Hello,
This picture below contains an image of a piece of art that is directly above the altar at the parish I attend.
To me this is problematic in so many ways! I am considering my options and arguments, as I plan on approaching our pastor to possibly start the ball rolling on replacing it with a crucifix. We are fairly new to the parish, as we have decided for various reasons to attend other parishes in the area in the past. But we have lived in the area for many years. Now the parish has two great priests, and we are attending mass here, but I fear that some of the parishioners who have been around the parish for a while like this image. I think trying to replace this will be very controversial, but worth the effort and difficulties.
So - I would like honest feedback. I have a litany of reasons why the image is not suitable for Holy Mass. What do you think of the image/piece of art? What does it look like? Do you think it’s beautiful and worthy of being above the altar? How would you go about approaching a pastor about replacing it, and what arguments for its removal do you have? Looking for ideas and support!
(Also - if you like the image, let me know. I don’t want to assume everyone dislikes it, and I want to be mindful of other’s tastes…to a point).
Thanks,
Jesse
- First of all, there is a moratorium in this sub-forum on complaints. As a new member, you may want to visit this edict from the sub-forum’s moderator. It is post #14
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=17511
*Default Moratorium: Complaint threads/posts
Please don’t post complaints about any liturgy/ordained/parish. You may ask questions about the liturgy and the sacraments, but please don’t complain about what you saw or heard. Don’t post negative comments about what the Church allows, or about/directed at the ordained/religious.
Complaint/negative threads/posts will be removed. Thank you, everyone, for your understanding and cooperation.*
Presuming that this is determined to be within the moderator’s tolerance…
- Tastes in sacred art vary greatly. Below is The Resurrection in the Nervi Hall, which is where papal audiences have been held now for decades. Here, we see Pope Benedict in front of it, flanked by his attendants.
http://wpmedia.news.nationalpost.com/2013/02/pope-4.jpg?w=940&h=627
It is, frankly, not one of my most favourite pieces of modern sacred art but I have been in its presence too many times to count over the decades. It is certainly dramatic, especially in the space that is the Nervi Hall. Whether it suits my taste is immaterial since it is on its fifth Pope and its presence is their decision…no one else.
That this parish art work does not suit your tastes may be as equally immaterial.
I assume this is the image in question
- Frankly, I would encourage you, rather than approaching with “arguments” – which I can say quite adamantly would not have gone very far with this parish priest – that you rather gently initiate a dialogue with the parish priest about this…it is his province, not the parochial vicar’s.
Telling me things I needed to get rid of generally had the reaction of directing the person complaining to cease and desist, depending upon their tone and their attitude…above all if they were newly arrived people who had not even demonstrated a sense of commitment, investment, or stewardship regarding the parish, let alone integrating themselves into the parish family.
You are new to this parish and that is key. Do you know the origin of this piece? Is it a legacy gift? Do you care?
I have been in parishes where the family of donors were very much quite present and would have adamantly fought removal of what was a gift duly accepted that had been especially commissioned and, moreover, that had cost several thousand dollars.
You use many expressions that I find disturbing and that would actually shut down a conversation, were I the parish priest.
- I think trying to replace this will be very controversial, but worth the effort and difficulties.
- Also - if you like the image, let me know. I don’t want to assume everyone dislikes it, and I want to be mindful of other’s tastes…to a point
Actually, I don’t particularly dislike this image although I doubt it is one I would personally have chosen to install it…but that is a different question. Some priest did. And I imagine there is a history behind it. It is certainly not offensive. It is very difficult for me to offer any assessment since I do not have a context for the rest of the space and what it contains.
As for being “mindful of others’ tastes to a point,” if this were in your home, your tastes would prevail. It isn’t.
It is also not your decision as to what is “worth the effort and difficulties” in the face of a decision to “replace this will be very controversial”…that rests with the parish priest alone…as may involve, potentially, the diocesan commission on sacred art and also the bishop.
Also, are you planning personally to underwrite the total cost of its removal and re-purposing (presuming it was a gift that cannot simply be disposed of) as well as the total cost of a new installation? If the answer is no, that would also have shut down any further discussion when I was a parish priest. I remember people telling me what they wanted “renovated” and I told them that when they had the total financial cost in their hands, they could return and talk to me about the prospects of a renovation. Otherwise…I was not interested and had no time for it.
