AN ARTISTIC AND SPIRITUAL EXPÉRIENCE

creation of an icon of saint Michael Garicoïts

DESCRIBE THE ICON

“It would be a good idea for you to create an icon of St Michael” said Father Gaspar to me when he saw the icon of Christ which I had just realised. I had thought about making an icon of St Michael and the Father General’s invitation encouraged me.  I returned to the “Little Hermitage of the Oaks” at Crochi, in the province of Reggio de Calabre, at the foot of the Aspromonte, where some contemplatives run a school for iconography.  The atmosphere is captivating, not only because of the silence and the surrounding vegetation, but also because of the atmosphere of meditation and meeting with God.  An icon is born first of all at the heart of prayer, then on the drawing board or the altar.  This is the lesson taught by the ancient Byzantine iconographers.  From this art they have constructed a way of conversion, of purification and of holiness.

Before going to Crochi, I had made a pilgrimage to Betharram.  For me it was important to attack the subject through contact with God and the Saint.  His personal belongings exposed in the Community Oratory, his birthplace, his signature on the Baptismal register in Cambo, the farm, my walks on the banks of the Gave, Calvary…everything had me tuned to him, everything reminded me of his appearance and his soul.

When I arrived at Crochi the Sisters were captivated by the project.  I showed them the photos of Betharram, the drawings I had done, the sketches of the icon which I had in mind.  They chose the medium: “a big board, for you have a lot to put on it” they told me.

Thank God the board was ready for use. To begin with it only needed to be sanded so that there would be no defects on the surface.  The Sisters kept on saying: “For God, everything must be perfect”!  Then the back of the icon had to be covered and protected so as not to spoil it during the operation.

The time came at last to transfer the sketch on paper on to the board and to engrave it.  For me, this was the most solemn and most sacred moment of the whole operation.   Drawing was being printed on the altar for all eternity.  Like a sacramental character it could never be altered.

I next applied the gold, the sacrament of divine light flooding the whole of creation; then the colours, reflecting the earth, for everything must be natural and humble, colours offered by nature as gifts from God.

For the next step, after resuming the design, I added fresh light to the colours.  Little by little and by dint of patience, the beloved image began to appear, an image begotten in prayer and in listening to the Word of God.

HOW TO INTERPRET AN ICON

An icon consists of a central axis around which are four thematic zones.

The axis:  at the centre of the upper part of the board are to be seen a star studded sky and a hand, signs of God’s house and of the election and blessing of the Saint by the Most High.

Thus protected by God, the figure of the Saint occupies the central position.  He is wearing the sacred vestments, not only because he received the anointing, but because he was deeply aware of his priesthood and was happy in that vocation.  In proof of which the way he used to sign all his letters and documents Michael Garicoits, priest.

The first thematic setting:  the top right hand side shows us Michael searching for God.  The three mountains by which the child is trying to reach God and touch Him.  There is the tree symbolizing the ecstasy of the young Michael, and the hedge against which he crashed in his desire to make his First Communion.  There are his shoes and books reminding us of his spirit of poverty and humility; one day he even pulled the silver buckles off his shoes and threw then away, just as he did with every other worldly contact, so that at the end of his life he could say:  I have nothing except my Bible and Breviary.

The second thematic setting corresponds to the top left hand side.  There is a representation of the Nativity, with the expression Eccio Venio, reminding us of the Founder’s charism.  In this iconographic image, Jesus is born in the sepulchre.  The Incarnation is thus associated with the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Christ.  This simple image resumes St Michael’s spiritual message.

The third thematic setting can be found in the lower left hand corner...  It’s all about the foundation of the Congregation and its early days in France. Seized by his love and passion for Christ and for mankind, Michael assembled a group of priests who want to love with the Heart of the Redeemer through a double choice:  preaching and the Christian education of the youth.

The last thematic setting is all about the mission.  Not only the mission in America, but also the world wide mission.  On the main sail of the boat there is a globe in the shape of a heart revealing St Michael’s dream of sharing with all mankind the happiness which was his of knowing that he was loved by God.

Gian Carlo Monzani,SCJ