the CHAMP

Carl Jamie Simple S. Bordeos

Introduction

August 1, 2007 – On my first day of service as an employee of Christ the King College (CKC), the only piece of art inside CKC which has captured my attention and which I would always remember of CKC was the statue of Saint Francis erected in front of the Franciscan Monastery.

Each time I reported to the Research and Human Development Center (RHDC), I would always look at Father Francis’ statue with a bird resting on one of the saint’s arms. That scene gave a “nostalgic feeling” to this writer, and as what I have thought all this time that the resting bird was part of the sculpture, but one day I have found out that it was not. It was a living one taking refuge to his brother protector, Father Francis, the patron saint of animals and ecology. The statue with that live bird added a sentimental touch to my heart!

Let me clarify first that there was no exaggeration to what I have seen for several times already only a sharing of happiness to you, the readers.

I wrote this article to personally know the statue’s significance, the message it was trying to convey to the CKC community and the other people who, like me, would have the same interest and appreciation of it. I would also never forget that I jokingly have said that that was a version of the famous U.P. Oblation, the completely nude figure of a young man with outstretched arms and open hands as the U.P.’s symbol of sacrificial offering of service to country and humanity. The only difference was that St. Francis had clothes on while the oblation does not have.

History

In the early 1952, Bishop Miguel Acebedo of Calbayog invited the American Franciscans of Pulaski, Wisconsin, USA due to shortage of secular priests in the diocese. In response, the Assumption Province of Pulaski, which was under Fr. Theophane Kalinowski, OFM, sent two (2) missionaries to establish a Franciscan mission (Prolepsis, Vol. 1 No.1).

Fathers David Wyrzykowski, OFM, and Leopold Niedzwiecki, OFM, arrived in Calbayog on December 11, 1952. They were received by Bishop Acebedo and his clergy. Upon taking the responsibility of administering and directing the Colegio de San Vicente de Paul, Father David envisioned a new school building.

Within two years, marvels were achieved with the support and cooperation of Calbayognons like Mr. Jose Gomez, the San Vicente Faculty, and civic-spirited individuals and citizens.

On the feast of Christ the King, October 30, 1955, the new administration and school building was solemnly dedicated and blessed by His Excellency Most Rev. Msgr. Manuel del Rosario. Officially, the Colegio was re-named the Christ the King College.

There was a continuous construction of school buildings, and this continued until the 1960’s” (The Scepter Nov. 2001-Mar. 2002). As of this writing, I never have read a single article that was written about the statue in the college. I have browsed the Scepter and King’s Herald Issues, both student publications of CKC, which some copies were available at the RHDC. But I have so far gathered the earliest photo of the statue from the research works of the late Fr. Cantius J. Kobak, OFM, taken some time in the year 1957. In the said photo was the Christ the King Friary at that time (at the same site, now, of, the Franciscan Monastery).

According to Dr. Francisca P. Santos, the college’s Vice President for Academics, the sculptor of the statue was a certain man from Catbalogan, with a family name of “Alcazar.” She also told me that the sculptor was related to Mr. Alan Diomangay, a locally-known artist of Calbayog, whose mother, Mrs. Milagros “Dindin” Alcazar, worked in the college as the Principal of the elementary department and as a Music teacher.

For Dr. Alejandro T. Catalan’s recall of the past, the Christ the King Friary which was made of wood was completed in the year 1956, so he calculated that the statue was erected in that year or after. Dr. Catalan, who became the Arts and Music Supervisor of the Department of Education Culture and Sports (DECS) – Calbayog Division during that time, supervised the artworks in Samar recalled that he passed by the sculpture room in Catbalogan of Mr. Alcazar, whom he described as a stocky man. The concept of the statue must have come from Fr. David, OFM, and Fr. Leopold, OFM, who possibly commissioned the sculptor to do the artwork. Dr. Catalan believed that the statue of Father Francis was made of solid materials, unlike the modern way of sculpturing which was using clay.

