Men of the Beatitudes

This heart is the heart of Christ, the masterpiece of the Holy Spirit, which began to beat in the virginal womb of Mary and was pierced by the lance on the cross, thus becoming for all the inexhaustible source of eternal life. That Heart is now the pledge of hope for every man.

--John Paul II

The icon for Men of the Beatitudes summarizes a life-form for men in the world, who are seeking to belong more fully to Jesus and through Him to the Holy Trinity through a spirituality of Christian honor. This honor partakes in the Son’s obedience to the Father, which went to the end through love for us, expressed ultimately on the Cross and perpetuated in an unbloody manner during every Eucharistic sacrifice.

There are three perspectives that can illuminate the meaning of the icon.

1. It’s a “throne of Mercy” depiction: “Throne of Mercy” (in German, Gnadenstuhl) is a specific medieval manner of portraying the Holy Trinity. The Father embraces the Son, who is on the Cross for the redemption of us all; the Holy Spirit is present as the Father’s love for the Son and the power that transforms us into Christ. In this image, we see Jesus from the Father’s perspective; the Father is suggested. The Holy Spirit is represented through the red and blue/silver rays that emanate from the Son’s pierced Heart. These rays of Merciful Love show the inexhaustible outpouring of God’s love and life, especially through the sacraments and God’s Word.

2. St. John of the Cross’ drawing: The Men of the Beatitudes icon is taken from St. John of the Cross’ drawing of the Crucified Christ: One day during the years when Fray John of the Cross was chaplain at the monastery of the Incarnation in Avila, probably between 1574 and 1577, he was praying in a loft overlooking the sanctuary. Suddenly he received a vision. Taking a pen he sketched on a small piece of paper what he had beheld.

The sketch is of Christ crucified, hanging in space, turned toward his people, and seen from a new perspective. The cross is erect. The body, lifeless and contorted, with the head bent over, hangs forward so that the arms are held only by the nails. Christ is seen from above, from the view of the Father.

3. “In God for others”: This succinct motto of the core ethic of Men of the Beatitudes could easily be the caption for the icon. We men of the Beatitudes are hanging with Christ on the Cross, blessing and redeeming the world (cf. Hans Urs von Balthasar, Tragedy under Grace)

The icon was created for reflection and inspiration, so that men of the Beatitudes would more readily recognize and embrace their life-form: abiding in God for others through a spirituality of Christian honor.