The Cleveland Museum of Art

One of the gems of Cleveland is our art museum—one of the last in our nation with free general admission. Among its Baroque paintings and sculptures is El Greco’s “Holy Family with Mary Magdalene” (cover). El Greco, “the Greek,” (1541-1614), was a Spanish artist whose emotional style vividly expressed the passion of Counter-Reformation Spain. His works are characteristically haunting with an intensity that results from unnaturally elongated figures and strong contrasts of color and light.

The seemingly weightless figures of his Holy Family, the startling color combinations, and the moody, imprecise setting all show his interest in conveying the intense spirituality of these figures rather than their concrete reality. Above all, the painting addresses Mary’s role as mediator between Christ and the viewer. She supports her Son, but her faraway look indicates awareness of his fate. The inclusion of Mary Magdalene is a foreshadowing of his fate. She too, will witness his crucifixion and burial, faithfully standing at the foot of the cross with his mother. For the moment, however, Mary feeds Jesus fruit held by Joseph. The fruit is full of symbolic meaning: the apple representing the fall of man; cherries, the blood of Christ; peaches, salvation; and pears, the sweetness of Christ’s virtue. The nearly levitating body of the Christ child further emphasizes the ethereal setting of the Holy Family.

Next week, liturgically, we move from Christ’s infancy, straight to his baptism, which officially ends the Christmas season. Baptism is the door to life and to the Kingdom, the first Sacrament of the New Law, which Christ offered to all that they might have eternal life. From the first centuries, the Church, to whom the mission of evangelizing and baptizing has been given, baptized not only adults but also children. Our ritual states: “The celebration of Baptism should take place during the first weeks after the birth of the child” (8). First-time parents are asked to attend a short session while awaiting their child’s baptism. They are encouraged to plan well for this, and we are here to assist them in their role. Call the parish office to share the news of your child’s anticipated birth, and to begin preparation for their baptism.

Fr. Terry