The Beauty of the Risen Christ
Christ’s mysteries are inexhaustible. They have endless effects in human souls, and artists have found countless forms to show them. In the past, drawings, paintings, frescoes, and even stained-glass windows were the catechism of those who couldn’t read but had, nevertheless, an illustrated faith. They came to Church to adore, to be taught, to be forgiven, to be fed, and Mother Church offered them abundant bread for their spiritual hunger, first through the liturgy, but also through the beauty of ageless art.
These paintings of the Risen Christ by three famous painters help us to illustrate the mystery of this glorious resurrection, which after forty days of penance, we now celebrate with joy.
Cristo Resucitado by Bernardo Bitti, SJ1
Iglesia de la Compañía de Jesús de Arequipa, (Perú)
The Endless Joy of Heaven
1 https://esejotas.jesuitas.pe/2009/04/12/tiempo-de-resurreccion/, accessed April 10, 2022.
The Paschal mystery of Christ will never end. The extension of the liturgical time of Easter is a
reminder of the eternal Easter: the never-ending joy of Heaven. Now we say, at least, once a year,
“Christ is risen”! Then, we will live out this reality without end. It was good to go through the
affliction of the Lenten penances to rise to the light of Christ, to become new people, and fill our
hearts with joy.
Cristo Risorto, Tiziano, Polittico Averoldi2
Brescia, Collegiata dei Santi Nazaro e Celso.
So that we recognize Him in the breaking of bread…
2 https://www.artesvelata.it/polittico-averoldi-tiziano/, accessed April 10, 2022.
Supper at Emmaus, Caravaggio3
The National Gallery, London
The gospel of the disciples of Emmaus, who were leaving Jerusalem overwhelmed by their
sadness to the point of not realizing that Christ himself was with them on the road, can teach us
at least two things to celebrate at Easter:
a) Not only that Christ walks with us always, but also that sadness can be a forceful
source which can separate us from God.
b) Second, and most importantly, Christ is found in the breaking of bread, that is in the
Eucharist (at the celebration of Mass), a powerful source to unite us to God.
May the joy of Easter draw us closer to the Eucharistic Risen Lord.
Happy Easter to all,
3 https://blog.singulart.com/en/2020/05/15/supper-at-emmaus-1601-the-story-of-caravaggios-dramatic-piece/,
accessed April 10, 2022
