No doubt you are correct as to what it is, but most people’s first reaction is of creepiness.
The following is my opinion of the sculpture that is the background of the Pope’s hall.
Of all the ways to present the now risen Christ, who has conquered hell, death and sin, and who sits at the right hand of the Father as King of Kings and Lord of Lords, this is what is chosen?
Why even depict anything of hell at all?
Why shape the architecture of the hall to represent the serpent, man’s age-old enemy from the Garden of Eden?
To me, it could be a depiction of Satan in charge of Hell and the demons, being lifted up.
After all, that is what Satan wanted—to be like God and to be worshipped as God.
The duality of the sculpture is its downfall. But it was meant to have a dual meaning.
To the faithful, they say, “Oh, it is Christ rising from Hell”.
To the initiated they say “See? Here is where the real power is—the Dark Side!”
Funny thing also—God expressly forbade His people to have any graven image, but here is one front and center.
Il Papa should know better.
Thank you, 82. I quite agree with you that there is no beauty in such a structure.
However, I am reminded that there is, even sayfrom a secular pov, no beauty in the Cross, or the Crucifix, yet there are many prayers of veneration to our bloody Lord, Christ Jesus, hanging on that Cross to save me.
Our Lord is in Scripture, a homely man such as no one would take notice of Him. (check that one out for me, I paraphrased and don’t quite have that in context.)
Of course, that building is inexcusable! Who knew it even existed! Ghastly! Thank God it’s outside the Church of Rome, in the Vatican. (I will see if any other pope used that awful place. Blech.)
You know that Sacred Art was a traditional teaching tool in the Early Church. There remains today no need to run from Sacred Art portraying the Hell, and the scandal of the Cross, or the suffering of Christ Jesus. Scripture says it is a scandal, that we “turn away”. We decline to absorb the magnitude of the evil cast against Him.
It’s all offensive, naturally, the Way of the Cross. And, we are a soft people, stiff necked and arrogant. ISRAEL suffered for these very reasons, but this was was foretold to be the pattern for the Church, as well, as the New Israel.
I for one abhor that structure.
No doubt you are correct as to what it is, but most people’s first reaction is of creepiness.
The following is my opinion of the sculpture that is the background of the Pope’s hall.
Of all the ways to present the now risen Christ, who has conquered hell, death and sin, and who sits at the right hand of the Father as King of Kings and Lord of Lords, this is what is chosen?
Why even depict anything of hell at all?
Why shape the architecture of the hall to represent the serpent, man’s age-old enemy from the Garden of Eden?
To me, it could be a depiction of Satan in charge of Hell and the demons, being lifted up.
After all, that is what Satan wanted—to be like God and to be worshipped as God.
The duality of the sculpture is its downfall. But it was meant to have a dual meaning.
To the faithful, they say, “Oh, it is Christ rising from Hell”.
To the initiated they say “See? Here is where the real power is—the Dark Side!”
Funny thing also—God expressly forbade His people to have any graven image, but here is one front and center.
Il Papa should know better.
Indeed, if you also look at the pics from a distance, it appears the sculpture of Jesus is in the mouth of the serpent. That whole place is disturbing.
CGato