Mr. Pio Santos, a former High School Principal, said that the statue was unveiled or inaugurated in time a Franciscan father named Fr. Michael left the college on October 4, which he cannot anymore recall the year.

The Sculptor

Mr. Alan Diomangay provided this writer some information about his uncle-sculptor, Mr. Miguel Alcazar Sr., who was born in Catbalogan, Samar, where the sculptor spent his elementary and secondary education in schools in that place. He graduated at the College of Fine Arts of the University of the Philippines, where he earned a degree of Fine Arts Major in Sculpturing. He had the opportunity to be mentored in U.P. by the late national artist, Prof. Guillermo Tolentino, who sculptured the famous U.P. Oblation. During the World War II, he became a guerilla soldier.

Aside from the statue of Father Francis, he also sculptured the statue of Saint Anthony de Padua (that could still be seen now at the Padua Building of the college), the McArthur’s Leyte Landmark (in Palo, Leyte), and the sculpture of the late Pres. Ronald Reagan (which according to Mr. Diomangay was displayed at the White House). Because of this, the government of United States took the family of Mr. Alcazar to the US as a gratitude to him.

Symbolisms of St. Francis’ Statue

According to one of the friars in the college, the statue signifies no meaning or symbolism. But since I believe that its artist would not create this piece of art without thinking for the message intended for those people who will appreciate it, I continued searching for the related written articles about it especially on the symbolisms I personally have seen in the statue of Father Francis.

The definition of symbolism is the art of communicating with semiotics, architecture, paintings, statues, monuments, jewelry, theatre, literature, poems and music which have a special message (http://alandpeters.tripod.com/id10.html. Retrieved date: July 15, 2008).

It is hoped by the writer that with this endeavor, it will spark a sense of attachment of the students, alumni, teachers and administrators to their beloved institution, the Christ the King College. I have related the symbolisms and its meanings to some significant incidents in the life of Father Francis. By the way, the writer begged your indulgence because I presented the incidents of Father Francis’ life, not in a chronological way, but I followed the symbolisms started from the head of Father Francis to the pillar, which became as the base of the statue.

The Eyes Are Widely Open

The sculptor could have closed the eyes of St. Francis, but instead he made them widely open. Maybe, he has this in mind:

“Big eyes are used to represent characters that are very innocent, youthful, and haven’t been tempered by the real world.They still see a magic in the world around them and are pure of heart and action.They are amazed by the world around them and all the wonders it contains.So, since they are so pure, their eyes are drawn big because they don’t have anything in their soul that needs to be hidden.(Remember the eyes are the gateway to the soul). ….Also, youthful characters tend to be totally trusting in their naiveté and innocence - their huge, open eyes indicate that their heart and soul is totally open to experience life to the fullest, for better or worse” (Reference: http://www.three-musketeers.net/mike/eyes.html. Retrieved date: July 17, 2008).

We can relate this with the following stories in the life of Father Francis:

Father Francis spent in a cave in Mount Subasio praying while his friend waited outside.

“God,” he agonized, “what do You want from me? Please show me what to do. I’m listening.”1But there was no answer. All he could hear was the beating of his own heart. So he began to listen to his heart. And the more time he spent in the cave, the more he realized his heart was like a dark, damp grotto filled with evil thoughts and monstrous temptations. Slowly he began to see his heart as God sees the human heart, and he trembled and wept over his past sins (Alex 1997, 14)

In the Church of St. Damian, our Lord said to him: “Fix my house which is falling into ruin.”2

The sculptor could have closed the eyes of the statue based on what had happened to Father Francis, which story goes this way:

This was the summer of 1225. The sunlight at Assisi was so strong that he had to keep his eyes almost completely closed, and was practically blind for a time. Besides, he was subjected in his wretched hut to an unbelievable invasion of field rats or field mice that brazenly ran everywhere, even over his face, allowing him no rest night or day.

