St Bernards High School - Bernardian Yearbook (Fitchburg, MA)

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For a Bernardian, a visit to the World’s Fair in New York would not be complete if it did not include a visit to the Vatican Pavilion with its world-famous Pieta. The decision to send this world-famous masterpiece to the World’s Fair was made in 1962 by the late Pope John XXIII at the request of Francis Cardinal Spellman. The decision was confirmed by Pope Paul VI after Pope John’s death. In April of ’64, the Pieta began its journey across the sea to the United States, insured for millions of dollars. To protect it from harm the sculpture was literally buried in tiny plastic beads and was packed in a crate which could float in the event of an oceanic mishap. At the Vatican pavilion the Pieta is set behind a bullet-proof ceiling-to-floor plexiglass screen. Behind the famous statue is an immense blue cross over which is draped a blue linen cloth symbolizing the crucified Christ. Four hundred dark blue flickering votive lights provide the only light in the chapel. For viewing the Pieta, there are three moving walks which carry the visitor slowly past the statue. A fourth walk allows time for longer meditation. Gregorian chant is played continually. It is estimated that more than 35,000 people pass through the Vatican Pavilion doors each day to view the Pieta. Michelangelo was only twenty-three when he began work on the Pieta, which was intended as an ff ornament on a tomb. He himself chose the marble from the quarry at Carrara. During the year 1497 he transformed the three-thousand-pound block of marble into the true meaning of the word Pieta- pity and sorrow. During its long history, the Pieta survived soldiers, barbarians, lootings, and burnings with no more damage than the loss of four fingers on the left hand of the virgin, which were later restored. In 1749 it was moved to its present place in the Chapel of the Pieta in St. Peter’s in Rome. Mary of the Pieta has been described as “a figure of infinite grace, her flowing veil so finely chiseled that a breeze might seem to lift it. Her face is pure, with clear brow and straight classic nose and eyes. Her eyes look down at her Son, his lifeless body tenderly cradled in her lap. The upturned left hand of the Virgin and the attitude of her body express the dual emotion, bequeathed by her to all Christians, of human loss and divine love in the death of the Savior.” One Bernardian looking at the sublime beauty of the face and figure of Christ, and at His mother gazing down at her Son with an outstretched hand, found herself asking with Mary, “Why, dear God, why?” The Mother of God has inspired all the fine arts to lay their beautiful accomplishments in tribute at her feet. Poetry, music, sculpture, architecture, and painting unite in her praise. Mary satisfies the craving of a believing heart for a mother who is merciful and who will pray for her child. The suffering child has a right to raise a heart full of trust to the Mother of Sorrows. St. Bernard bas written of Mary--“Men stray not, following her; despair not, invoking her; wander not, thinking of her; fall not, shielded by her; grow not weary, guided by her; reach their goal, favored by her.”

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Sister Mary Jean Sister Mary Lorraine Sister Mary Marcella Sister Mary Martha French Chemistry Typewriting English Religion Mathematics Sister Mary Noreen Sister Mary Paracleta Sister Mary Paschaline Sister Mary Rita French English Biology Bookkeeping Religion French Office Practice Sister Mary Sharon Sister Mary Thomasine Sister Mary Virginia Sister Mary Xavier English Latin Latin Algebra Religion 1]

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