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Jesus Christ bears God’s face and the Good News. He died for our sins so that our broken relationship with God could be restored. These paintings represent the various aspects of the Paschal mystery, highlighting Jesus’ life, passion, and resurrection. 

The Catechism of the Catholic Church (paragraph 1085) describes this great mystery: 

“In the liturgy of the Church, it is principally his own Paschal mystery that Christ signifies and makes present. During his earthly life Jesus announced his Paschal mystery by his teaching and anticipated it by his actions. When his Hour comes, he lives out the unique event of history which does not pass away: Jesus dies, is buried, rises from the dead, and is seated at the right hand of the Father “once for all.” His Paschal mystery is a real event that occurred in our history, but it is unique: all other historical events happen once, and then they pass away, swallowed up in the past. The Paschal mystery of Christ, by contrast, cannot remain only in the past, because by his death he destroyed death, and all that Christ is – all that he did and suffered for all men – participates in the divine eternity, and so transcends all times while being made present in them all. The event of the Cross and Resurrection abides and draws everything toward life.”

May these paintings help us contemplate ever more deeply the Paschal mystery. Enjoy! They were inspired by photos from Jakob Owens, David Cain, and K K.

The Face Of Christ: His Life

“May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine upon us.” —Psalm 67:1

“‘Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel’, which means, ‘God is with us.’” —Matthew 1:23

“And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory.” —John 1:14a

“Now when Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.” —Matthew 7:29-30

The Face Of Christ: His Passion

“So marred was his appearance, beyond human semblance, and his form beyond that of mortals.”—Isaiah 52:14

“By his bruises we are healed.”—Isaiah 53:5

“They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and after twisting some thorns into a crown, they put it on his head. They put a reed in his right hand and knelt before him and mocked him, saying, ‘Hail, King of the Jews!’” They spat on him, and took the reed and struck him on the head. After mocking him, they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.” —Matthew 27:28-31

The Face Of Christ: His Resurrection

“But the angel said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay.”—Matthew 28:5-6

“Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you’. ”—John 20:21

“We declare to you what was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life.” —1 John 1:1

“He will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away.” —Revelation 21:4