The sunlight was quite strong when I arrived at Mount Argus in the early afternoon, so the photos are a bit washed-out looking (Sorry, David!). I was there today for a meeting to discuss formation. A number of young men have asked to begin formation for the Passionist Life in our province later this year. This meeting was about how we prepare ourselves to receive new people who wish to share our life (not just for a time).
The cherry blossoms give a real sense of spring to this picture, as the news of the four people who wish to join us gave a sense of spring to our meeting. My visit to Mount Argus also allowed me to see the Canonisation Poster for Father Charles , with the new image by James Hanley RHA (Royal Hibernian Academy).
Laus Crucis 
Just a comment on your stills, they are stunning – I have really enjoyed them lately. Also the news about the meeting – let’s pray for all those involved!
It is great news that 4 men are wanting to join CP life this year. I hope that the discussions you are having regarding preparing for their arrival and formation are fruitful for everyone. On the poster of the soon to be Saint Charles…is it just me or does the image look a little cartoonish? Looking at the poster and comparing it with other better known images, I am not sure it is a true reflction of the man. I wonder what others feel.
At last! Someone who shares my reservations about the new portrait of Fr Charles. My art appreciation perhaps leaves a lot to be desired but to me the efforts at abstraction in this case are unwarranted. The symbolism of the “Habit ( girdle, beads and all ) and the Passionist “Sign” worn over the heart which would have meant so much to Fr Charles would appear to be deemed unfashionable and have been replaced by a rather mundane symbolism which reflects the humanistic, worldly, ageist culture of our times. Even the “Sign” in the context of the portrait is used as a symbol of the Congregation and not of The Passion? Why can’t a “man at his peak” be an elderly man, as Fr Charles was? Surely a person’s spiritual “peak” is not reached until death at whatever age? And surely spiritual “peak” is the pertinent “peak” in the context of Canonisation?
By the same token, Why can’t a “man for all times” be and elderly man?
I suspect the image of an elderly Fr Charles in his habit and wearing his trade mark biretta will be the image that will endure.
Apopos Jerome’s comment on the new portrait of Blessed Charles, I think it is useful to quote the words of the artist himself, “The image of Blessed Charles I chose eventually, after much discussion with the Passionists, is one of the saint in mid-life. He is shown not as a naïve youth nor in the failing of old age, but as a man at his peak, with a calm serenity. To make a clear simple new image of the Blessed Charles, he is depicted without the characteristic biretta (which would have dated him specifically historically) and with simplified robes to focus all the attention on the Passionist sign worn on the breast.
In the background appear both his birthplace, in Holland, and Mount Argus, in Dublin with which he is particularly associated. The lettering around closes the image, the circle echoes a halo, and the medal, the stamp and logo create a new image of a man for all times.”
Personally, I believe the image is a challenge to some of our stereotypes of this man when most of the images to which we have been exposed show an older, more ‘contemplative’ person whereas this shows us the fresh-face of a man of energy. But to each his own…
I think the comments of both Sean and Gerard are very interesting indeed. It might be taking things a little too far (but only a little) to say that within both sets of comments is a well articulated dialogue on the concept and relevance of sainthood in 2007. I have no doubt that what Gerard says of the artist is true, and now that it is explained I see the image a little differently. I think, however, that this is the point, I needed it explained. That of course most probably says much more about me than the author. Like Sean my artistic sensibilities are absent. However I still think the image is a little cartoonish in execution.
Of course Blessed Charles was a man of an entire adult lifetime, not just the latter portion of it, and for that matter not just the portion where his awareness of the suffering Christ drew him closest to his Lord. To that extent it is probably valid to argue that an image that is like a composite, timewise, is as valid as any other.
I must say the views of Sean and Gerard really could be used on a wider stage and may well offer something very fruitful when we begin to speak of the real impact that Saint Charles might have to those who really are interested in hearing him in 2007.