Missionaries of the Sacred

Taken from Images of God in Prayer by Fr. Joseph T. Muller, MSC Chapter 13, Pg. 142-143

In the early art of the church the image of Christ as the Good Shepherd seems to have held great appeal.

The Eastern churches of Christianity found that the image of Christ, Lord and King of Everything, swayed their minds and hearts. The icons which art­ists created bespeak a gentle majesty that has not lost its appeal through the centuries. Indeed, as the Western Christian churches came under the domination of kings and princes, the image of Christ, the King, the Lord of Lords, appealed to them as well.

When terrible plagues and wars swept through Europe, the image of the Crucified Savior emerged as a favorite for people. It brought them consolation and hope in their sufferings.

Since the Sixteenth Century the great mystical writers have all been attracted by the suffering Christ. They have had particular devotion to his five wounds, the blood he shed, his wounded heart. St. Margaret Mary helped pop­ularize Christ under the image of the Sacred Heart.

All the Popes of modern times have praised the image of Christ as the Sacred Heart. They show that the roots of this image and devotion are scriptural. They encourage believers to make use of this image in prayer, because it can bring them quickly and easily to the very core of understanding God, for God is love; and all he does is done in love.

Since Vatican II the image of Christ, the Risen Lord, has emerged more and more in churches and in pictorial art. This is in keeping with the whole thrust of that great council: renewal, transformation, and hope. The Risen Christ stands in the midst of the faithful, reaffirming their belief in life after death. He proclaims the victory of those who remain faithful to him. He silences those who claim he was just another wise human teacher who passed away. He offers hope to the masses of unimport­ant, forgotten men and women. He rebukes those who place all their trust in the things of this present life.

What image will appeal most to the people of the 21st century? Who knows? It will undoubtedly evolve from the scriptures and arise from the needs of the majority of people. Nevertheless, many people will continue to feel lost, unloved, controlled by others; so the images of the Good Shepherd, the Sacred Heart, the Gentle King, the Ris­en Lord will undoubtedly con­tinue to touch their hearts and dispose them to listen to what Christ reveals for their peace.

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