Art and Life Connect Over St. Jude

 

This commission has been unique in several ways... All of my works are deeply personal and spiritual, and I truly affirm the adage, “Art imitates life” but this one had even more connections. 

Saint Jude was commissioned by a hospital close to home where I delivered two of my babies, and where my father-in-law and my husband were on the medical staff for many years. I consider it my hospital.

 The commission began about the time of my parents’ death, so I was in my deepest grief as I began my research, design, and maquette. My broken heart longed for the compassionate heart of Jesus to find comfort in this dark time. The story of Saint Jude and working on the sculpture provided a tangible focus every day to connect with God’s compassion. As time passed and healing progressed I began to think about the symbolism of the story and what it means to be an image bearer of Christ. And so now, exactly eight months after my father’s death, and seven since my mother’s, I watched the installation of this piece in the Healing Garden of St. Jude Hospital in Fullerton; and experienced joy and peace knowing that this work from my hands, inspired by God, will show the compassion I’ve experienced and bring comfort to others. 

You are invited to join me for the Grand Opening and Open House of the St. Jude Medical Center's Northwest Tower. The event will take place on Saturday, November 8th, from 11am-2pm. St. Jude will be on view at this time in the hospital's new Healing Garden. 

Saint Jude was an apostle and a close relative of Jesus Christ. During the time of Jesus's earthly life, the king of Edessa was desperately ill and sent for Jesus to come and heal him. In response, Jude traveled to Edessa with a cloth that bore the image of Jesus's face. In the presence of this image, the king was healed and confessed the Christian faith. 

As an "image-bearer" of Christ, both in the object he carried and the Spirit of Christ within him, Saint Jude brought the compassion and healing power of Jesus to the people of Edessa. For this reason, he is known as the patron saint of desperate situations, physicians, and hospitals.

This sculpture shows Jude with a club, referring to the nature of his martyrdom, and with an emblem around his neck that bears the image of Christ.