Christ All Merciful: Icons by William Hart McNicholas,
S.J., by Megan McKenna.
Orbis Books, 2002.
This book is about the images of Jesus; it is about seeing God face-to-face. It is about belief, about devotion, and about contemplation of
God. The icon is an encounter of meeting, of being sought after and singled out, and it can be humbling, freeing, transforming, and a moment of sheer goodness and delight in being in the presence of Holiness, the essence of goodness itself.
The author says a Christian is called "to become this image of God by putting on the new life of Christ." McKenna begins with the icons that surround the coming of Jesus as the Word, Jesus as the youth, and Jesus as the teacher. Next are the icons of suffering, death and glory in the resurrection. Another section contains some icons of history, such as picturing Jesus in Rutilio Grande S.J., Jesus in
Francis of Assisi, and Jesus in the Little Flower.
"We worship you who wrap your merciful presence around us and hold us all
ways."
- Book review by Sr. Irene Hartman, OP: 2003 -
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Saint of the Week
St. Ignatius of Antioch: d. 107. October 17
Born in Syria, Ignatius converted to Christianity and eventually became bishop of Antioch. In the year 107, Emperor Trajan visited Antioch and forced the Christians there to choose between death and apostasy. Ignatius would not deny Christ and thus was condemned to be put to death in Rome.
Ignatius is well known for the seven letters he wrote on the long journey from Antioch to Rome. Five of these letters are to churches in Asia Minor; they urge the Christians there to remain faithful to God and to obey their superiors. He warns them against heretical doctrines, providing them with the solid truths of the Christian
faith.
The sixth letter was to Polycarp, bishop of Smyrna, who was later martyred for the faith. The final letter begs the Christians in Rome not to try to stop his martyrdom. “The only thing I ask of you is to allow me to offer the libation of my
blood to God. I am the wheat of the Lord; may I be ground by the teeth of the beasts to become the immaculate bread of Christ.”
Ignatius bravely met the lions in the Circus Maximus.
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A student comes to a young professor's office hours. She glances down the hall, closes his door, and kneels pleadingly.
"I would do anything to pass this exam," she says. She leans closer to him, flips back her hair, and gazes meaningfully into his eyes. "I mean," she whispers, "I would do anything..."
He returns her gaze, "Anything?"
"Anything."
His voice softens, "Anything?"
"Anything," she repeats again.
His voice turns to a whisper. "Would you ... study?"
