Sacred Heart of Jesus calls men to prayer at Manresa
| Photos - (First photo) The Sacred Heart statue in front of Xavier Hall. (Second photo) Close-up, showing the crown of thorns.(Third photo) The statue is situated on the walkway leading to and from Xavier Hall. It stands among beautiful oaks (Fourth photo) bordering expansive lawns. Some retreatants notice the statue’s broken and missing fingers (fifth photo). | |||
Among the most prominent devotional sculptures at Manresa is the statue of the Sacred Heart. Surrounded by a well-maintained flower garden, the white marble sculpture is situated on a well-traversed sidewalk that leads to the front door of Xavier Hall. Retreatants may use this walkway several times a day when visiting Xavier Hall to access the dining room, St. Ignatius Chapel, the tape library, and the priests’ offices. Several times a day, men will stop at the statue to pray. The statue is sculpted with Jesus’ arms raised and spread wide, at once exposing the wounds of his crucifixion and offering his complete and perfect love. Located in what may arguably be the most beautiful spot on the Manresa campus, the bounty and the beauty of His creation is most evident as we pray - in thanksgiving, devotion, and praise. It is the Sacred Heart that we recognize, in both its physical and metaphorical forms, as representing the love of Christ for us. And it is in the crown of thorns around the heart that we are reminded of his crucifixion and of the rejection of his message by much of humanity. For more about the Sacred Heart, see companion articles on pages 11 and 12 of the February 2005 issue of The Lamb.