace the present with a caring tenderness that gives birth to new life with all of its inherent possibilities. This is certainly true of Mother Mary. However, even a casual review of the gospel stories reveals a disturbing dimension. She is indeed a mother embracing her new child with loving care. But she is not the typical mother. She conceived out of wedlock and so is an outcast who should be shunned and put to death. Yet she remains faithful and accepting of God’s grace and so overturns what would be considered the tragic but normal course of human events. In this statue of Mary she is portrayed standing with a noble dignity even as her world has been turned upside down. In this dignity, despite the scorn of the world, she tenderly touches her unexpected husband and looks with joy at the fruit of her faithfulness.
The child in our tradition represents the many hopes for the future that our covenant with God makes possible in real and concrete ways. In the Holy Family this hope is born into what appears to be very irregular and broken circumstances. Yet it is their faithfulness rather than the circumstances of their lives that nourish, protects and cradles this fragile newborn hope.
The image of the Holy Family is far more than a portrait of happy suburban Palestinian family life. It is an earth shattering image challenging traditional comfortable images and closed minded expectations. It is the obedience of their faith in God; however, that brings forth hope and life even in the most unlikely of family settings. The Holy Family challenges us to open our eyes in order to behold the infinite possibilities that Grace offers us even in the most unlikely circumstances.
This sculpture, composed of ultra cal uniquely blended with a terra cotta patina, captures this radical earth shattering aspect of the Holy Family. It does this by offering images that are unexpected thus inviting us to reflect more deeply on this mystery of our faith. The color was chosen to reflect St. Paul’s statement that our often weak human nature causes us to be like earthen vessels made of fragile clay. Mary is a young woman of African Asian descent. She is dressed, as is Joseph and the infant, in the typical wool clothing of her class and is wearing a working women’s head covering. Their clothing is actual fabric saturated with ultra cal. Mary appears to be tired from her work and from the labor of birth. Yet she stands with dignity, strength and compassion next to her husband whom she touches tenderly as he cradles the child. Joseph also does not fit into preconceived notions. He is younger, unexpectedly bald and powerful even as he kneels. Yet he holds within his rugged strength a Love that amazes even him. The newborn child is completely dependent on them and so reaches out to these two unlikely parents.
This sculpture proclaims that this couple, ready or not, worthy or unworthy, has been entrusted by God with the incredible task of nurturing a Love that would turn the world upside down. Their faithfulness incarnates God’s plan of salvation for humanity in Jesus the Christ who is creating a new heaven and a new earth. This unlikely Holy Family invites us to experience the same grace of God alive within the limitations, possibilities and failures of our own lives and challenges us to respond with the same faithfulness.