MADRID, Spain.
The portraits of eight Saints associated with the Archdiocese of Madrid, Spain, including St. Pedro Poveda, are the most outstanding feature of the new chapel of the Archdiocesan Curia, inaugurated on September 18, 2017, by the Archbishop of Madrid, Cardinal Carlos Osoro. He said at the blessing ceremony: "May this chapel be a special place in this Pastoral Center and may it really mark the direction of our life."
The new decoration of the chapel is the work of painter Nati Cañada, who has portrayed eight saints who have a special relationship with the Archdiocese of Madrid: Saint Dámaso, Saint Ildefonso, Saint Alonso de Orozco, Saint Simón de Rojas, Santa Soledad Torres Acosta, Santa Vicenta María López Vicuña, Saint José María Rubio, and Saint Pedro Poveda. In addition, she has created the Stations of the Cross with 14 images of the Passion of the Lord.
"This chapel is to be a place for us to come to ask the Lord for advice on the tasks we perform here, because Jesus Christ has to be at the center of everything. If He is not so, we will announce other things but not the Lord,” said the Archbishop of Madrid. "This Pastoral center is not to look at ourselves but to look at the needs of all the people in this diocese, and not only those who believe in the same things we do, but also those who are far away and do not think the way we do."
All the saints painted by the painter are related to Madrid, either by their origin or by their place of apostolate. They are a Pope, a bishop, two friars, two nuns, and two diocesan priests. "I have cried on many occasions during my work because it was all real and very exciting," said Nati Cañada.
The figure of Christ presiding over the chapel was made by sculptor Jesús Arévalo, who used a cedar trunk. The wood has a slit in the front, "so that when viewed from afar, it seems the blood of Christ flowing out directly from the heart," says the artist.
San Pedro Poveda is the founder of the Teresian Association. He gave his life in martyrdom in July 1936 during the religious persecution of the Spanish civil war. When he was arrested by his persecutors, he presented himself saying, "I am a priest of Christ."
Info.IT
Information from the Archdiocese of Madrid.
In Archimadrid.org
In Gaudium Press