Despite these conditions his heart was so overflowing with the joy he had so after preached to his brothers that he was inspired to write his Canticle of Brother Sun [but some books, this is Canticle of Creatures] (Cristiani 1983, 141).

The Statue was as if Murmuring a Prayer

If one will examine closely at the statue, one can see that Father Francis’ parted lips. It was as if murmuring a prayer. For he had spent his whole life since his conversion praising God (Cristiani 1983, 142).

In one of his prayers, he solemnly prays:

“O Great and Glorious God, illuminate my heart. Give me steadfast faith, firm hope,perfect charity and knowledge and understanding so that I may keep Your Commandments.”

He also says:

“Let every creature in heaven, on earth, in the sea and in the depths, give praise, glory, honor and blessing… Who alone is good, Who alone is almighty, Who alone is omnipotent, wonderful, glorious and who alone is holy, worthy of praise and blessing through endless ages” (Armstrong 1994, 58).

The Outstretched Arms of the Statue

The outstretched arms of the statue of Father Francis could possibly symbolize as an “act of offering himself” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.P._Oblation. Retrieved date July 1, 2008) to His God, “because at the very core of his being and at the center of his life, He was filled with God” (Duane Lapanski).

For a moment he felt a tremendous sense of belonging to the whole of the universe and creation. A feeling from beyond himself flooded his soul with peace and love (Alex 1997, 13).

He had looked up at the night sky and seen God’s presence in all of creation, he had felt a special kinship to nature. To him everything had some of God’s love in it (Alex 1997, 38).

When the health of Father Francis worsened, he asked the doctor who came to see him. “Doctor, tell me the truth. Whether I live or die makesno difference to me.”3

“In that case,” replied the doctor, “I think you will die at the end of September or the beginning of October.” “Welcome Sister Death!” (Alex 1997, 46) exclaimed the invalid Father Francis, raising his arms in the air.

The statue has the Wounds Like that of Jesus

The first recorded incident to have the five holy wounds of our Lord Jesus Christ at the hands, feet, and at his right side was that of St. Francis.

“These bodily marks/sores are stigmata, and have the sensations of pain in locations corresponding to the crucifixion wounds of Jesus. The term originates from the line at the end of Saint Paul’s Letter to the Galatians where he says, “I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.” (Stigmata is the plural of the Greek word stigma meaning a mark)(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stigmata. Retrieved date: July 16, 2008).

On Easter Day, 1224, the Brothers at Portiuncula had put a feast in honor of their spiritual father. The brothers were waiting anxiously for Father Francis.

Suddenly they heard a knock on the door. Outside, stood a beggar, wearing an old hat. ”For the love of God,” pleaded the beggar as he held out a bowl, “please give alms to a sick pilgrim!” The brothers handed him a piece of bread. Then they realized it was Father Francis. “Brother,” they exclaimed, “we have prepared a feast for you. Please come sit at the head of the table.” But Father Francis sat down on the ground in front of the fire. “Your table is too fancy for a poor beggar like me,” he said.” I prefer to sit on the ground like a Lesser Brother.”4

On September 14th, 1224, something remarkable happened to Father Francis. He had been spending some weeks in prayer on the mountain of La Verna. One morning at dawn he was pleading, “Lord, I ask You to grant me two wishes before I die: Let me experience the pain You experienced for me on the cross, and let me feel the love You felt when You died for me.”5

All of a sudden there was a dazzling light. The sky opened, and Father Francis saw the figure of Christ nailed to the cross. Light beams shot from the crucified Christ and pierced Father Francis’ hands, feet and right side. Father Francis felt the pain tear through his body as blood streamed from his side.Pope Alexander IV claimed to have seen the wounds with his own eyes (Alex 1997, 45).

