HRC Tour
The Cathedral Foyer Cross
Whoever follows Christ must accept to carry his cross. Our Lord reminds his disciples that it would be an illusion to think of following him without carrying the cross with him: ‘If anyone would follow me, let him renounce himself and take up his cross and follow me’. After sin, is this the only way of salvation for individuals and for the whole of humanity?
Among the many teachings of Christ, we find this rather harsh invitation: Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny himself, carry his cross daily and follow me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
‘It is not an ornamental cross, or an ideological cross, but the cross of one’s duty, the cross of sacrificing oneself for others with love – for parents, children, family, friends, even enemies – the cross of readiness to be in solidarity with the poor, to commit oneself to justice and peace. In taking up this attitude, these crosses, we always lose something. We must never forget that ‘whoever loses his life [for Christ] will save it. It is a losing in order to gain. (Homily of H.H. Francis, 19 June 2016).
The Cathedral Foyer Cross
HRC Tour
Whoever follows Christ must accept to carry his cross. Our Lord reminds his disciples that it would be an illusion to think of following him without carrying the cross with him: ‘If anyone would follow me, let him renounce himself and take up his cross and follow me’. After sin, is this the only way of salvation for individuals and for the whole of humanity?
Among the many teachings of Christ, we find this rather harsh invitation: Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny himself, carry his cross daily and follow me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
‘It is not an ornamental cross, or an ideological cross, but the cross of one’s duty, the cross of sacrificing oneself for others with love – for parents, children, family, friends, even enemies – the cross of readiness to be in solidarity with the poor, to commit oneself to justice and peace. In taking up this attitude, these crosses, we always lose something. We must never forget that ‘whoever loses his life [for Christ] will save it. It is a losing in order to gain. (Homily of H.H. Francis, 19 June 2016).
This painting done locally is based on the image of the Crucified (Cristo crucificado) painted by Diego Velazquez in 1632 which hangs at the Prado Museum in Madrid. The image depicted here shows an empty cross after Our Lord has been lowered and laid in the tomb. The cross is left bloodied with the signs of Our Lord’s death. It is a reminder to love the Lord and that the price of discipleship is paid by taking our own cross.