Rev. Fr. Raymond Vincent Ma. Decipeda (far right), Rev. Fr. Joachim Eugene Ma. Ablanida (center), Rev. Fr. Pius Noel Ma. Pareja (far left) adore their replica of ‘The Pieta’ located in the vestibule at Holy Family Catholic Church Artesia. Daniel E. Beckham Photo.
By Daniel E. Beckham
An exact rendition of Michelangelo’s sculpture, The Pieta, has found a home at Holy Family Catholic Church in Artesia.
The dramatic statue is located in the vestibule bathed in soothing lights, surrounded by dozens of memory candles to commemorate the lives of fellow past parishioners.
Father Raymond Decipeda told HMG-CN in an interview, “The Pieta is one is the most beautiful works of art in history. Michael Angelo did it; I wanted a similar statue with historical and multi-cultural appeal.”
The Pieta was ordered from Artisan Granite, a company based in Rhode Island, well known for their unique, hand-carved statuary.
Since the fourteenth century, the lamentation of Christ has been a theme most popular in Northern European art. The two figures in the statue are a historical depiction of the pain that Mary and Jesus suffered.
The Renaissance Humanist ideals of physical perfection and beauty are conveyed through Mary holding a dead Christ in her arms.
Repica of Michelangelo’s The Pieta. Photo by Carlito A. Rafanan.
“Our congregation is Marian in nature, MMHC, I wanted a Marian statue,” commented Fr. Raymond.
A religious congregation of priests and brothers known as the Marian Missionaries of the Holy Cross founded in the Philippines are dedicated to serve the youth, especially those in public schools and the prisoners through moral values formation and renewal, bringing them back to the foot of the cross.
“The Pieta also consolidates the theme of the area of the vestibule that we renovated, and we are honoring and praying for the eternal repose of our beloved dead,” said Fr. Raymond.
Active parishioner Ulises Perez-Flores commented, “It’s overwhelming when I walk in and I see it in the back there. To think that this an exact reproduction as the one in Rome I can only imagine that in a grandeur facility it would still have a presence that you look at the face of Mary looking down at her son. Many mothers of veterans are looking down at their deceased sons and it really grabs at their heart. It almost depicts a glimmer of hope.”
The statue boldly celebrates the intimacy and majesty of Mary as a glowing young woman holding the gracefully lifeless body of the Savior across her lap. It is as though Mary’s outstretched left hand beckons us to share with her, the profound grief caused by the death of her son.
