With the move of the sisters to our new provincial house, also the Marian sculpture created by our Sister Kunigild, who died in 2008, out of the power of deep faith in Divine Providence, was moved. The Sculpture had an "indoor place" in the old house; it now got a worthy new location in the newly landscaped garden surrounding the provincial house. This garden square, with its benches invites to remain a while, was inaugurated with a Marian devotional.
When looking at the figure, the clear crystal, which the Madonna holds in her right hand, catches the eye next to the calm expression on her face. Biblical Revelation 2:17 says that: “He who has ears, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. Whoever wins, I will give to him from the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone and on the stone there is a new name written, which only the one who receives it knows.” Reading the sentences in context, it becomes clear that this stone is promised to those who overcome temptations and challenges of faith. In ancient times, a white stone had different meanings. A white stone was seen in the courtroom as a sign of acquittal. In addition, at social events, a white stone was given away as a ticket to the poor, who got something to eat when the stone was presented.
Against this background, this stone could be understood as an admission to the kingdom of God personally given by Christ. The "new name, which only the person who receives him" knows, indicates that it is a recognition from Jesus and specially tailored for the individual. This name reminds me of a nickname that you get in a love affair, from friends or in the family, that is, from people who love us and know us really well. Often these names therefore take on very lovingly personal idiosyncrasies' grain. As a rule, they are not used in public, but only in the presence of the namesake and the name bearer. The same tender familiarity and communion wants to live between Christ and each individual.
For Mary as Jesus' mother, every attempt to interpret the stone is particularly true. Perhaps our Marian sculpture holds the stone to the viewer as a personal promise?
The artist, Sr. Kunigild, has made herself these thoughts about the sculpture:
Daughter of our earth …
simplicity is your beauty,
your grace is royal!
God‘s high calling
you carry unobstructed and crystal clear
through earthily life –
through all perplexity –
through all hopelessness –
through all the challenges –
through all fears and sufferings –
O, what sufferings! –
Virgin Mary,
your humility was
gifted with rich fertility:
you bore the fruit – the healing
and sanctification for all peoples –
for all times:
Jesus, Son of God, the savior of the world!
(Meditation of Sr. Kunigild)
Sr. Silvia-Johanna