The Statue is Wearing a Franciscan Habit Flowing with the Wind

The Franciscan “habit” is a strong spiritual symbol that is a full-length robe designed in the form of a cross. It is brown in color, and originally, it was made of rough, unbleached, homespun wool. At the waist, it is tied by a white cord with three knots at one end. The knots recall the three Gospel vows (poverty, chastity and obedience) which are at the base of the Franciscan life (http://www.ofm-canada.org/eng/vcation/habit.htm. Retrieved date: July 15, 2008).

Father Francis has said,

“Our sister lark has a hood, just as we do! It’s a humble bird, as we can see, because it always goes to the side of the road to try to find a grain of corn. Its feathers are the color of the earth, and serve as models to teach us that we must not wear handsome, expensive, and gaudy clothes but poor and simple clothes. And when it flies up into the sky, our sister lark praises God in a delightful way, as all the brothers of the Order should! (Cristiani 1983, 139).

Invisible Element – The Wind

There was an “invisible” element that is present in the sculpture, and that is the wind:

“Into your hands, 0 Lord, I commend my spirit.”6

The Word of God compares the Holy Spirit and His movements to that of a wind.There were actually six symbols of the Holy Spirit in the Bible, and these are: the wind, fire, dove, river, seal and oil. In Hebrew, the word for the Holy Spirit is Ruah, which means wind, the wind of God.In the New Testament, the Greek word for Spirit is Pneuma, which means wind or breath.The Holy Spirit is like a wind in the sense that ‘When He moves He is like the wind. The principal symbolism of wind is that it is all around us.One can go anywhere and the air and the wind is presently there. One cannot survive without it. And this only indicates a characteristic about the Holy Spirit - His omnipresence. The Holy Spirit has the supernatural ability to be omnipresent, to be everywhere at the same time.That is a tremendous aspect of His whole being.It is the Holy Spirit who makes the Father and the Son present in the reality of our lives.

The second fact of the Holy Spirit as wind is that He is invisible.One cannot see it, only the dust particles or water drops. One can’t see Him but could sense His influence, His manifestation.What we actually experience is that when it blows on an object, the object moves.So it is the effect of the wind that tells us its presence. Jesus said the same thing about the Holy Spirit. One can’t see Him but you can know Him because when He moves, one can sense His movement and His voice.

He could also manifest His presence in different degrees and levels like a breeze that is light, soft and gentle. Other times it is typhoon/hurricane-like. No matter how light or strong it is, we still feel the wind. When we are hungry for God, He manifests Himself even more and we will feel Him even more. The less seekers of God we are, the less we feel God. When we are hungry for God and seek the truth, this creates a spiritual vacuum and it opens the way for the Holy Spirit like a wind moving in our lives. Spiritual appetites can be built up by prolonged seeking of the Lord. That is why when the Holy Spirit came He came like the wind. “The hungrier we are for God the greater His presence will be in our life.”7

The Statue is Bare-Footed

Going bare-foot means a person not to use, or to go without, any type of foot covering. One of the reasons for choosing to go barefoot was the sensation of one’s feet in direct contact with the ground.

It is an act of devotion, a sign of poverty, a symbol of peace, and a common form of mortification, often combined with others such as pilgrimage, either as penance or asceticism (renunciation of worldly pleasures or a trait of great self-denial) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barefoot. Retrieved date: July 15, 2008).

1. Act of Devotion

Removing shoes is a pious gesture of respect, especially appropriate when approaching holy places like the one Moses did when he had to take off his shoes before approaching the burning bush.

2. Sign of Poverty

In Medieval times, leather shoes and boots were expensive, so poorer people often either went barefoot or wrapped their feet in cloth. In art and literature, bare feet often symbolize poverty.

3. Symbol of Peace

One way to commemorate Mahatma Gandhi is to walk barefoot around his monument which the late Pope John Paul II and US Pres. George W. Bush paid him this respect.

