The Gaze of Christ: The Zefferelli Brother Sun, Sister Moon Crucifix Redux

Close up of the San Damiano Crucifix from Brother Sun, Sister Moon at St. Victor

The Welcoming Lord at St. Victor

The figure of Christ Crucified demands and dominates attention when you walk into St. Victor's Church in West Hollywood. The suffering Son of Man seems to be in three dimensions, his body almost lifting from the cross on which He is pinioned. For me, the most compelling feature is His eyes, that despite the pain seem to follow and embrace the visitor seeking prayer. This is the powerful representation of the God-Man who broke into time to reconcile Himself with the very creatures who would torment and kill Him. He asks for our response, in love, becoming as the apostles before us, His trusting disciples.

Pictured is a replica of the San Damiano Cross, extra special, perhaps, to the parishioners of St. Victor, because this very crucifix was once a part of a Franco Zeffirelli movie, "Brother Sun, Sister Moon" made in 1972. It is the romantic, almost impressionistic, production of the tale of St. Francis of Assisi, who gave up the life of rich comfort to serve God as a lowly mendicant. I try not to hold against the movie that Donovan did the main musical theme, but it WAS the 1970s.

"Francis," Our Lord said as Francis stood in a crumbling edifice beholding the Cross, "rebuild my Church."

Francis, initially, took the command literally, to rebuild the San Damiano church that had fallen into ruins. But he was being asked to do more, to demonstrate the road, first to the Cross, but then through that instrument, to everlasting life to be followed by all men, if only we will believe in God's immense love and power.

I sometimes think, when I sit in the amber low light before this paradoxically comforting one time prop that I can hear a voice imploring me to do some rebuilding of my own--of my too variable faith.

How did we become so blessed, our parish community, to have this beautifully rendered icon?  It was the creation of Lorenzo Mongiardino.  He was the Production Designer of  several Zeffirelli movies. He was an interior designer, and an architect.  It was he who crafted this personal image of Christ. He would, I hope, be pleased that his handiwork now truly glorifies God accompanying the daily celebration of the Mass.

Perhaps fifteen or more years ago, Mr. Zeffirelli had an auction, in Italy, of his props from many of his movies. The San Damiano Cross was one of them. I do not know how he happened upon it, but our pastor of the time, Monsignor George Parnassus, obtained the catalog of the upcoming event. By letter, he began a negotiation to bring the Crucifix to St. Victor to replace a tapestry above the tabernacle. I admit I had never been fond of the tapestry, purporting to be Jesus driving out the money changers. However, the putative Jesus was bald, and I knew of no reproduced image of a bald Jesus. It was apparently an antique, but I could never warm up to it.

The Crucifix was acquired for the parish by our tenacious Monsignor, and I understand, at his personal expense. I first saw it under a tarp on a long table in the lower sacristy. It was in need of restoration. If you see the movie, you will note that the Crucifix is made to look worn and torn, and on one side, an entire piece of wood is missing. There is also a hook like section at the bottom right (or left as you look at it) which needed to be filled in.

The Crucifix in the movie Brother Sun, Sister Moon.

It was also so heavy, it needed a specially constructed hardware to affix it above the tabernacle.

Extras gather under the Cross in the movie.

But once there, our San Damiano Cross became a beloved sacramental that encouraged gazing up and imagining the Lord of centuries ago still present in the Tabernacle below. When I look at these pictures of the movie and then see the same Cross in our parish, I feel the kind of calm and comfort and trust in God, I wish I could maintain outside the Church walls. We have much that is beautiful at St. Victor, that surrounds us as we seek to cooperate in the work of salvation, including the stained glass windows made by the well known Pizcek sisters (now both passed on), but for me the Crucifix has a special place in my heart.

I so want there to be a memory of the history of this piece of art, where Hollywood (a la Italia) meets Catholicism that I forgot I wrote already about this in a prior iteration of my blog, back in 2014. But you know, the internet is a big place, and memory is transient. I don't think there can be enough mention. 

Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam!