As we draw closer to Good Friday in this holy season of Lent, we are called to contemplate and meditate on our repentance and imitation of Christ as well as the suffering Jesus endured for our salvation. To that end, local artist Eric Santos is creating sculptural works to help facilitate that spiritual devotion. The weapons of Christ, or Arma Christi, are a collection of symbols and items associated with the crucifixion. The first two pieces in this installation Eric has created are interpretations based on history and theology of the Crown of Thorns and the scourges used during our Lord’s Passion. These implements used to harm Christ were simultaneously used by God to conquer sin and death.
“My goal is to help myself and others to deepen their understanding and appreciation for the death and resurrection of Jesus,” Santos stated when visiting Sacred Heart earlier this month. Eric is currently finishing his BFA in Studio Art at the University of South Florida, and is set to complete a Master’s in Sacred Art soon after. Santos went through O.C.I.A. here at Sacred Heart and attended Mass here for several years. “I have a deep love and appreciation for [Sacred Heart]”, Santos continued. Following his coursework, Eric says his goal is to “spend my life in the service of Christ through my artwork and to use my artwork to inspire myself and others to grow in their faith.”
View a gallery of Eric Santos’ Arma Christi below.