When Father Francis was fourteen, he helped in the store. One day, a beggar came into the store and asked for alms. Not thinking, he sent the beggar away. But a voice whispered into Father Francis’ ear: “What have you done to the least of my brethren, You have done unto me” (St. Francis of Assisi. Don Bosco Press). Francis took some coins and ran into the streets to find the man. When he found him, he apologized. When he was twenty-four, he sat on the hillside contemplating all the beautiful things around him and thinking how empty the world was without some special motivation to live in it.

One night, he heard a voice asking: “Where are you going, Francis? “Lord, to become knight.”

But the Lord answered: “Who can pay you more, the servant or the master?” ”The master, Lord.” Then, the Lord said: “Well, then, God is your master. Why are you leaving Him to follow a warrior? Go back to Assisi and you will learn?”8

Upon his return, a friend questioned him. “Francis, why are you so sad? Do you know some say you have chosen your bride?” “I have,” Father Francis answered. “Our Lord’s poverty.”9

And there was another story, it says:

When Father Francis left the Church in Rome, he approached a beggar and asked him for alms the beggar was surprised. He told Father Francis that with his rich clothes surely he could not be poor and in need of help. Then, Father Francis asked him to exchange clothes with him, and began to beg alms.

He heard the ringing of the hand bell announcing the presence of a leper. Without hesitation, he knelt in front of the leper, kissed his hand saying: “May God bless you, my brother.”

In the message of the General Definitory published in The Provincial Communicator (November 2006. Vol. XVIII No. 03), it said:

The society, in the medieval world, was divided between “more important” and “minors,” “lords” and “servants.” The more important had social, political, economic, cultural and religious power. Among them were the nobles, kings, the middle-class, merchants and prelates. Among the “minors,” on the other hand, were the poor, the servant of the glebes, the sick and those who, today, we call excluded. Francis, who belonged to the group of the more important, changed his “social status after his conversion and became a minor. He progressively discovered that God was “the One Lord” of Life, of all creatures, that is “the Only Important One.

The discovery that Jesus is the God who makes Himself a minor was a determining factor in the option to become a minor in Father Francis. He, the Lord and Creator of all things, the Almighty, chose to become man in the incarnation and chose the most humble, lowest and poorest condition among men. Minority was the feature of God which Father Francis assumed by preference. Everything, from His birth to His death on the cross, speaks of poverty and humility of Christ for Father Francis.

Another name for minority is poverty. Poverty is living without anything. From poverty he derived: a style of simple life, the refusal to use money which was an expression of wealth reserved to the few, the grace of work with his own hands and the joy of begging in order to depend on the generosity of others. “The kingdom of God is at hand. Do not possess gold, nor silver, nor money in your purses: Nor wallet for your journey; nor two coats, nor shoes, nor staff.” (Matthew X, 7.9.10)

Father Francis understood that he was to preach detachment to a world depraved by its love of ease (St. Francis of Assisi. Makati: Don Bosco Press Inc).

The Pillar as the Base

A pillar is a vertical support structure in architecture, but the base section is any shape but circular. In the spiritual sense, the pillar signify things which support heaven and the church, and the goods of love and of faith from the Lord. It denotes the good and truths of the Church, which are also meant by the name of God. That the name of God denotes all the good and truth of the church, or everything in the complex by which the Lord is worshipped (http://biblemeanings.info/wards/Housing/Pillar.htm. Retrieved date: July 15, 2008).

In order to make clear what his group of Brothers stood for, Father Francis decided to write down a more detailed rule of life for the Brotherhood. He decided to go to Rome with his brothers and appeal for the pope’s blessings and protection. They arrived in Rome in the spring of 1209.

At first, Pope Innocent III did not give Father Francis a warm welcome. But Bishop Guido of Assisi who was also in Rome, and his friend, Cardinal Giovanni, both persuaded the pope to grant Father Francis and his humble brothers another audience.

When the pope asked Father Francis, “what do you want from us?” Father Francis answered, “Holy Father, we want you to approve our rule and consider us the lowest servants of the Catholic Church.”

