In this reflection for the USA Canada Province’s First Friday Reflection, our own Sr Annett Hanrahan discusses her painting of the Cosmic Christ:
“I live in the South Pacific, in New Zealand, which is a multi-cultural country, including Maori, Polynesian, Pakeha, and peoples from all parts of Asia. I could not find any images that spoke to me or to any of us of a powerful, loving God, with an all-embracing, all-forgiving love that we as human beings can open to and understand in our very humanness. I wanted to probe the incarnational reality of God in Christ and in all of creation in a language that might have some meaning in my world.
So, Christ is seated in a posture similar to the prayer posture of many in the east, and of the Polynesian peoples of the Pacific. His features have a Polynesian quality. He is holding his cross, which is transparent, for it is part of, and dialogues with, the earth, but Christ has moved beyond it. Christ’s eyes are closed as he is one with His Father, and in that deep communication, he is a powerful and strong channel, river even, of the flow of the love of God to slake our thirst. It has become a very meaningful image of Christ for the students at Baradene, the Sacred Heart School in Auckland, who see in it a strong ecological meaning for our time and call it our Cosmic Christ.”
I am moved by Sister Annett’s Cosmic Christ. I am a Chaplain at the University of San Diego. I request permission for use of the image during our Lenten Retreat, next year, 2019, for both promotional and educational materials. The RSCJ sisters founded the University and we are enriched by your spirituality. We take an annual “Lenten Journey” that is a five week retreat. Students commit to daily prayer and meeting with a spiritual guide once a week during Lent. I would like to promote next year’s Lenten Journey with this image and also explain it in the artist’s words while highlighting RSCJ spirituality through the book, “Seeking the One Whom We Love: How RSCJs pray”. I have purchased the book and seek permission for use of image for promotion and for reflection and prayer. Thank you, Fr. Robert, March, 2018
Father Robert, I have replied to your comminication earlier but here also is an opportunity to acknowledge your request to use Sr Annett’s ‘Cosmic Christ’. Annett is more than happy for you to use her work for the purpose you have expressed.
Blessings,
Susan rscj