Salvador Dali Centennial Magazine

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V 3.1: nov-26-2003.

Words of Bishop George Stack, during Mass of Thanksgiving for the Canonization of Saint Josemaria Escriva.

On November 2002, George Stack, Auxiliary Bishop of Westminster took part on the celebration of the Thanksgiving Mass, following Canonization of Saint Josemaría Escrivá, founder of Opus Dei. On his homily, Bishop Stack remembers the influence of the Cross on the life on the new Saint.

"One of my favorite pieces of modern art is the controversial
painting of the crucifixion by Salvador Dalí. The viewer looks
down from above on the bowed head, the outstretched arms and the tapering legs of the crucified Jesus. From that perspective, the eye is taken to the foot of the cross which is plunged deep into the earth. Calvary is the holy ground. It is the place where God plumbed the depths of human suffering, where people reject the revelation of God’s love, where evil seems triumphant." said Bishop Stack.

"When looking at that picture, the text which immediately comes to mind is that spoken by St. Josemaría Escrivá as he reflected on his mystical experience in August 1931. At the elevation of the host after the consecration, Josemaría was overwhelmed with the words from the 12th chapter of St. John’s gospel: "And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself.""

Bishop Stack tells us how Escrivá was influenced by the mysterious power of the Cross: "The Cross stands at the crossroads of human history" "The Cross stands at the centre of each person’s individual life also".

Then, he remembers Josemaria's words: “I understood that it would be the men and women of God, who will raise up the cross with the teachings of Christ, placing them at the peak of all human experience. And I saw Our Lord triumphing and drawing all things to himself.”

Graphic: 'Colloque Sentimental in javascript' (Click Here or the connector to see the Dali's painting).