Sacred Art at St. Gabriel
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Body of Christ -Communion of Saints Painting
Dedicated June 21, 2017
Representing a diverse group of saints, lay persons, clergy, and religious, the figures in the Body of Christ/Communion of Saints oil painting displayed outside of the St. Gabriel Chapel reflect the many ways we worship, serve, and grow in faith at St. Gabriel Church.Through the Eucharist, we participate in the “Body of Christ” and offer our unique gifts and vocations in gratitude and love. We join with the “Communion of Saints” – the faithful here and those who have gone before us –in prayer and thanksgiving, united in Christ.
Facing the altar of the St. Gabriel Chapel, this artwork reminds us that we, the Body of Christ and Communion of Saints, gather at the Table of the Lord. We offer our gifts and acts of love and mercy as an expression of our faith and gratitude.
Through Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy , we respond in love to our brother and sisters in need. The saints, clergy, religious, and lay people depicted in Body of Christ/ Communion of Saints call to mind some of the many ways our parish seeks to meet the physical, material, spiritual, and emotional needs of our neighbors as we share in the Body of Christ.
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The Story Behind the Painting
Scripture reveals the many ways that images connect us with the Divine. Sacred art created for St. Charles Borromeo Church in Morganton, NC provided a deep sense of that connection for our former pastor, Fr. Frank O’Rourke. He was inspired to consider a piece for St. Gabriel, noting that “there has always been a desire to provide artwork that inspires and calls forth faith.”Through good friend and pastor Fr. Ken Whittington, Fr. Frank met Renaissance style artist Matthew Good. His faith and great talent provided a way to transform inspiration into reality: sacred art for St. Gabriel Church.
With input from our parish community, a vision for Body of Christ/ Communion of Saints came to life. Among those participating were the St. Gabriel Artists Group and parishioner Paul Franz. Paul’s response to Matthew Good’s work led him to offer to be the patron for this piece of sacred art, blessing our whole community.
A year and a half of fruitful collaboration resulted in this beautiful piece of sacred art, giving depth and meaning to our vision and inspiring faith.
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Artist Matthew Good
The gifts of North Carolina artist Matthew Good are exemplified in the Body of Christ/ Communion of Saints oil painting, beautifully displayed outside of the St. Gabriel chapel.Matthew, whose home is in Hickory, brought to his creation a love for his Catholic faith and a passion for expression and discovery with color and line. He used live models—members of St. Gabriel Church—to accomplish his goal of presenting the figures in the painting not as disembodied heavenly beings, but as living, breathing persons on earth, fully engaged in the joys and sorrows of living their faith.
Matthew studied in the master apprentice tradition with Ben Long IV, learning master techniques in oil, as well as fresco and drafting. His work is grounded in traditional renaissance style, often with a deeper darker pallet that reflects a youthful modernism in it's subject matter.
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Sacred Art: Figures Depicted
Representing a diverse group of saints, lay persons, clergy, and religious, the figures in Body of Christ/Communion of Saints reflect the many ways we worship, serve, and grow as a community of faith. Through their vocations and gifts, may those depicted in this work of art call to mind some of the many ways we respond in faith, hope, and love to our Lord.
Pictured from left to right in the painting, those represented are:- Fr. Thomas Frederick Price (1860-1919): "The Tarheel Apostle". The first priest to be ordained in North Carolina, who began a statewide evangelization effort in N.C. in the late 1800s. Represents Catholic priests, evangelists, North Carolinians, orphans, the chronically ill.
- Dorothy Day (1897-1980): American journalist and social activist who played a key role in the Catholic Social Worker Movement, advocating for the poor and homeless. Represents social activists, converts to Catholicism, writers.
- Medical doctor: Represents health care workers.
- Woman with Pyx: Represents lay ministers.
- St. Teresa of Calcutta (1910-1997): Founder of the Missionaries of Charity, serving the poorest of the poor in India. Represents the poor, sick, and homeless; missionaries.
- Young boy: Represents youth, Scouts.
- St. Martin de Porres (1579-1639): Lay brother of the Dominican Order in Lima, Peru, noted for his devotion to orphans and the poor. Represents public health workers, advocates for racial equality, orphans.
- Mother Catherine McAuley: Foundress of Sisters of Mercy (headquartered in Belmont, NC) who strive for a just world for people who are poor, sick and uneducated. Represents nurses, consecrated religious, social workers.
- Woman in chair: Represents the elderly, grandparents, widows.
- Builder: Represent laborers, workers, fathers.
- St. Maximillian Kolbe (1894-1941): Polish Franciscan friar noted for his devotion to the Blessed Mother. Volunteered to die in place of a stranger at the Auschwitz death camp in WWII. Represents refugees, prisoners, writers, political activists.
- Police officer: Represents uniformed service members, peace keepers.
- St. Gianna Beretta Molla (1922-1962): Italian medical doctor who sacrifced her own life to save her unborn baby's life. Represent mothers, physicians, unborn children, respect life advocates.
- Child in arms: Represents babies, unborn children.
- Fr. Mychal Judge (1933-2001): NYC Fire Department Chaplain and the first certified fatality of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on The World Trade Center. Represents first-responders, priests and deacons.
- Young girl with basket: Represents youth, altar servers.
- St. Elizabeth Ann Seton (1774-1821): Converted to Catholicism after becoming a widow. Established the first Catholic girls' school in our nation. Represents educators, students, converts to Catholicism.
- St. Juan Diego (1474-1548): A Mexican Indian who received four appearances by the Virgin Mary in December 1531. Represents indigenous peoples, devotion to the Blessed Mother.
- Fr. Thomas Frederick Price (1860-1919): "The Tarheel Apostle". The first priest to be ordained in North Carolina, who began a statewide evangelization effort in N.C. in the late 1800s. Represents Catholic priests, evangelists, North Carolinians, orphans, the chronically ill.
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