Holy Week under the gaze of the
“Miraculous Crucifix”
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| Miraculous crucifix, placed in St Peter's Basilica, will be present for all Holy Week liturgies (Vatican Media) |
After having been displayed for the special moment of prayer
on 27 March on the steps of St Peter’s Basilica, the miraculous crucifix
venerated by Romans is once again in our midst during the liturgy.
By Vatican News
Holy Week, the most important season of the liturgical year,
begins in St Peter’s under the gaze of the Crucifix from the Church of San
Marcello. It is in the background at the center of the altar. It is the
Miraculous Crucifix, which escaped the fire of 1519 unharmed and was borne in
procession to halt the plague. Dating back to the late fourteenth century, this
wooden image has gone through the city of Rome many times. The last time was
twenty-five years ago when St John Paul II wanted it present during the Day of
Forgiveness during the Jubilee Year in 2000. During this crisis, Pope Francis
had decided to pay a visit to the Church in order to pray before the crucifix. Then,
he wanted it to be present before an empty St Peter’s Square for the Statio
Orbis, the prayer over which he presided to implore and end to the
pandemic.
Slight restoration
Friday, 27 March: it was raining. That Crucifix, that image
on which the Bishop of Rome, together with tens of millions of people connected
through TV, radio and internet, gazed. Even though it had been placed near the
façade of the Basilica, the Crucifix got wet by the pouring rain. Contrary to
what some people had reported, the work of art did not undergo grave or
significant damage. This can be seen, thanks to the fact that it has once again
reappeared central to the Palm Sunday liturgy. It required only some minor
retouching, done on a single morning, by art restoration experts from the
Vatican Museum, in agreement with the appropriate Italian authorities. The
minor retouching were related to small pieces that had become detached. Some of
the damage was pre-existent, while other damage happened as a result of being
moved. These minor and rapid interventions secured the safety of the work of
art, which will return to the Church of St Marcello after the Easter Triduum.
Art in the Christian tradition
Within the Christian tradition, art and beauty have always
played a fundamental role to help believers enter into the mystery of Sacred
Scripture, the liturgy, and prayer. This particular Crucifix is an image that
has accompanied the history of the Eternal City, taking to itself the pain, the
prayers, the hope and devotion of those dwelling there.
Significance
Therefore, its present in front of St Peter’s Square on 27
March, and now inside the Basilica for the Easter liturgies, has profound
significance. Many, many people throughout the world, in this moment of pain,
when more than 50,000 lives have already been claimed by the pandemic, would
have immediately understood its significance.
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