“The second rule (revised in 1223) states: [Let those who wish to join us] sell all their goods and strive to distribute them to the poor. If they should not be able to do this, their good will suffices. And the brothers … must take care not to be solicitous about their temporal affairs, that they may freely do with their affairs, whatsoever the Lord may inspire them… I, indeed, counsel, warm, and exhort my bothers in the Lord Jesus Christ that when they go through the world they be not litigious nor contend in words, nor judge others; but that they be gentle, peaceful, and modest, meek and humble, speaking honestly all that is fitting… The brothers shall appropriate nothing to themselves, neither a house nor place nor anything. And as pilgrims and strangers in this world, serving the Lord in poverty and humility, let them go confidently in quest of alms, nor ought they to be ashamed, because the Lord made Himself poor for us in this world’ (Alex 1997, 31).

When the pope heard the details of Father Francis’ rule, he objected.

“It may be possible for you to live according to such a strict program of poverty. But those who come after you will hardly be able to follow your example.” “Do you mean to say, Holy Father, that Gospel of Jesus cannot be practiced?” asked Father Francis. “Isn’t this the same as saying that Jesus was a liar?”

That night, Pope Innocent had a dream about a Church leaning to one side, ready to topple over. Then a little poor beggar, which he recognized as Father Francis, supported the Church with his shoulders. Pope Innocent woke up convinced that God had spoken to him. At the final audience, he approved Father Francis’ rule.

Conclusion

The statue of Father Francis at CKC is more than a piece of art for it stood in the campus for more than fifty years already. It must speak something about the constituents (the students, faculty and administrators) of CKC, their identity, which is uniquely their own and which is distinct from the rest, and the principles and beliefs they have in their hearts. In the midst of numerous typhoons visiting the province of Samar each year as well as the fire that burned down the old Christ the King Friary, the statue was evidence that like the school it represents for could stand through time

I pray you that like me, you also have seen the “universal truth hidden in the particular work” (Bogart 1970, 23) of Mr. Alcazar. Yes, this piece of art at CKC could be patterned from the famous U.P. Oblation but that does not matter.

I am looking forward that with my endeavor, this will create a collective identity of CKC students, faculty, alumni and administrators to further give “recognition and the creation of connectedness… which brings… a sense of common purpose and shared commitment to a cause” (Harris 2006, 84).

I recommend that the statue of Father Francis be placed in a strategic place, could be in front of the CKC College Building, where it is visible for everyone to see as a living symbol of CKC’s undying commitment of self-less service to Samar and Humanity.

Endnotes

1Alex, Ben. Heroes of Faith & Courage: Francis of Assisi. Manila, Philippines, St. Pauls, 1997, p. 14.

2Don Bosco Press, Inc. St. Francis of Assisi, Makati, Metro Manila, p. 7.

3Alex, p. 46.

4Ibid., p. 45.

5Ibid., p. 46.

6Ibid., p. 46.

7Ibid., p. 46.

8Don Bosco, p. 5.

9Ibid., p. 5.

Reference

Book

Alex, Ben. Heroes of Faith & Courage: Francis of Assisi. Denmark: Scandinavia Publishing House, 1997.

Armstrong, Regis J. St. Francis of Assisi Writings for a Gospel Life. New York: Crossroad Publishing Company 1994.

Journal

The Scepter, the College Student Publication of Christ the King College. November 2001- March 2002. Vol. 45 No.2

The Scepter, the College Student Publication of Christ the King College. June to October 2001. Vol. XLX No.1

Internet

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.P._Oblation. Retrieved date July 1, 2008

http://biblemeanings.info/wards/Housing/Pillar.htm. Retrieved date: July 15, 2008

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barefoot. Retrieved date: July 15, 2008

http://www.ofm-canada.org/eng/vcation/habit.htm. Retrieved date: July 15, 2008

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stigmata. Retrieved date: July 16, 2008

http://www.three-musketeers.net/mike/eyes.html. Retrieved date: July 17, 2008