cardinal hickey

Cardinal Blesses Shrine's Newest Sculpture

Special to the Herald

WASHINGTON -- Calling the massive marble artwork ``a proclamation in stone,'' Cardinal James A. Hickey Nov. 14 blessed ``The Universal Call to Holiness'' sculpture at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington.

It was Cardinal Hickey, archbishop of Washington, who suggested the theme of the sculpture to evoke a central message of the Second Vatican Council, stated in the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, that ``all in the church ... are called to holiness.''

On the brink of a new century and new millennium, ``human progress has accelerated but it is accompanied by fear, anxiety, division and sinfulness,'' said the cardinal in his homily at the noon dedication Mass.

``Inspired by the call of Pope John Paul II for a fresh, hopeful and courageous proclamation of the Gospel,'' he said, ``this Basilica of the National Shrine today dedicates a monumental sculpture that depicts so nobly that great conciliar theme, the universal call to holiness.''

``It is more than a work of art,'' Cardinal Hickey said. ``It is a proclamation in stone that we are gathered to bless.''

The two-hour liturgy was concelebrated by nearly 60 bishops and archbishops, including Cardinals Anthony J. Bevilacqua of Philadelphia, William H. Keeler of Baltimore, Adam J. Maida of Detroit and Francis E. George of Chicago, and Archbishop Gabriel Montalvo, apostolic nuncio to the United States

Also participating in the Mass and rite of dedication were more than 50 priests and deacons, including Msgr. Michael J. Bransfield, rector of the shrine, the largest Catholic church in the Americas and eighth largest church in the world. The dedication occurred on the eve of the U.S. bishops' annual fall meeting in Washington.

The Mass also commemorated the 40th anniversary of the dedication of the shrine's Great Upper Church in 1959. The huge high-relief sculpture -- measuring 50 feet by 15 feet and weighing 37 tons -- was carved in 16 pieces of Botticino-Classico marble.

It finishes the interior back wall of the Upper Church. In the sculpture, created by artist George Carr of Silver Spring, Md., light rays fan out from a dove that signifies the Holy Spirit. Mary is a central figure in the six groups of people from different social classes and ethnic backgrounds who are being drawn to the Holy Spirit.

Among the 40-plus figures depicted are easily recognizable images of Pope John Paul II and Mother Teresa. The marble panels were carved by 22 artisans at the studios of Franco Cervietti in Pietrasanta, Italy. Engineering for the intricate installation was handled by the Bethesda, Md., architectural firm of Anthony Segreti. Rugo & Carosi LLC, a Virginia-based natural stone and mosaic firm, acted as general contractor.

The seven-year project was funded entirely by a $1 million gift from Joseph V. and Bertha Braddock of Blessed Sacramen Parish in Alexandria, through their family's Aztec Foundation. The Braddocks, their sons, Anthony and Robert, and other family members took part in the liturgy and dedication ceremony.

Speaking before the Mass, Joseph Braddock said the sculpture ``is everything we all hoped it would be -- the efforts of very, very many talented and skilled people all over the world.'' The work conveys ``just the right message'' about holiness, he said. ``The cardinal had the right idea and George (Carr) translated it just beautifully, as did the carvers in Italy.''